Originally published in Waikato Times, Tuesday 20 January 2026.
By Mike Mather.
As the audience made their way into the main auditorium in Hamilton’s BNZ Theatre the reaction was immediate. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
In the words of one startled punter, “Oh my god.”
If the most sincere form of appraisal is an involuntary reaction, the audible gasps of astonishment from numerous audience members walking into the BNZ Theatre’s main auditorium for the first time comprised an honest and decidedly authoritative verdict.
The reactions of shock and delight were an immediate and visceral vindication for theatre manager Gus Sharp, who had gone to no small effort to keep the interior of the auditorium out of the sight of the public until the “big reveal” of opening night.
A who’s who of Hamilton was in attendance on the venue’s first show on Monday - the first of three consecutive nights of the locally made production To The Stars / Ki Ngā Whetū: Mayors and MPs past and present, business leaders, arts luminaries and hundreds of others.
Fully lit up and thronging with punters, the BNZ Theatre made for a spectacular sight after dark. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
And if it seemed like half of the city was in the 1300 available seats, it appeared at times the other half was down below, dancing, singing and playing on the stage.
A cast and crew of more than 500 people staged the production - an ensemble variety show incorporating dozens of different performance disciplines, loosely linked by a narrative involving a young boy and his mother and grandfather, played by Silas Mark, Cian Parker, and Mihailo Ladevac respectively.
Directed by the husband-and-wife team of Courteney and Jeremy Mayall, numerous forms of artistic expression were represented, including poetry, ballet, musical theatre, and even breakdancing.
Often the on-stage performers were paired with unexpected musical accompaniments. The show had a recurring motif of flying, or expectations of flight. The set-piece music numbers were interspersed with Len Lye-style experimental films depicting air flowing over aircraft wings.
Afterward, the crowds spilling out into Embassy Park and onto the footpath on Victoria St, gushing about the show, was an effective reinforcement of the earlier reactions.
A huge ensemble of performers were the first to grace the BNZ Theatre stage for the opening night performance of To The Stars / Ki Ngā Whetū. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Among them was former Hamilton mayor Andrew King, who was at the helm of the city council when the decision was made to allocate funding earmarked for repairs of the dilapidated Founders Theatre to a new theatre instead.
“Absolutely stunning. Fantastic. Probably the best theatre of its size in New Zealand,” he declared.
King said he was also “really really pleased this was done over several mayoralties - over a decade. [I’m] so proud of all the people of this city. So proud of Kirikiriroa Hamilton - what it’s produced here. It’s so exciting.”
One of the dancers taking part in To The Stars / Ki Ngā Whetū. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
Others took to social media to express their appreciation.
“The thing I love the most is the style of inside the auditorium - it’s a beautiful expression of old world glamour,” wrote Hamilton city councillor Angela O’Leary.
“All seating levels are so close to the stage because of the clever design so it’s a totally different feel to those of us who remember Founders [Theatre] where sometimes you felt so far away from the action.”
Prior to the show comedian and raconteur Te Radar encouraged the audience to breathe in - “and smell that new theatre smell” - before introducing Ross Hargood, the chairman of the Waikato Regional Property Trust, which owns the theatre.
The show was often a colourful spectacle and well as an auditory one. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES.
“If you want to know what pride looks like, take a look at Ross.”
In his speech, Hargood quipped he had last week been relieved to learn Live Nation - the US-based entertainment management firm that will operate the theatre - had struck a deal with BNZ to be the venue’s naming rights sponsor.
“There’s been a certain American president wandering around, naming things after himself.”
The guest of honour, opera star Dame Malvina Major, then declared the theatre officially open with the cutting of a ceremonial ribbon that had been draped across the stage.
She also earned the biggest laugh of the night: “Goodness gracious, they are asking me to shear something,” she exclaimed as she was handed an oversized pair of scissors.
The theatre was “just amazing” and as big as The Metropolitan opera house in New York or the La Scala opera house in Milan, she said.
“Waikato, you have come of age.”