Group to support Timaru Theatre Royal and Heritage Hub

Saturday, 16 March 2024

A group of residents who want to see Timaru’s Theatre Royal renovated and back up and running is gaining traction with almost 150 people getting in behind it.

The theatre, which has been closed for five years, has been the subject of much debate in the community but those behind START; Save Timaru’s Arts and Rebuild our Theatre believe it’s time to stand up for the grand old lady.

Aaron Segar and Jess Young said concerns that the public debate included very little in support of the project to develop the Theatre and Heritage Hub prompted them to start the group.

“We want our voices heard as well,’’ Young said.

They highlighted the more than 100 years of countless shows at the theatre, and said it was a big part of the lives of many residents, and of the social fabric of the town.

Earlier this week another group announced its plans to try to save the Majestic Theatre opposite, and called for community support, saying it would be complimentary to the Theatre Royal which the group also supported the renovation of.

START was established about two weeks ago and continued to gain support, Segar said.

“It’s been really encouraging,’’ he said.

“The point of this is we want to get this project started. There has been so much consultation, years of consultation, and now we’re at the point of being so close to beginning.

“We need it to get over the line.’’

The Theatre Royal and Heritage Hub development had been in the pipeline since March 2017, when the council announced it could receive a $7 million upgrade. There were fears its century-old equipment was forcing production companies to bypass the town.

Since then the scope of the project had changed and now included a heritage centre, with the estimated cost hitting $57.1m by September 2022.

In November 2023, councillors voted five votes to four to take the project to the next stage.

March 26 was D-day for the project, with councillors expected to make a decision based on final cost estimates for the project.

Young and Segar intended to be at that meeting, and other members of the group had indicated they would also attend, they said.

The theatre had been closed since November 2019, and Segar said since then the district had missed out on many shows.

While the pair both had theatrical backgrounds, they said the Heritage Hub part of the project was just as important.

“It’s not just about bringing the shows into the theatre,’’ Segar said.

“It’s also bringing people from other places to our museum.’’

Young pointed to Otago’s Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.

“We love going down there and I always tell people they have to go to Toitū,’’ she said.

“And we’re not just speaking about theatre,’’ Segar said.

“There’s the dance schools, the Flava Festival.’’

In February, New Zealand band Six60 announced Waimate as a stop in its 23-stop Grassroots Tour, and the pair said there were other bands and entertainment bypassing Timaru because of the lack of a suitable theatre.

“There’s so much entertainment we’re missing out on,’’ Segar said.

“Shows bring money into the community with the accommodation, the foot traffic through town, and people will be also be able to explore the museum, and all in the CBD.’’

He said the theatre was also in a part of town which was “fading fast’’.

“It’s a really great opportunity to keep that part of town alive.

“There’s a lot of history there.’’

He said many friends and family he had spoken to remained undecided about the project and had many questions.

“We want to refresh people’s minds and put their questions to people.’’

He said the group had already submitted some questions to be sent to the council’s property services and client representative Nicole Timney, who was leading the project.

While the museum played an important education role in the community, Segar said for young people to be able to stand on the Theatre Royal stage and be able to perform was also vital.

“A lot of people we talk to have been to Broadway and West End and say Timaru puts on just as great a show,’’ he said.

“We’re missing out on all this.’’