Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Victoria '65 Supplement to Salient, Vol. 28, No. 1. 1965.

Entertainment In Wellington

Entertainment In Wellington

Wellington is well-provided for in theatres and cinemas. The Town Hall, Opera House, and St James theatres regularly cater to overseas companies and musicians and also some local productions. Smaller theatres are available in the Town Hall. Concert Chamber and the University's own Memorial Theatre. The local Unity Theatre group is attempting to develop a theatre in Aro St.

A new venture is Downstage Theatre, which has converted the Walkabout coffee lounge in Courtenay Place into a theatre cafe. Most student talent find its expression in Drama Club, Revue Club and Extravaganza productions.

Wellington has two specialist or art cinemas, showing overseas films of high artistic merit. The older established, the Paramount International, has done much to show Wellingtonians that the cinema is an art form as well as an entertainment. The Lido opened in 1064, being re-built from the former Tudor continuous cinema. The other "chain" cinemas are the Majestic, Embassy, Regent and St. James (all Kerridge-Odeon), and the Kings, State and Plaza (Amalgamated Theatres). Two small independants are the Roxy and the Princess. The latter often includes Older films of interest in its programme.

Suburban theatres have become a rapid casually to the Tv. screen. Still surviving in Wellington itself are the Ascot and Rivolli (Newtown), the Regal (Karori) and the Kinema (Kilbirnie).

Theatres

Two film societies also attract a student following. The Wellington Film Society (Box 1584, Wellington) offers a special membership rate to students and holds monthly screenings. The V.U.W. Film Society holds frequent screenings in the Memorial Theatre.

A small cinema often overlooked is the Shell Theatrette, on the ground floor of Shell House. Information and documentary films are often shown here, free of charge. Showings are advertised in Wellington papers.