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The Embassy Theatre
10 Kent Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand. Ph 384 7657.
www.deluxe.co.nz
| Known world-wide as the home of the "Lord of
the Rings", the theatre hosted the Australasian premieres of
"The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers",
and the World Premiere of "The Return of the King" in
December 2003. |
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The 1,749 seat theatre was designed by architect
William Kemball and opened on 31 October 1924 as the "de
Luxe"
William Kendall also designed the Regent (1926)
and the Kings (1936) cinemas, (now demolished) and also Kirkcaldie
and Stains department store, whose facade and lower storeys still
remain.
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| The original theatre, although primarily a "Picture
Palace" had a stage and orchestra pit, and both circle and
stalls seating. It also had a Wurlitzer organ (which still exists
in Tauranga's Baycourt theatre). Renovations in 2003 have restored
the theatre to something like its original state, with reduced but
luxurious seating, but the stage, pit and stalls are gone forever. |
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The theatre has hosted the New Zealand International Festival
Readers and Writers weeks for the past three festivals, and its 756
seat auditorium, large flat forestage area in front of the screen and
on site cafe and bar overlooking Wellington's cafe and theatre district
make it a desirable venue for concerts, conferences and other small
scale live events.
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