Gaiety Theatre, Wairoa, New Zealand

GAIETY CINEMA AND THEATRE

Designer's Tips

GAIETY Theatre, 252 Marine Parade, Wairoa, New Zealand.
Phone (06) 838 3104.

Disused for many years, the now privately owned Gaiety Theatre was reopened in 200?. The theatre occupies a prime position on Wairoa's Marine Parade, overlooking the Wairoa river.
The theatre itself is part of a larger complex including a cafe and soon to be opened saloon bar, and shows current release 35mm commercial films, and also hosts live events both local and touring.
The cinema and theatre operate as a non-profit trust, and are committed to offering the Wairoa and surrounding community an entertainment venue second to none.

The theatre was originally opened in 1928, but collapsed in the 1931 earthquake. The photo opposite shows the theatre soon after it was rebuilt in the mid-thirties.

The original interior viewed from the gallery....

...and a similar view today.

The original interior viewed from the stage....

....and the same view today. The upstairs balcony is not open to the public, and houses the projection equipment.

The full width cinema screen is winched up to the ceiling out of the way when the venue is to be used for live performance. Although the process takes only a few minutes, and is a clever solution to lack of storage space, it does mean that front of house lighting positions are compromised.

Projection room.

Dressing room space under stage

Get-in at rear of Theatre - door opens directly onto stage

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Stalls

Auditorium from stage

Designer's Tips

If you are a lighting or set designer who has worked in this venue and have something to contribute: venues@venueweb.co.nz

Check with theatre manager before using smoke machines - smoke detectors need to be disabled!
In wet weather it is easy to get your truck stuck at rear of stage because of grass verge adjacent to get-in door.
Note no FOH lighting positions because of cinema screen raised to roof - use stands FOH left and right.

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PLAN DOWNLOADS - revision date 04/08

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	GAIETY 1:200 A4
	GAIETY 1:100 A2
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gaiety.dwg (56k)

GAIETY Theatre - Wairoa Community Co-operative Society - Revision date: 04/08

Company

Venue Name

The Gaiety Theatre and Cinema

Street address:

252 Marine Parade Wairoa, New Zealand

Postal address:

c/o Gaiety Theatre 252 Marine Parade Wairoa, 4180 New Zealand

Web Site:

n/a - but Cinema programming available online at www.nzcinema.co.nz

E-mail:

gaiety@xtra.co.nz

Telephones:

Phone 06 8383104 Fax 06 8383109

Physical Venue Description:

Theatre built 1928. Is an original structure - refurbished in 1999. There is a wooden sprung Dance floor immediately in front of the stage whilst the remainder of the floor is carpeted. The upper circle now houses the Projection room with access via staircase from rear of Concession box.

Operating Structure:

Wairoa Community Co-operative lease the premises and employs three staff with assistance from Volunteers for large productions/gigs. Staff include- a Cinema/Theatre Manager part time, a full-time Projectionist and a part time Stage hand. Offices in the theatre concession. Operating 52 weeks per year as Wairoa's only Cinema with Concession box with a Bar in the Theatre. Open to Private bookings, fundraisers and parties as well as touring shows.

Key Personnel:

Sonya Smith, General Manager, email gaiety@xtra.co.nz, direct line (06)8383104; Wayne Salmon, Projectionist, and Anaru Cooper, Stage Hand

Public Areas:

Box office in Foyer. Bar in the Theatre. Theatre comfortable for 300 people - with 200 seats on site not fixed. Two couches available at the rear.

Catering:

Bar food/ snacks available at concession and bar. Fully licensed restaurant in adjoining building.

Ticketing:

Box Office on ground floor open for ticket sales prior to Movie screenings 5 days per week and 7 days during school holidays. Manager also onsite Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm for Ticket purchases for Theatre related events.

Disabled access:

Please notify staff pre show of your requirements; however Wheelchair spaces flexible in Theatre auditorium and accessible toilet at rear left of seating.

History:

The majestic refurbished Gaiety Theatre is situated toward the end of the retail area on the Marine Parade. The Gaiety Theatre was Wairoa's first cinema. Originally built in 1928 its main rear structure collapsed in the 1931 earthquake but was quickly rebuilt. The Gaiety is the centre of the district's cultural activities; hosting balls, pantomine's, local theatre and touring shows. In 2006 The Gaiety Theatre began hosting the biennial Maori Film Festival. In the late 1960's the cinema closed it's doors but was reopened after much hard work, in the mid 1990's to reinstate the building to its former glory.

Other:

n/a

Technical

Auditorium Description:

Proscenium theatre with raised stage (1550) off flat wooden floor. Stalls (200), and an upper circle that does not have public access but houses Projection booth at front. Modern 35mm film projector. Air conditioned (installed 2007). No FOH lx positions.

Stage:

Proscenium width: 7900; Proscenium height: 5600; Raked (5 degrees) wooden stage; Stage depth 4577 behind prosc; apron depth @ c/line 1520; stage width wall to wall 15218; Fixed LX bars over stage @ 115 below prosc height. 2.2 clearance under stage in well lit open dressing room - access to stage via steep steps stage left and right into wings. Handbasin at stage left rear corner; toilet in stage left downstage wings. "Flyfloors" both stage left and right @ 3570 clearance (midpoint on rake), but with no built-in access from stage.

Hanging Plot:

n/a

Getin:

Bilateral side alleys at rear entrance approx 1800 wide leading to double fire stop doors immediately in front of stage. Rear access to stage via sliding door approx 1600 wide 3600 high but no step and approx 1000 above the ground. Unrestricted parking available at rear, room for 2 x large trucks however not parallel to building due to caution from soft grassed area immediately against building.

Dressing Rooms:

Large well lit unlined/undivided dressing room under stage with right and left stage access. Adhoc tables and chairs with an LPG heater and X1 toilet at stage level in stage left wing.

Stage manager:

n/a

Misc

1 x Yamaha upright piano FOH stage right. Full set blacks available with Bronze Waterfall curtain. Cinema projection screen 90 square metres in size, grey cyc.

Other:

Video projection able to be mounted from shelf in projection box. Requires 10,000 plus lumineres of white light for adequate brightness on the large screen.

Lighting

Lx Control:

n/a, but Panalogic system to automate lights and film

Dimmers:

n/a

Luminaires:

n/a

Sound

Control:

n/a

Output:

n/a

Accessories:

n/a, but Cinema sound system able to play discs.

Effects Units

n/a

Hanging Plot:

n/a

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This page last updated Friday, May 16, 2008