January 5, 2011

 MERCURY RISING CAMPAIGN   

Forces rally to re-establish Auckland’s oldest lyric theatre (100 years old) in Mercury Lane, Newton but will they be too few, too late?

This much loved, historic-listed building, currently used as church, is up for sale for the first time in 16 years and the people of Auckland have a very time limited opportunity to reinstate it as a premier, multi genre performance venue—but time is running out! There is plenty of interest and passion to have the theatre back and operating but still insufficient commitments of cash to make it happen.

While Auckland Council quite rightly debates reinstatement of the theatre in the context of its venues strategy and the Mercury Rising Campaign seeks the support of philanthropists and community “investors” two other churches have lined up to buy the theatre. The opportunity for the performing arts community and the people of Auckland is almost certain to be lost unless we can guarantee the asking price by mid February 2011. 

At just $3 million to buy back the theatre and to recover the broadly recognised Mercury Theatre brand the people of Auckland would do well to jump at the opportunities and great value the theatre would generate for the city and the K’ Rd / Newton area in particular.

The Auckland professional performing arts are stressed for suitable and affordable for performing spaces in the CBD. The Mercury could fill a widening gap immediately. Even when the wonderful new Q Theatre in Queen St is operating later this year and if and when the proposed redevelopment of the St James Theatre eventuates, the Mercury will be a distinctive, highly complementary performing arts facility in terms of style and audience scale and economic accessibility.

Indeed there is merit in considering development, management and programming of all the city venues from a complementary, coordinated and cooperative perspective.

The theatre is in great shape, well cared for by its current owners with all of its original features still intact and the auditorium beautifully painted and refurbished.

The regeneration possibilities for K’ Rd businesses and community are numerous and the reformation of a sense of performing arts community, as t was in the days of the old Mercury and Theatre Corporate companies, is a distinct possibility. Reestablishment of the theatre will open broad public access to the building once again and enhance the living heritage environment of the area. 

For mass churches and indeed any other non-related arts use of our buildings designed for performing arts presentation and promotion is a huge waste of those facilities and contrary to decades of effort to establish a strong creative, innovative and cultural foundation to our city.

The Mercury Rising Campaign continues discussions with Auckland Council but currently believes that the fate of the Mercury lies with the willingness of arts and heritage supporters and philanthropists in the city to recognise the value of this opportunity and to put up the asking price by mid February. 

The Campaign welcomes immediate contact and discussion with potential supporters. A series of tours of the theatre and supporter gatherings is planned through January and February.

[See Forum discussion.]

Contact Richard Howard at MercuryRisingCampaign@gmail.com