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In 1883 the Alexandra Hall - a public hall and theatre was opened on the same site the TSB Showplace now occupies. It was enlarged and a fly floor built in 1901, and in 1904 it was sold to the New Plymouth Theatre company, and renamed the Theatre Royal. It became part of the Australian touring circuit, and also eventually showed moving pictures, but was destroyed by fire in 1916.

In November 1925 the New Plymouth Opera House was opened on the same site. Designed by architect T.H.Bates, and constructed from steel reinforced concrete, his stated aim was to create "the most acoustically accurate theatre in the country".

The coming of the "talkiies" saw the theatre sold to J.C. Williamson, and it continued mainly as a picture theatre until the 1969, when it fell into disuse and it seemed likely it would be demolished.

However, extensive fund-raising throughout the region, the coming on the Taranaki Festival of the Arts, and support from the New Plymouth district Council and the TSB Bank finally saw an extended and refurbished theatre complex open in 1999.

The Alexandra Hall 1883

Interior Alexandra Hall 1890

Click on image to view panorama

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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

• The FOH lighting bar around the gallery front and extending down to each box (visible in the panorama above), while in a useful position, is too close to the gallery front and plasterwork for profiles to be easily focussed.

• The centre of the battens is not the centre of the stage (about 0.100m to stage right) because of the diameter of the pulley in the grid block.

• The batten centres up and downstage do not coincide with the lock-handle centres up and downstage for their lines because the lines splay out in the grid. However, the actual measurements of each batten centre upstage of the setting line are written beside the lock handles. (see hanging plot below)
  
  
• The lock handles for the first 5 lines are in the stage left fly floor because of the door at stage level stage left.

Covered dockway and getin at rear of venue

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View from stage

92 - 100 Devon St West, New Plymouth

P.O. Box 735, New Plymouth, 4615, New Zealand

tsbshowplace.newplymouth@xtra.co,nz

Box Office: (06) 759 0021 Fax (06) 758 6611

Traditional Proscenium Theatre seating 455 in stalls, 218 in Circle and 290 in gallery - capacity with 4 x 4 boxes = 963. Refurbished auditorium, new flying system, all new backstage. Openings into adjacent new building which houses ticketing and another theatre underground (Theatre Royal)

Venue Manager 06 7582370 or 0272457171

Foyer and ticketing area directly off street; Bryan Robb Lounge (Circle Bar) opens onto balcony above street comfortable for up to 200 - access via glass lift; Alexandra Room - up to 200 (150 seated) exhibitions, receptions, conferences etc.; Theatre Royal Bar - downstairs adjacent to Theatre Royal - access via glass lift.

In-house

Ticketek outlet

see aboves

Rake 1:64 (from setting line back); Proscenium width 8.914m; Proscenium Height 7.191m; Forestage to setting line 1.680m; setting line to rear wall 11.420; stage width 17.859 (lock-handles of counterweights to opposite wall pillar) - max width from lock-handles of counterweights through stage right opening 26.569m; distance between flyfloors 13.912m; Height under fly floors - downstage 6.996m; upstage 6.824m; height to bottom chord of downstage principal 13.691m; height to bottom chord of upstage principal 13.626m ; min height to underside of grid 16.343m.

see below

Through new loading dock backstage stage right. 2.420m wide by 5.600m high.

Ten, of various sizes off central green room under stage.

house light control (also rear stalls, lx control)

1 x 6'6" Yamaha grand piano; 1 x Yamaha upright piano; Full laundry facilities, dishwasher, fridge in greenroom / under stage area;

4 sets black legs and borders.

48 way Theatrelight Cuemaster Plus with softpatch

3 x Theatrelight Mk1 10 packs, 2 x Theatrelight Mk1 5k 5 packs (stage right wall opposite side to theatre) 2 x Theatrelight 12 packs (stage right fly floor - able to be moved)

22

Selecon 1.2k Fresnels

4

4-unit Selecon cyc lights

19

Sun floods .5k

14

1k medium zoom spots

Selecon Performer MSR Followspot