September 10, 2010

Christchurch earthquake

John Smythe      posted 4 Sep 2010, 08:40 AM

To all our friends and colleagues in and from Christchurch, our thoughts are with you. Current reports suggest there is much more damage to property than people, which is a blessing. What shape are your performance venues in? How many shows will be able to go on?

Ally Garrett         posted 4 Sep 2010, 10:39 AM

Have heard in a text from my family that the Repertory Theatre has fallen down. Horrible.

John Smythe      posted 4 Sep 2010, 12:52 PM

Apparently the facade has come down and an upstairs wall has fallen out. The Repertory Theatre was to be a major venue for the upcoming Body Festival (opening 24 September).

Anna Dodgshun                posted 5 Sep 2010, 11:36 AM

From what I’m hearing, the Court Theatre has survived fairly much unscathed.  We haven’t been allowed inside the building yet – structural engineers have to check it out first – but it seems that it’s OK.  Don’t want to think about how the Props storeroom looks though!!  We were scheduled to pack a show out last night and start loading a new one in today but clearly that isn’t happening – hopefully we’ll know more about the state of the place later today.

E V          posted 5 Sep 2010, 06:45 PM

From the brief glimpse I caught on the news about the Rep. Theatre, sounds like it’s being condemned by the structural engineers which is very sad, but not surprising.

Anna Dodgshun                posted 6 Sep 2010, 07:30 PM

The Court is, as we thought and hoped, almost completely untouched.  One broken pane of glass and a few cracks in the walls, plus a ceiling coming down in the props department (which is apparently a disaster zone – everything has come off the shelves!).  However, particularly compared with some other buildings in the Arts Centre, we have been very, very lucky indeed.

Brian Sullivan     posted 6 Sep 2010, 07:51 PM / edited 6 Sep 2010, 07:54 PM

From Rozena Hallum, Artistic Director of Repertory

Life in the Old Girl Yet

Our heritage theatre  in Kilmore Street looks sad at first glance with crumbling facade and the green room open to the wind and rain. But behind the scenes there is a different story. A committee member and I walked through the building yesterday and were amazed to see  everything appeared undisturbed – the auditorium, stage area, fly tower and dressing rooms intact. Even the stacked cups on the kitchen shelves hadn’t moved, neither had the mirrors propped up on dressingroom benches.  The historic proscenium seems undamaged.

Of course we await a proper inspection, but Charles Luney knew how to build for posterity so we are hopeful. After 83 years of continuing activity, the show will go on!

Plans  and funding have been underway for some time to restore and strengthen the building which will be renamed The Charles Luney Repertory Theatre.

Ironically a commencement date for the makeover was set only last Thursday for April  10, 2011.  It may now be a little sooner!

 www.repertory.co.nz

Editor    posted 6 Sep 2010, 08:27 PM

Dear Dance Colleague,

Due to the Christchurch earthquake the office of the Dance and Physical Theatre Trust (The Body Festival and South Island Dance Network) is closed for the remainder of the week until another office location is sourced.

We will endeavour to get in contact with all performers and tutors involved in the 2010 Body Festival over the next few days, or early next week at the latest.

If anyone needs to speak to us urgently, please contact Adam Hayward (Director) on 021 230 9029 and Vanessa Thompson (Coordinator) on 027 314 2377.

Take care and keep safe, we will be in touch as soon as we can!

Best wishes,

Adam and Vanessa

From: Vanessa Thompson nessalee.t@gmail.com

Aaron Alexander              posted 6 Sep 2010, 08:51 PM

Fantastic news about the grand old Rep.

That’s where I started. Lots of memories.

Editor    posted 7 Sep 2010, 09:38 AM

Showbiz Christchurch advises “The Isaac Theatre Royal is thankfully safe and secure and we are proceeding with Sweeney Todd as planned.”

stephen blackburn           posted 7 Sep 2010, 03:01 PM / edited 8 Sep 2010, 10:34 AM

Any one heard about the Ngaio Marsh on Ilam campus?

We are due to perform there (National Theatre for Children) next Thursday and are hoping we can so we can do it for free for the children of Christchurch, but can’t establish with any one if the theatre is open and safe.

WellyWatch        posted 7 Sep 2010, 11:23 PM

Is no-on answering at the Canterbury University office, Stephen?

Anna Dodgshun                posted 8 Sep 2010, 08:30 AM

The entire university campus is closed for the rest of the week, at least to students.  I do know the tech at the NMT, and had intended to get hold of him in the next few days myself to find out whether the building was still standing, so if I find anything out I’ll post info here!

John Smythe      posted 8 Sep 2010, 09:07 AM

Thanks Anna – appreciated. It’s personal contacts that make the difference in this situation.

stephen blackburn           posted 8 Sep 2010, 10:35 AM / edited 8 Sep 2010, 10:35 AM

No answer as yet from the University but the Vice Chancellor has indicated there would be an announcement at 5pm today

stephen blackburn           posted 10 Sep 2010, 10:18 AM / edited 10 Sep 2010, 10:35 AM

We have finally heard that we can’t use the Ngaio Marsh so we have transferred to the James Hay Theatre and will be offering 10am and 11.30am performances on Thursday the 16th September for FREE to all school children in Christchurch. The work, END GAME, is suitable for ages 8 and up

Thanks to those that helped us in sorting out what was possible