St. James Theatre, Auckland
Encyclopedia
The St James Theatre is a heritage stage theatre and cinema located on Queen Street in Auckland
, New Zealand
. Built in 1928, it was a replacement for the older Fuller's Opera house and was originally designed for vaudeville
acts. Its architect Henry Eli White also designed many other famous theatres in Australia and New Zealand; these include the St James Theatre in Wellington and the State Theatre in Sydney
. It has been closed since 2007 after a fire raised concerns about safety and compliance.
The building is classified as a "Category I" ("places of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value") historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
.
The St James Theatre was commissioned by John Fullers and Sons Limited to replace the Fuller's Opera House that burned down in 1926. They acquired the site on Queen Street opposite the Civic Square for around £100,000 and the construction of the theatre was estimated to cost around £80,000. Construction was completed in 1928, at the time it was targeted at vaudeville
acts. Upon its completion, the eldest brother of the Fuller family, Sir Benjamin Fuller
, pronounced St James to be "the theatre perfect". The theatre's grand opening
was on July 5, 1928 with the London Musical Company performing Archie.
Renovations
The St James has undergone several major modifications since its construction. Just a year after it was finished, in 1929, cinema projectors were added as cinema was gaining popularity over vaudeville. From then on cinema became a major part of St James, its first film screening was Gold Diggers of Broadway
shown on Boxing Day
1929.
In 1953 the building's facade
and vestibule
underwent renovation for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, who attended a cinema premiere screening there in December that year. As part of these renovations, the unique facade was hidden behind sheets of metal in an attempt to give the building a more modern look.
In 1957 the Odeon Cinema with 670 seats was added to the theatre complex. In 1966 there were further modifications to the Queen Street facade, and in 1966 the Westend Cinema was added, and the Regent Theatre in 1982.
Closure & Possible Restoration
In 2007 a fire damaged the theatre and it has not been open to the public since then. Any new work to restore the building would require earthquake proofing according to Auckland City Council's building standards, adding to the cost of any future restoration of the theatre. A 29-story apartment building next to the theatre has been approved by the Auckland City Council in 2009. The developer behind the planned construction, and the current owner of the St James, Paul Doole, has stated that the cost to restore and to reopen the theatre is estimated to be around $50 million.
and Sir Ralph Richardson. In 1963 it saw The Black and White Minstrel Show
, which at its time was the stage show seen by the largest number of people. In 1972 the successful West End
musical play Charlie Girl
performed at the St James with its original cast. At the 1981 Royal Command Performance
held at the theatre for the visiting Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Howard Morrison held a premier performance of his te reo Māori version of the song How Great Thou Art
that launched his commercial success.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Built in 1928, it was a replacement for the older Fuller's Opera house and was originally designed for vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
acts. Its architect Henry Eli White also designed many other famous theatres in Australia and New Zealand; these include the St James Theatre in Wellington and the State Theatre in Sydney
State Theatre (Sydney)
The State Theatre is a heritage-listed theatre, located in Market Street, in the city centre of Sydney, Australia.The Sydney Film Festival is hosted there for two weeks each June, and has been there since 1974.-Description and history:...
. It has been closed since 2007 after a fire raised concerns about safety and compliance.
The building is classified as a "Category I" ("places of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value") historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
.
History
ConstructionThe St James Theatre was commissioned by John Fullers and Sons Limited to replace the Fuller's Opera House that burned down in 1926. They acquired the site on Queen Street opposite the Civic Square for around £100,000 and the construction of the theatre was estimated to cost around £80,000. Construction was completed in 1928, at the time it was targeted at vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
acts. Upon its completion, the eldest brother of the Fuller family, Sir Benjamin Fuller
Ben Fuller (producer)
Sir Benjamin John "Ben" Fuller was an English-born Australian theatrical entrepreneur.Fuller was born in London to compositor John Fuller and Harriett, née Jones...
, pronounced St James to be "the theatre perfect". The theatre's grand opening
Grand opening
Grand opening is a term used when a business, public office, or private association wishes to announce the official opening of a new location. This differs from just opening the doors on the first day, in that a grand opening is more of a celebration event, not just the first day having the doors...
was on July 5, 1928 with the London Musical Company performing Archie.
Renovations
The St James has undergone several major modifications since its construction. Just a year after it was finished, in 1929, cinema projectors were added as cinema was gaining popularity over vaudeville. From then on cinema became a major part of St James, its first film screening was Gold Diggers of Broadway
Gold Diggers of Broadway (film)
Gold Diggers of Broadway is a 1929 Warner Bros. comedy/musical film which is historically important as the second two-strip Technicolor all-talking feature length movie . Gold Diggers of Broadway was also the third movie released by Warner Bros...
shown on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1929.
In 1953 the building's facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
and vestibule
Vestibule (architecture)
A vestibule is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.The same term can apply to structures in modern or ancient roman architecture. In modern architecture vestibule typically refers to a small room or hall between an entrance and the interior of...
underwent renovation for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, who attended a cinema premiere screening there in December that year. As part of these renovations, the unique facade was hidden behind sheets of metal in an attempt to give the building a more modern look.
In 1957 the Odeon Cinema with 670 seats was added to the theatre complex. In 1966 there were further modifications to the Queen Street facade, and in 1966 the Westend Cinema was added, and the Regent Theatre in 1982.
Closure & Possible Restoration
In 2007 a fire damaged the theatre and it has not been open to the public since then. Any new work to restore the building would require earthquake proofing according to Auckland City Council's building standards, adding to the cost of any future restoration of the theatre. A 29-story apartment building next to the theatre has been approved by the Auckland City Council in 2009. The developer behind the planned construction, and the current owner of the St James, Paul Doole, has stated that the cost to restore and to reopen the theatre is estimated to be around $50 million.
Entertainers
While active, the theatre has hosted many famous performers such as the theatrical actors Sir Laurence Olivier, Vivien LeighVivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh, Lady Olivier was an English actress. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire , a role she also played on stage in London's West End, as well as for her portrayal of the southern belle Scarlett O'Hara, alongside Clark...
and Sir Ralph Richardson. In 1963 it saw The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show was a British light entertainment show that ran on BBC television from 1958-1978 and was a popular stage show. It was a weekly light entertainment and variety show presenting traditional American minstrel and Country songs, as well as show and music hall numbers,...
, which at its time was the stage show seen by the largest number of people. In 1972 the successful West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
musical play Charlie Girl
Charlie Girl
Charlie Girl is a musical comedy which premiered in the West End of London at the Adelphi Theatre on December 15, 1965 and played for 2,202 performances, closing on March 27, 1971...
performed at the St James with its original cast. At the 1981 Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
held at the theatre for the visiting Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Howard Morrison held a premier performance of his te reo Māori version of the song How Great Thou Art
How Great Thou Art (hymn)
"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...
that launched his commercial success.