CHRISTCHURCH QUAKE – ITR UPDATE - DECEMBER 2011
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY IS WELL UNDERWAY –
COMPLETION TARGET DATE JANUARY 2013
The Earthquakes of 4th September 2010 and 22nd February and 13th June 2011 caused widespread damage to the city of Christchurch and presented the whole Canterbury region of New Zealand with challenges that none of us were prepared for and very few of us were qualified to manage, but we are learning to do so as we work through some of the worst devastation that our country has ever experienced. From our own perspective, with all the emergency securing work now complete, the current timeline for the program of repair, restoration and enhancement work required to bring the Isaac Theatre Royal back to full recovery is estimated to be completed sometime in January 2013, with a possibility that target date could potentially be moved forward should necessary consents be approved to allow full repair work to begin early in the New Year.
The Theatre is structurally sound and fully repairable/restorable, after various GeoTech reports have proved the land underneath is good for rebuilding and the very necessary re-strengthening required to bring the building up to new code compliance. The Theatre sustained extensive interior and exterior damage from the February quake and further exposure to the elements in June causing subsequent erosion to parts of the Heritage fabric around the proscenium arch, which partially collapsed but has now been secured in readiness for repair. The repair task is major with the stage, auditorium floors, ceilings and interior plaster work all requiring replacement or repair. Our orchestra pit requires a complete rebuild and re-tanking, and our administration offices require partial deconstruction and eventual relocation.
On the positive side however, we will be using the downtime to also upgrade certain areas of the Theatre both for necessary technical enhancement and public access/exit redesign, as well as increasing foyer space and function areas on each level. The top level Gallery will be completely re-fitted and the Theatre’s Heritage façade will be completely re-strengthened and then restored to its original 1908 appearance. There is a LOT of work ahead but our collaborative recovery team of the dedicated ITR Board, project managers RCP, Holmes Consulting, Naylor Love, Warren & Mahoney, Hang Up Ent, Powell Fenwick, Planit Associates, Neil Pritchard, Tony Ussher and various others are working closely with our insurers VERO, TPA Godfreys, CERA, the Christchurch City Council, Ministry of Culture & Heritage, NZ Historic Places Trust and all their various associates to ensure we will present the safest and most spectacular live performance Theatre in NZ when the work is finally completed. Watch this space!
So unfortunately our Grand Old Lady will undergo an extensive recuperation period and although most vital repairs are covered by our comprehensive insurance policy, some specific FUNDRAISING will be required to potentially re-strengthen and upgrade/enhance certain areas of the building to achieve Isaac Theatre Royal’s complete restoration and revival. It makes sense to undertake as much work as we can to bring the Theatre back to its highly rated international standards while we have this long period of closure. Key project fundraising over the months to come will help ensure that when she eventually re-opens, she does so in the style and grandeur she has always been accustomed and our many thousands of clients and patrons around the country and world expect. I hope you and your families are keeping safe through these difficult times and we look forward to your support and patronage over the months and years to come. We WILL see you back in supreme style one day in the not too distant future at the restored and historic ITR.
NEIL COX - GENERAL MANAGER, ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL
See earlier updates about the theatre
CONTACTING US
The Theatre's main phone line is not currently manned but we are
contactable on email and/or mobile as follows:
Neil Cox - General Manager - neil@isaactheatreroyal.co.nz - 021 933440
Lianne Hawthorne - Operations Manager (+ Admin queries) -
lianne@isaactheatreroyal.co.nz - 021 0469913
Dave Barltrop - Technician - dave@hangup.co.nz - 027 6690769
TICKETEK REFUNDS PROCESS FOR CANCELLED EVENTS
INTERNET or TELEPHONE BOOKINGS - Patrons will receive an automatic refund back to the credit card used to make the original purchase. This will show within the next 10 working days.
BOX OFFICE/AGENCY BOOKINGS - Patrons should take their tickets to the CBS Canterbury Arena Ticketek Box Office on Jack Hinton Drive in Addington to obtain a refund. The box office is open weekdays 9am-5pm. If you are unable to do so please return all tickets when able by mail to the address below:
Ticketek - "Event Name (insert event name here)" Cancellation, PO Box 6334, Wellington
For all other enquiries please call 0800 TICKETEK (toll free)
For information on cancelled events please visit Ticketek's Facebook page as the primary communication tool for all affected event activity in Christchurch. It is being updated constantly with cancelled and postponed event notifications.
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