Q Theatre, Auckland
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Q Theatre is theatre facility on Queen St in central Auckland, New Zealand, with two performance spaces. It regularly presents work from annual events in Auckland such New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Tempo Dance Festival and Auckland Arts Festival.
History
The background to the theatre comes from a group who formed an initiative in 2000 called New Theatre. This was after the closure of the Watershed Theatre in 1996. The Q Theatre brand was launched in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Q Theatre bags $21m, so work can start |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/q-theatre-bags-21m-so-work-can-start/VTUV2YVRTJ5QBY6NTEUH5LZE3M/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506013858/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/q-theatre-bags-21m-so-work-can-start/VTUV2YVRTJ5QBY6NTEUH5LZE3M/ |url-status=live }}
Construction started in 2009 after fundraising for the NZ$21 million budget. Founding partners and funders include the Auckland Council, Foundation North, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and private donors.{{Cite web |title=Pioneers & Founding Partners {{!}} Q Theatre |url=https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/support-q/pioneers-founding-partners |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.qtheatre.co.nz |language=en |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011200/https://www.qtheatre.co.nz/support-q/pioneers-founding-partners |url-status=live }}
Q Theatre was designed by Cheshire Architects Limited.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012 |title=Q Theatre |url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/3759 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=NZ Institute of Architects |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011200/https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/3759 |url-status=live }} The design work was undertaken by Pip Cheshire and Melbourne based architectural theatre specialist Virginia Ross. Architect Raukura Turei also worked on the redevelopment in a role with Te Rōpū Reo Whakahaere, a Māori consultant group. Turei observed there was, 'a level of engagement in te ao Māori that enriched the way the building is used...'.{{Citation |last=Cox |first=Elizabeth |title=Epilogue: Multiple Worlds Coexisting |date=2022-01-01 |work=Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture |pages=418–421 |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124395272 |access-date=2024-01-31 |language=English |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131204032/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124395272 |url-status=live }}
It is a mixture of a purpose built building and a 'strengthened and reworked' 1920's building (the ‘No Deposit Piano Building').{{Cite web |title=Q Theatre {{!}} Culture {{!}} Cheshire |url=https://www.cheshirearchitects.com/project/q-theatre |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.cheshirearchitects.com |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011200/https://www.cheshirearchitects.com/project/q-theatre |url-status=live }}
The project required the demolition and replacement of the existing Town Hall green room and the maintenance of storage and access to the Town Hall’s basement kitchens. (Cheshire Architects)The building Q Theatre was recognised as the Auckland Architecture Awards Winner 2012 for, 'an adroit and harmonious insertion into a constrained and historic site'. The persistence of people involved in the building project was also acknowledged.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand is a patron of Q Theatre.{{Cite web |last=Webb-Liddall |first=Alice |date=2020-02-21 |title=Jennifer Ward-Lealand on advocacy and the future of theatre in New Zealand |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/21-02-2020/jennifer-ward-lealand-on-advocacy-and-the-future-of-theatre-in-new-zealand |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=The Spinoff |language=en |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521220849/https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/21-02-2020/jennifer-ward-lealand-on-advocacy-and-the-future-of-theatre-in-new-zealand |url-status=live }}
Facilities
Programmes
Matchbox is one of Q Theatre's regular programmes running since 2011.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=7 June 2017 |title=Q Theatre Presents Matchbox 2017 Season {{!}} Scoop News |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1706/S00100/q-theatre-presents-matchbox-2017-season.htm |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.scoop.co.nz |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011157/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1706/S00100/q-theatre-presents-matchbox-2017-season.htm |url-status=live }} It is a development scheme to help artists in a professional arena and to develop new audiences. Performances in this programmes have included Burn Her and the musical Daffodils, which was later adapted into a feature film.{{Cite web |title=Q Theatre's Matchbox season returns |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/q-theatre-marks-another-step-towards-normality-with-matchbox-season-return/NOMDCIIXOLWA7NHSCK7YX7CJTI/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506013901/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/q-theatre-marks-another-step-towards-normality-with-matchbox-season-return/NOMDCIIXOLWA7NHSCK7YX7CJTI/ |url-status=live }}
New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Tempo Dance Festival and the Auckland Arts Festival regularly programme works at Q Theatre.{{Cite web |title=NZ International Comedy Festival |url=https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/about-us/new-zealand-international-comedy-festival/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=NZ International Comedy Festival |language=en |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011157/https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/about-us/new-zealand-international-comedy-festival/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Q Theatre |url=https://www.tempodancefestival.co.nz/q-theatre |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Tempo Dance Festival |language=en-NZ |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521220732/https://www.tempodancefestival.co.nz/q-theatre |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Venues |url=https://2021.aaf.co.nz/your-visit/venues/rangatira-q-theatre |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=2021 Auckland Arts Festival |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521220728/https://2021.aaf.co.nz/your-visit/venues/rangatira-q-theatre |url-status=live }}
References
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Category:2011 establishments in New Zealand