MONIQUE FORD/Stuff
Actor Jack Buchanan, of A Slightly Isolated Dog theatre company, takes a tour group through the St James Theatre on Saturday.
After three years of earthquake strengthening and refurbishment, crowds of Wellingtonians got to tour through the newly-reopened St James Theatre over the weekend.
On Saturday Wellingtonians were able to take a guided walk through the heritage theatre between 10am and 8pm. The tour was part of a celebration of the capital’s theatre district, with other open days and behind-the-scenes tours running at BATS Theatre, Circa, Hannah Playhouse and Te Auaha.
At the St James, performers from Slightly Isolated Dog led groups of up to 15 people through the foyer and out into the stage area then back onto Courtenay Place.
In the evening a street parade with performers led people from Wellington’s other theatres back to the St James, with a closed-off street party then hosted outside by stand-up comic Sameena Zehra.
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RNZ
The cherished gilded crown in Wellington’s entertainment scene is officially back in business with the reopening tonight of the St James Theatre. (Audio first aired June 2022).
The party included drumming, hiwa/kapa haka, and performances from Wellington Opera, Hoot’n’Annies, Footnote Dance, Shivam Dance Academy Bollywood Performers, Crash Bandihoot, Orchestra Wellington, Chris Crowe from Les Misérables, Wellington Batucada and more.
The St James Theatre, originally called ‘His Majesty’s Theatre’ but known as ‘Fullers’, first opened on Boxing Day in 1912, according to the Wellington City Council.
The council purchased the St James in 1993 after a public campaign fought for the theatre to be saved from demolition.
MONIQUE FORD/Stuff
The St James Theatre reopened on June 23.
