Theatre History & Ownership
Ownership
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Theatre Royal 1908 |
Today's Theatre Royal Charitable Foundation is the heir to a theatrical heritage extending back almost 100 years. The precursor of the Foundation as owners of the Theatre Royal was the mighty JC Williamson Theatres Limited which brought Australasian audiences the finest theatre and the greatest theatrical names in the world.
Like all theatrical sagas, the history of JC Williamson Theatres Limited traced back to its early days is full of incident and colourful personalities.
None more so than James Cassium Williamson himself, an American actor who first arrived in Australia in 1874. His sole assets were his beautiful actress wife, Maggie Moore, and enough money to produce just one play.
Fortunately the play, aptly titled "Struck Oil", did exactly that. After a very successful tour of Australia, the Williamsons took it to India, England and America.
In 1879, Williamson was back in Australia, with the rights to Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore" and a contract for any succeeding operas the up and coming English pair might write.
It was this G and S foundation that soon had Williamson firmly established as an Australian and New Zealand entrepreneur. Until the turn of the century, he successfully presented a galaxy of stars and series of spectacular productions in partnership with, first, George Musgrove and Arthur Garner, then Garner alone, and finally with Musgrove alone.
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1908 Opening Night - Blue Moon |
In 1900 the partnership broke up when Musgrove apparently produced the hit “Belle of New York” without Williamson.
In 1904 Williamson formed a proprietary company with George Tallis and Gustave Ramaciotti, in which he held a half interest.
Seven years later Williamson and Tallis amalgamated with Clarke and Meynell.
At this time Australia and New Zealand were also being treated to a continuous string of world famous concert artists, brought out by the Tait Brothers.
In 1916 the Taits entered the legitimate field in direct opposition to Williamsons with a successful play “Peg O’ My Heart”. Four years later the Taits were approached to join Williamsons and all the brothers became directors in association with George Tallis, who was later to be knighted for his services to the theatre.
This amalgamation formed the most powerful single theatrical management in the Southern Hemisphere. The Williamson empire continued to prosper and a continuous string of world names and hit shows were presented at the Company’s theatres throughout Australia and New Zealand.
On the retirement of Sir George Tallis in 1931, the Tait Brothers, Charles, John, E.J., J.Nevins and Frank, took over control of Williamson’s.
After the War many of the greatest names in World theatre toured Australia and New Zealand for the Company and in the 1960’s a continuous string of top attractions were toured successfully in association with the Perth-based Company of Edgley and Dawe Attractions.
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Frontage - Early 1980's |
In its hey-day, the Williamson empire owned or leased six theatres in Australia. In New Zealand the firm owned His Majesty’s Theatre in Auckland (demolished in the 1987 property development boom), the Grand Opera House in Wellington and the Theatre Royal in Christchurch.
The original Theatre Royal was built in 1908. However, in 1928, J.C. Williamsons substantially renovated the building interior and the theatre has retained its present form since that date. The Theatre Royal is thus one of the four remaining Edwardian style theatres in the Southern Hemisphere and is unrivalled in its stage area.
Sir Frank Tait was managing director of the company for many years and was knighted in 1956 for his outstanding services to the legitimate theatre in Australia.
The Williamson chain was later headed by former stage and film actor, John McCallum, who joined the firm in 1958 and was Joint Managing Director with Sir Frank Tait from 1963 till 1965. then Managing Director in 1966.
He was succeeded by Harry Strachan as General Manager until 1971 when the company merged for 15 months and Edgley and Dawe Attractions as Williamon-Edgley Theatres Limited under the managing directorship of Michael Edgley.
J.C. Williamson Theatres Limited and the Edgley organizations then went their own ways again to pursue their particular specialties – J.C. Williamson Theatres Limited to concentrate on the presentation through its chain of theatres of musical comedy, plays and concert artists and Edgleys as Michael Edgley International in the specialist presentation of overseas companies.
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Old Circle Foyer Facing Stairs |
During the late seventies, Williamsons wished to relinquish control of the theatre, there being no apparent buyers at the time, they decided reluctantly that the only alternative course of action was to demolish the theatre and sell of the land.
In 1979 – a catalyst group comprising Messrs Malcolm Douglass, Stephern Erber, Malcolm Ott, Colin Robertson, David Stock, Sir Miles Warren and Noel Wesney, formed the Theatre Royal Foundation, with the task of raising capital to buy the theatre from Williamson. They were successful in saving the building at the eleventh hour – actually within forty eight hours of the bulldozers moving in. The Theatre Royal’s great history continues.
The list of great artists, of internationally acclaimed companies and of successful productions to have played there in the past 100 years reads like a Guide to the Best in Theatre.
Theatre Royal History 1907 to Present
The history of this well-loved theatre is as colourful as the variety of entertainment, which has been presented in it. Over the years wrestlers and boxers attracted their fans, their seasons often immediately followed by concert artists or ballet companies, early moving pictures – in fact, every type of entertainment imaginable.
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Frontage - Late 1980's |
Work commenced on the building in 1907. Australian brothers Sydney and A.E Luttrell designed the French Renaissance style building and acted as architects and structural engineers during its 15-month construction. Special attention was obviously paid to acoustics and the theatre to this day enjoys a fine reputation for sound quality. With its then traditional horseshoe shaped dress circle and gallery and elaborate fibrous plaster decoration of walls and dome, the theatre was claimed to be “the most modern and comfortable South of the Line”. It opened in February 1908 with a performance of “The Blue Moon” by the Williamson Musical Comedy Company.
In 1928 the Royal underwent a huge upgrading, partly with a view to the screening of films. In a specified 14 weeks – to the day – and at times employing as many as 260 men, the contractors completed a total rebuilding of the interior; only the dome, famous for its Italianate painting of scenes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, by Christchurch artist William Williams remained. Support pillars were removed and the circle and gallery cantilevered to give totally unimpeded sight lines. To replace the old wooden staircase, an elegantly proportioned 10ft wide marble staircase rose to the dress circle. On August 4th 1928, the beautiful “new” Theatre Royal reopened with “The Student Prince”.
For almost 40 years little change occurred. But in 1975 the scaling down of activities of J.C. Williamson Theatres, after almost 100 years in show business promotion, caused the firm to look at its investments in New Zealand. The Wellington Opera House was sold, and, failing an offer for it, the Theatre Royal seemed close to demolition. The people of Christchurch faced the distinct possibility of losing their historic theatre. Initially under the title “The Friends of the Christchurch Theatre Royal”, strenuous public effort was made to save the theatre – support came from all quarters, public interest, City and county councilors, historic places trust, local societies, national touring companies, entrepreneurs and many others. Every possible avenue was explored, engineers’ and architects’ reports were sought and, finally, in 1980, after years of vicissitudes which would have daunted most people, six brave men representing the Trust which had been formed, committed themselves to the purchase of the theatre and its restoration.
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Stalls Foyer and Ticketing Windows |
Between the years 1998 and 2000 improvements included the enlarging and refurbishing of the circle foyer and the relocating of the ladies and gents toilets and administration offices, major earthquake and fire protection throughout the building.
The latest redevelopment and by far the largest was undertaken in two stages run simultaneously over a nine month period (2004-05).
The first stage was the demolition from the Proscenium back of the original brick fly tower and dressing room structure to make way for the new much larger modern concrete fly tower and dressing room facilities. The Proscenium was widened by 1.5m and the new stage and fly tower are wider and deeper.
Stage two involved the refurbishment of upgrading of facilities within the existing Heritage listed public ‘front of house’ areas. Increased entertaining and refreshment facilities, additional toilet facilities and replacement of and increased seating were provided.
Administered by the Theatre Royal Foundation, its daily running watched over by a Board of Management. The Isaac Theatre Royal is a superb Edwardian theatre and is now correctly recognized as being one of New Zealand’s premier venues for the performing arts.
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Old Circle Foyer Facing Manager's Offfice |
Read more about the history of the Theatre Royal in this richly illustrated book.
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