The kitchens at the cultural venue are set up to offer all-day services
of service. Te theater’s function rooms are available for corporate events, community gatherings, and private functions – providing additional revenue streams and daytime use of a venue usually limited to evening and matinee performance programs. “It could be school groups, company
meetings, private groups, it could be hospitality venues, it could be groups of people going to the theater or visiting theater groups,” says Llewellyn. “So, it really is a very multipurpose
building. Although it is primarily a theater – that is its central focus and purpose – it is offering so much more than that.” With a fairly compact kitchen to work
with, Llewellyn said space was a challenge, particularly as the theater wanted the flexibility for new projects. “Tey’ve only opened in May, they’ve
got to go through a phase of learning and just seeing what the take-up is going to be like,” says Llewellyn. “Tey’ve gone from being theater people to running a full-on hospitality venue that could be open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.” Te venue is also considering adapting
the food and drinks on offer to the show that’s being performed, he adds.
IMPORTANT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
With attention paid to sustainability, the building has a timber-based structural system, natural ventilation through rooftop chimneys, and energy-efficient lighting and water systems. For the food offer, sustainability has
meant working with local suppliers, from a Christchurch city-based brewery to equipment suppliers. Llewellyn says the city council, which owns the building, was hoping its new location and services would draw in more customers. Te theater is “very important to the
local community. Its temporary location was in a suburb of Christchurch, and it wasn’t on a main street. You had to be very mindful
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“It’s about multiple revenue streams. The theater might sell a coffee or the coffee might sell the theater”
that that’s where you were going,” he says. “Now, you would walk through the city center and you would see a great-looking modern building. And then you could look in through the window and say, ‘Tere’s a nice cafe there.’ You might go in for a coffee, but leave having bought a ticket to a show. “So it’s those multiple revenue streams –
the theater might sell a coffee, or the coffee might sell the theater.” Te new venue is near the Christchurch
Cathedral, which is also being rebuilt after being badly damaged in the earthquake. “With its expanded scope, flexible
programming, and in-house culinary operations, the theater has become more than a place to see a show – it is now a fully-fledged hospitality venue with all the complexity and opportunity that entails,” Llewellyn concludes.
The bright and open dining areas invite guests in to enjoy the food, the theater, or both
SIMON DEVITT PHOTOGRAPHER
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