Sited on the intersection of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s Courtenay Place and Cambridge Terrace, the Hannah Playhouse holds a novel place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s architectural and cultural heritage. Its putting Brutalist design, together with two boldly articulated façades and asymmetrical wedge-shaped roof quantity, has earned the constructing quite a few regional and nationwide structure awards since its opening in 1973.
The 250-seat playhouse was dwelling to the Downstage Theatre firm for 4 many years, till the organisation closed in 2013 resulting from inadequate funding. Main theatre set and costume designer Raymond Boyce was on the board of Downstage when the playhouse was constructed and acted as design advisor to the architects James Beard and Ron Parker, influencing the design of the versatile stage space and auditorium. Over time, the theatre has additionally served as a artistic hub for Capital E (the Nationwide Theatre for Kids) and as a venue for Māori theatre firm Taki Rua.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Central Area Director, Dr Jamie Jacobs, acknowledged the importance of recognising a 50-year-old constructing as heritage.
“Hannah Playhouse’s recognition as a contemporary constructing of such historic significance ushers in a brand new age of heritage appreciation. It invitations us to rejoice the tales and recollections woven into the very material of our modern architectural treasures.”
“The New Zealand Heritage Record Rārangi Kōrero is a complete recognition of the nation’s wealthy and various place-based heritage,” says Jacobs. “It stands as a helpful useful resource, benefiting researchers, historians, college students and property homeowners. The thorough analysis course of accompanying the itemizing generates a publicly accessible report, which enriches our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s heritage and informs planning and improvement choices.”
