Plan for the Waikato Regional Theatre that will transform the creative heart of the Waikato

I am delighted to release a comprehensive Feasibility Report for a new Waikato Regional Theatre has been presented to Hamilton City Council today.

With the proposal for an 1,100-seat theatre, shared public spaces, a public art gallery, and open promenades with performance spaces, we believe the proposal is for a true, high-end performing arts centre of a calibre that this region deserves.

In July 2016, following the closure of Founders Theatre, Momentum Waikato made a promise on behalf of our donors and our community to follow a robust process to arrive at the best outcome for a new regional theatre for the Waikato.

The Waikato Regional Theatre Governance Panel, together with international design consultants Charcoalblue, were appointed to this project and engaged in several months of consultation and investigation to arrive at the preferred location for the theatre.

The consultation period brought out several continuing themes and perhaps the most compelling and inspirational pathway was found in the idea of a ‘creative precinct’, which opens the door to opportunity not just for the thousands of people in the Waikato’s theatrical community, but for the community as a whole.

This process has culminated in the full Feasibility Report being presented to Hamilton City Council today, 24 August 2017.

While there is still more exploration to be done to turn the concept into reality, we believe the recommendations in the Feasibility Report meet the needs and aspirations of our community, and will transform the city centre and inspire the local and wider community.

We encourage you to download and review the information provided in the Feasibility Report and our media announcement, and then to give us your feedback here.

You can also sign up to be notified of the upcoming design consultation process, which we plan to hold in September, as well as receiving regular future updates on the project.

We genuinely want to hear your feedback on the site, with its connections to the river and the CBD, along the technical capabilities for performers and patrons alike.

Submitting feedback will make sure your thoughts are fed into the next stage of the process, so that we can all take a part in creating this transformational opportunity for our region.

Leonard Gardner
Chair
Momentum Waikato Community Foundation

ENDS

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