Mayfair Theatre, Dunedin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayfair Theatre |
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The Mayfair Theatre in 2007
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| Former names | King Edward Picture Theatre |
| General information | |
| Type | Theatre |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | South Dunedin |
| Address | 100 King Edward Street |
| Town or city | Dunedin |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°53′34″S 170°29′54″E / 45.89272°S 170.49830°E |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Inaugurated | 7 December 1914 |
| Renovated | 1967 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Unreinforced masonry |
| Floor count | two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edward Walter Walden |
| Designated: | 5 December 2008 |
| Reference #: | 7786 |
The Mayfair Theatre is a historic building in Dunedin, New Zealand. It first opened on December 8, 1914, as a movie theater called the "King Edward Picture Theatre." Today, it is a 400-seat venue for plays, concerts, and other live shows.
The theatre is owned by the Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust. It hosts many local community groups and touring performers. You can find it on King Edward Street in South Dunedin, near the famous crossroads known as Cargill's Corner.
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History of the Theatre
The theatre was built in 1914 to be a movie cinema. The company that built it included some of Dunedin's most famous business people. Among them were William and Mary Ann Hudson, who started the Hudson's candy company, and Charles Speight from the Speight's brewery.
Designing a Grand Cinema
The building was designed by an architect named Edward Walter Walden. However, many people think the design also shows the special style of another famous architect, Edmund Anscombe.
When it was built, going to the movies was a new and exciting activity. The theatre had a long, rectangular room for the audience, which was perfect for watching films. The inside was decorated with amazing plaster designs made by Robert Wardrop. These decorations include serious-looking statues of women that look like pillars, and playful statues of little cherubs.
From Silent Films to Live Shows
In 1934, movies started to have sound. The theatre was updated with new sound equipment and was renamed the Mayfair Theatre. The arch around the stage was changed, and new stained-glass windows were added.
The Mayfair showed movies for many years until it closed on September 25, 1966. The next year, the Dunedin Opera Company bought the building and turned it into a theatre for live performances. They removed some seats and moved the stage forward to make it bigger. This changed the seating from 862 to 413, creating a great space for plays and operas.
The Theatre Today
The Mayfair is one of the oldest buildings in New Zealand that was first built as a cinema. Because of its importance, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust named it a Category II historic place on December 5, 2008. This means it is a special building that is protected for its history.
In 2013, the Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust was created to look after the building. The Dunedin Opera Company gave the theatre to the trust in 2014. This allows the trust to focus on keeping the theatre a wonderful place for the whole community to enjoy.
