Waikato Times: The 'Three Waikatos' take a seat at new theatre

Originally published in Waikato Times, Monday 17 March 2025.

By Mike Mather.

Community Waikato chief executive Holly Snape, Creative Waikato chief executive Jeremy Mayall and Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper are each ‘taking a seat’ in the name of their respective organisations inside the new Waikato Regional Theatre. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.

Three organisations dedicated to improving the lives of the region’s residents - Creative Waikato, Sport Waikato and Community Waikato - are formally backing Hamilton’s new theatre.

And it is a case of “the three Waikatos” backing the theatre in a very literal fashion, with the names of the three community trusts soon to be adorning a plaque attached to three chairs in the 1300-seat facility.

Now nearing the end of its construction phase in the southern end of Victoria St, the $80 million facility - which will be managed by international entertainment giant Live Nation - is due to open its doors later this year.

Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper, Creative Waikato chief executive Dr Jeremy Mayall and Community Waikato said they had chosen a united approach to supporting the theatre via the Take a Seat campaign.

Take a Seat is part of the larger Share the Stage fundraising initiative being run by another of the “Waikatos” - philanthropic trust Momentum Waikato.

Matthew Cooper, Holly Snape and Jeremy Mayall see much opportunity in the theatre, which has been transforming the shape of downtown Hamilton. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.

Take a Seat will very shortly come to an end at the end of this month - meaning anyone currently contemplating expressing their support for the theatre in a very permanent way will need to move fast.

The plaques can be acquired by making a donation of $1500 - or more if anyone wants more than just one seat - via sharethestage.co.nz/takeaseat.

“Our three regional trusts work very closely together, so it is great we can present a united front in supporting the theatre,” Cooper said.

“Speaking from the Sport Waikato perspective, we have been very fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of FMG Stadium Waikato, which was opened in the year 2000.

“What the stadium has meant to our region as an events venue has proved to be absolutely immense and, just like Seddon Park nearby, I don’t think anybody would question its value.

“And now we have this wonderful new opportunity in the form of the new regional theatre. It’s really exciting and something the whole community can be absolutely proud of. I’m really looking forward to it adding a new level of entertainment that all of us can be a part of.”

Progress on the $80 million theatre is going well, and it is due to open towards the end of this year completely debt-free. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.

Snape said the ability of the theatre to cater for local as well as national and international-level events and acts - enshrined in Live Nation’s deal with the Waikato Regional Property Trust, which owns the building - was of vital importance.

“It’s a pivotal opportunity to enhance our community and have people really happy and connected and engaged. It’s going to be amazing for our younger performers in particular to be able to use the same space that some top international acts do. It’s going to mean so much to them.”

Mayall also could not wait for the theatre to open.

“It’s great that our three organisations can work in tandem on something like this, that we can speak to it with our share voice. Just like the community itself, we are connected in a variety of ways.

“It’s such a joy to walk down Victoria St every day and see the constant developments that have been happening. Every week there seems to be a new milestone.

The Take a Seat initiative will formally close on March 31 - meaning there are just two weeks for Waikato residents and businesses to make their mark on the new facility in a very permanent way.

“The most recent of those milestones has been the completion of the fly tower and the restoration of the old Hamilton Hotel façade. If you look at it right now, it’s almost like a ‘before and after’ shot in the one image.”

Momentum Waikato communications and marketing manager Mark Servian said it was time to issue a “call to action” from theatre supporters, with the March 31 deadline for the end of Take a Seat approaching fast.

“We are getting close to when the seats are going to be installed, and that means we have to call time on the campaign - as well as Share the Stage generally.”

It was a case of “mission accomplished” for Momentum’s goal of allowing the theatre to open debt-free.

“We have effectively raised the $80 million, but donations are still welcome. The Waikato Regional Property Trust will still be open to discussions with any business wanting a stake in the action.”

“The Share the Stage website and newsletters updating progress on the theatre will continue for the time being, but eventually Live Nation will take over that role,” Servian said.

And another donor had recently approached Momentum Waikato and a new fund to help community groups’ access the theatre was being set up.

“It’s been an amazing project to have been a part of. People really want to see the theatre really succeed.”