Central city  |  14 Feb 2025

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Theatre fans have only mere months to wait before they can enjoy the first show in the new home of The Court Theatre.

Council and The Court Theatre are building the new three-storey theatre on the corner of Colombo and Gloucester Street in the central city, after the original theatre in Christchurch’s Arts Centre was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake. 

The $61 million project comprises two theatres, a front of house bar and café, and spaces for education, administration, and props and costume construction.

On completion, The Court Theatre will become an anchor point of the Performing Arts Precinct, which includes the Isaac Theatre Royal and The Piano: Centre for Music and The Arts.

Council and The Court Theatre were thrilled to see the theatre’s new sign go up last week on the building’s exterior.

 The new sign is one of many project milestones being hit as contractor Hawkins prepares to hand over the building to The Court Theatre in March.

The Court Theatre will then complete the building’s technical fitout, and the transition of their operations from their temporary home in Addington.

Bruce Mason’s play The End of the Golden Weather has been selected for the theatre’s opening show on Saturday, May 3. 

Darren Moses, Head of Vertical Capital, says many Council staff have worked on the project since 2013 when The Performing Arts Precinct was conceived. 

“We’ve been on a long journey together with The Court Theatre, one that has required a lot of collaboration and enthusiasm over many years. It’s great to see the theatre start to receive the finishing touches as the project nears completion.”

The Court Theatre Executive Director Gretchen La Roche says the installation of the theatre’s new sign was a special moment for her.

“A custom-built theatre has been a long-held dream for The Court Theatre and all our supporters, so it’s amazing to see that dream coming to life here in the central city. This sign will help us remain a beacon for creativity, community, and the arts in Ōtautahi Christchurch.”

More information about The Court Theatre’s opening weekend will be released closer to the time. 

The rebuild project also includes the reconstruction of the footpath outside the theatre and installation of laneways throughout the Performing Arts Precinct.

This work will also include new traffic lights, the installation of cycle stands and the planting of four trees.