Opera House, Wellington

The Opera House

State Opera House
Address	111–113 Manners Street Wellington New Zealand
Designation	NZHPT classification I
Type	Opera House
Capacity	1361
Construction
Opened	1914
Architect	William Pitt
Website
www.pwv.co.nz
Heritage New Zealand – Category 1
Designated	27 June 1985
Reference no.	1432

The Opera House is a proscenium theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, located on Manners Street opposite Te Aro Park. William Pitt, the architect, was based in Melbourne, Australia, and much of the work was overseen by local architect Albert Liddy.

Construction work on the building, originally known as the "Grand Opera House", began in 1911. It is a brick building, with wooden floors. In 1977, it was restored by the State Insurance company, and for many years it was known as the State Opera House. Today, it is simply 'The Opera House'.

The Opera House has three levels: stalls, circle and grand circle. It has fine moldings and an ornate dome. On either side of the proscenium arch are two boxes - arranged on top of each other.

In recent years, The Opera House was operated by the same Trust which did operate the St James Theatre - 'just up the road'.

The Opera House was used for the theater scenes in Peter Jackson's 2005 Film King Kong.

In July 2011 Positively Wellington Venues, an integration between the Wellington Convention Centre and the St James Theatre Trust, began managing this theatre along with five other venues in the capital city.

In October 2012 it was announced that the Opera House is below 34% of the earthquake code and may have to close for strengthening [1].

References

• Kernohoran, David, Wellington's Old Buildings, Victoria University Press, 1994, ISBN 0-86473-267-8 (page 131)
• "Opera House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.