The Ngaio Marsh Theatre is a theatre at the University of Canterbury Students' Association in Christchurch, New Zealand.
 | |
| Capacity | 330 seated, 1000 standing |
|---|---|
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1967 2019 |
| Demolished | October 2016 |
| Website | |
| https://ucsa.org.nz/venue/ngaio-marsh-theatre-haere-roa/ | |
The Ngaio Marsh theatre was named in honour of Dame Ngaio Marsh, who was a director and patron of theatre, especially Shakespeare, at the University between 1942 and 1969, and indeed the theatre's opening production — Shakespeare's Twelfth Night — was directed by Marsh in 1967.[1] The theatre replaced the Little Theatre, which had been destroyed by fire in 1948.[2]
The theatre was extensively damaged during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, and was subsequently demolished in October 2016.[citation needed]
The rebuilt theatre, within Haere-roa, the University of Canterbury Students’ Association building at 90 Ilam Road in Christchurch, New Zealand, was officially opened on 2 August 2019. The opening involved a student production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, chosen because actor and honorary alumnus Sam Neill had appeared in a production directed by Ngaio Marsh in 1969.[3]
The new theatre is available for short-term or long-term hire. Full AV and technical facilities and orchestra pit are available. A retractable seating structure allows for capacity of 330 seated and 1000 standing.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
- ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Marsh, Edith Ngaio". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Canterbury students officially open new home and theatre". The University of Canterbury. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
External links
edit- University of Canterbury Students Association, the organisation that owns and maintains the theatre.
- University of Canterbury Drama Society, the University society that is usually most active in the theatre.
43°31′27″S 172°34′50″E / 43.5242°S 172.5806°E
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