Theatre Studies - Facilities

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts / Te Whare Tapere

The Gallagher Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts complex celebrated its opening in March 2001. This complex is situated on one of the most beautiful campus sites beside the lakes, and contains two primary performance venues: A Concert Chamber for 350 people, and the Telecom Playhouse Theatre for up to 170. It also contains a Dance Studio and a specialist Maori Performing Arts space, Te Whare Tapere Iti.

The Telecom Playhouse is an important development for the Theatre Studies Programme. Our aim has been to create a venue with a character uniquely its own, combining the intimacy of eighteenth-century theatres and the flexibility of smaller, more contemporary studio and workshop theatres. It is a specially designed, flexible venue that can be utilised in a variety of configurations, e.g., "in the round", "end-on", or "transverse". It is fully equipped with lighting gantries, a demountable seating and rostra system, floor traps throughout the space, and a full-size basement for use as a dressing room or storage. A full complement of state-of-the-art digital lighting and sound systems enhance its design features. The Playhouse offers a challenge and an opportunity for every group that uses it, encouraging exploration of the relationship between audience and performer in the many ways that only theatre offers. It is used for student productions, and technical and scene work, and also presents work from community groups and visiting professional companies and artists.

Please visit the Academy website.

New Place Theatre / Te Tapere Hou

Our practical papers are taught in both the Playhouse Theatre in the Academy of Performing Arts and in our Theatre Laboratory space, The New Place Theatre/Te Tapere Hou, situated next to the Law School, near Gate 8 on Hillcrest Road.

The New Place/Te Tapere Hou is a large, flat-floor laboratory space, 13.5 m x 15m. A flexible seating system for up to 100 people can be quickly and easily installed and arranged in a variety of ways to provide maximum flexibility for any style of production.

A well equipped lighting and sound system provides a technical complement for teaching, research, experimentation, and performance needs. We are constantly up-dating our technical equipment. We now have a fully digital sound system, including Sony DAT and cassette players, Onkyo CD player, Denon amplifier, Korg 01/FD Synthesiser, Tascam 8-way mixing board and Fostex speakers. Our lighting system includes a full stock of 500W and 1KW Selecon fresnels and 500W profile spots. Our 24/48 way Jands ESPII lighting board is easy to operate, and all our lighting bars are pre-plugged to assist in quick turnarounds.

The theatre also holds a stock of tools for set construction and painting.

Students are encouraged to use this Theatre Laboratory to explore and present their own ideas, beyond the requirements of the degree programme.