Kia Ora from the Theatre Manager
Gus Sharp (centre) with Ross Hargood of the Waikato Regional Property Trust and Leonard Gardner from Fosters Group at the 'Meet Gus' event at The Meteor last Wednesday.
I'm Gus and I'm the new General Manager for the Waikato Regional Theatre. I've spent the last three weeks getting my feet under my new desk and inhaling the vast amount of information involved in a project of this size!
The energy, potential and passion I've felt from everyone I've talked to has been amazing. What we can all achieve together for the audiences and artists of the Waikato is breathtaking and I can't wait to open the doors.
My main focus so far has been getting to know all the ins and outs of the project. We've been meeting with different stakeholders to understand their perspectives and I'm starting to get a handle on the funding, history, and design of the project - it's a lot to take in!
One thing I've been spending a lot of time on is updating the business case. We're trying to identify any potential issues or roadblocks that might come up, so we can address them before they become a problem. We know that this is a crucial part of making sure that the project is successful in the long run. The construction of the building is one thing, but the true measure of success is creating and safeguarding a taonga for future generations.
We're also starting to think about what it's going to take to open up the venue. That means setting some goals, figuring out what we need to do to achieve them, and making a plan to get there. It's early days yet, but we're aiming for the stars!
Overall, things are going well and we're excited to keep you all in the loop as things progress. Thanks for your support and we'll talk to you again soon!
Your feedback BY SUNDAY could fund Theatre audience development
In collaboration with Creative Waikato, we have submitted a proposal to Manatū Taonga-The Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s ‘Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund’ for funding the Theatre’s ‘audience development’, which will benefit not only the new venue itself but also the entire region’s performing arts ecosystem.
As part of the evaluation process, Manatū Taonga is interested to hear from the people that are intended to benefit from each proposal.
We reckon that means YOU, so we really would appreciate it if you can show your support for the Theatre’s future operation and the local performing arts scene by making a submission in support.
You can find out more about our proposal and complete their survey at this link. The deadline is 11.50pm this Sunday night, 19 March.
If you need more information about the feedback process, you can read more on the Manatū Taonga website.
Theatre site from the air in March 2023
With the cranes up and excavation almost complete, here are the latest drone pics of the Waikato Regional Theatre site from Cameron Neilson of Foster Group.
See more drone shots of the Theatre site.
Carol has named a seat in the Theatre after her Ron
Carol has named a seat in the new Waikato Regional Theatre. Her husband Ron worked for the Railways and they moved around New Zealand a lot before they settled in Hamilton almost 39 years ago, “1984 to be exact”.
Hamilton was “the end of the line” for Ron as he passed away a few years ago. Wondering how to honour the memory of her Ron, Carol saw our Take a Seat community campaign and thought it would be a fitting tribute to name a seat after her late husband - Ron’s name will now live on within the new Theatre’s auditorium.
What’s your story? Is there someone you want to honour by naming a seat in the Theatre?
We continue to accept donations for the naming of seats in the new auditorium. Click sharethestage.co.nz/takeaseat to visit our Share the Stage website, where you too can Take a Seat! Or alternatively email janice@momentumwaikato.nz.
Sharing the Stage steps into reality
This is the review of the Theatre project for the financial year July 2021 to June 2022, from the Momentum Waikato Annual Report 2022 - see full report in PDF.
For several years it seemed like every time the starting line for construction came into view, another hurdle would appear in the path of the Waikato Regional Theatre project.
The Theatre’s build contract was finally signed by the Waikato Regional Property Trust and Foster Group in July 2021 and site work got underway soon after. In November of that year then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ‘turned the sod’ at a Covid-delayed ceremony, formally celebrating that the job was well and truly underway.
THUMBS UP: Movie star John Rhys-Davies and Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate at the Share the Stage campaign launch at Embassy Park, 2 May 2022. Photo: Peter Drury.
Around the same time the Riff Raff Statue was lifted out of Embassy Park, re-appearing in March in his temporary home outside the Waikato Museum. The bronze masterpiece will return to his original spot, which will be outside the front door of the new Theatre, in time for his 20th Birthday in late 2024.
Over the next few months the Hamilton Hotel was careful dismantled, so that the various heritage elements therein could be saved for eventual re-installation in the new building.