January 30, 2013

BATS Theatre opening 7 February on Cuba Street  

After a flurry of work, a new theatre on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets is receiving the finishing touches needed to turn it from an old bar into a brand new space for BATS, until its return home to 1 Kent Terrace in 2014.

One of the construction workers, Simon Rainer, has now been involved in building four iterations of BATS Theatre, starting way back in 1989.  Mr Rainer commented: “It’s been amazing to see the transformations over the years. BATS is an incredible institution for Wellington.”

Audiences will arrive on 7^th February [for Little Town Liars] to a custom-designed space that has all the hallmarks of the old BATS and a few improvements. “Cuba Street is a great place for us to be,” says Chair of BATS Board, Victoria Spackman. “It’s got the same great BATS vibe and opens us up to new audiences in the city.”

The new space, previously a bar and nightclub, will have a 78-seat theatre, bar, box office, rehearsal room and offices.

BATS has launched a new brand ‘BATS – Out of Site’ to help audiences stay up to date with the new location. Posters will shortly start appearing around the city.

BATS has very generously been supported by Creative NZ and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, through the Discretionary Grant Fund. Both contributed funds towards the extra costs that BATS faces as a result of the move.