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THE CIVIC THEATRE

INVERCARGILL, NEW ZEALAND

Invercargill (pop. 50,000) is located close to 13 years later, he would bring Edmund Lord Plunket, and Sir Joseph Ward. Listed
the southern tip of the South Island of New Richardson Wilson's design of what was were seven songs that a full choir and
Zealand, and is one of the southernmost cities originally known as the Invercargill Town orchestra would perform on the night,
in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Hall and Theatre to life. including the Hallelujah Chorus and the
Southland region. Imperial March.
The Southland Times reported on the opening
his year marks 110 years since the official in 1906, saying "no longer will the However, it has changed somewhat from what
Topening of the Civic Theatre in Invercargill public be obliged to take their it used to be. The biggest refurbishment came
Invercargill on 14 November 1906. In the pleasures sadly in 'another place' where in 2005 when the Civic Theatre was
110 years since the theatre was built, it has everything conspired to render the attainment extensively renovated at a cost of $15.8
undergone several renovations, a name of the maximum comfort impossible." million. Heritage New Zealand architects
change and a myriad of performers taking to worked with the theatre consultants to make
the stage. The idea of the theatre was born in March sure the changes did not affect essential
1903, when a proposal was put before historic elements.
In August 1893, the future contractor for the ratepayers. It suggested borrowing £16,000,
Invercargill Civic Theatre, Joseph Howie, bearing four-and-a-half per cent interest The backstage and dressing room block was
had a bit too much to drink. The Southland annually, to build the Invercargill Town Hall demolished, redesigned and rebuilt to meet
Times reported in their court list that he was and Theatre. Ratepayers mostly voted in modern performing arts demands. Only the
"charged with having at Crinan St, on the favour of the proposal, 322 to 253. In the end back of house remains as what it originally
12th inst., while drunk, behaved in a riotous it was built for £21,700. was. The current seating capacity is 1015.
manner." At one point in his life, Howie had
fallen from a building, and he had injured his A competition for the design was held, and The name change came in 1930. From then it
skull. "Consequently when he took too much was won by Edmund Richardson Wilson, of was simply known as The Civic Theatre.
to drink, it affected him very much and Mackenzie and Wilson in Invercargill. A
occasionally he became very violent." He booklet distributed for the 2005 renovation, In the 1970s, after many years of
went to his neighbour’s house to abuse him, written by Lynley Dear, says that Wilson put performances, City Engineer Ken Ballinger
only to find him not there. The man's wife his own personal touch in the theatre expressed his concerns about the safety of the
called for the police. In court, Howie pleaded auditorium, with the plaster cherubs bearing building. There were cracks in the facade that
guilty and, because of this, a second charge the face of his then 18-month-old son. Upon were causing the building to move out toward
was dropped. "The Sergeant asked leave to completion, the theatre had municipal offices Tay St. The north wall was being pushed out
withdraw a second information charging him and a lecture hall as well as a stage and tiered and the trusses were not fixed to the walls nor
with having at the same time made use of seating. holding anything in place. Ballinger strongly
profane language." The policeman agreed advocated demolition. However, architects
that, when sober, Howie was a good and well- On 10 November 1906, an advertisement in and the public spoke passionately for retention.
respected citizen. It was his first and last court The Southland Times said that the theatre
appearance, having sworn off drinking. About would be officially opened by the Governor,

24 CINEMARECORD # 92