Waikato Times: Countdown to the curtain-raising at the Waikato Regional Theatre is under way

The giant box housing the Waikato Regional Theatre’s flying system makes for an impressive fixture on Hamilton’s skyline. PHOTO: Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES

You could almost be forgiven for having bated breath.

Announcements are coming “very soon” for both the opening date and the opening shows at the new Waikato Regional Theatre.

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 either later this year or early next year.

In a newsletter to supporters of Share the Stage - the fundraising campaign for the theatre run by the philanthropic organisation Momentum Waikato - theatre manager Gus Sharp hinted the “big reveal” will not be far away.

“Very soon, Live Nation will announce the opening dates and the launch programme.

“I’ve seen what’s in store and it reflects the full breadth of what this theatre can offer.

“Waikato talent will share the stage with national icons and international acts, all under one roof. It’s a line-up designed to signal that this venue belongs to the world stage, while staying true to the community that built it.

“For us, the real crowning moment will be when the doors finally open and the first audiences walk in.

“To see the heritage exterior blending into the striking new interiors, to hear music and performance filling the auditorium, to feel the foyer alive with people, that’s when this building becomes more than a project, that’s when it becomes the beating heart of Hamilton’s cultural life.

“That time is almost here, and we can’t wait for everyone to step inside.”

In the newsletter, Sharp also waxes ebullient on the soon-to-be-completed construction of the $80 million facility gracing the southern end of Victoria St.

“The giant ... white box is now firmly part of the downtown skyline, a landmark that feels both new and inevitable, as if it was always meant to be there.

“From the outside the building is largely finished, its form bold and confident.

“Inside, the transformation is even more impressive: the architecture, the detailing, the sheer beauty of the woodwork is world class. The combination of striking new design with carefully preserved heritage elements gives the theatre a sense of depth and permanence that you rarely see in new builds.

“The old Hamilton Hotel façade has been carried forward, framing the new building with a connection to the city’s past. You feel that history the moment of your arrival, but then you step through into a space that’s been designed for the future.

“That combination of past and present, continuity and ambition, is what makes this project so distinctive.”

Those hankering for further information about the theatre can sign up for updates at www.waikatoregionaltheatre.co.nz/register, or follow the theatre’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

And, naturally, the Waikato Times will feature plenty of previews, reviews and interviews about what will be on show.