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Drama ahead of new regional theatre build

Aaron Leaman aaron.leaman@stuff.co.nz Stuff.

Waikato’s new premier theatre is still a few years away from becoming reality, but there was no shortage of drama at its official sod turning.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 100 invited guests yesterday for a latemorning ceremony at the site of the soon-to-be-built $76.3 million Waikato Regional Theatre.

Standing under a sky burdened with ashen-coloured rain clouds, Ardern thanked those who had supported the theatre project while also acknowledging the 40-strong antivax protesters who had caught wind of her Hamilton visit.

‘‘I do have some groupies that are following me a little bit,’’ Ardern said in reference to the raucous crowd gathered outside the theatre site’s perimeter fence.

‘‘Their singing is not bad, but their chants need a little bit of work.’’

The roadside protest could have been mistaken for some form of crass street theatre, as animated protesters chanted nonsensical rhymes and hurled schoolyard insults through the locked gate.

Their breathless yelling continued even as guests and dignitaries inside the fenced site paused for karakia.

Ardern said the sod turning ceremony is a milestone moment for a project five years in the planning.

‘‘If Covid has shown us anything, it is how crucial it is for that sense of wellbeing for us to be together, for us to experience the arts, to have an outlet for creativity,’’ she said.

‘‘And here we will have that . . . what a legacy you are creating.’’

Momentum Waikato has led the fundraising drive for the new 1300-seat theatre, while the Waikato Regional Property Trust will govern the theatre.

In a nod to the challenges of building a world-class theatre in the midst of a pandemic, Ross Hargood, chairman of the Waikato Regional Property Trust, told the gathering the theatre project has gone through its own traffic light system.

‘‘Green as Momentum won support for the project, orange while [Momentum] raised funds, and the occasional red light as we dealt with various bigger issues and Covid,’’ Hargood said.

‘‘Now you’re here, Prime Minister, to give us the green light for the theatre.

‘‘We can’t wait for opening night, we look forward to seeing you all there, including the Prime Minister.’’

The Waikato Regional Theatre will be built on the corner of Victoria St and Sapper MooreJones Pl at the site of the former Hamilton Hotel.

It’s due to be completed by the first quarter of 2024.

The new theatre replaces the disused Founders Theatre as Waikato’s premier arts venue.

Ardern has followed the debate over Founders and appreciates the building holds special memories for many people. The Prime Minister attended her university graduation and watched her sister perform dance recitals there.

‘‘You think about how much discussion there was about the future of Founders Theatre, that’s because people felt connected to it, they had so many memories from there,’’ Ardern told

‘‘But, I think, at the same time, moving forward with projects like this [regional theatre] is the right thing to do.’’

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said the Waikato Regional Theatre will be a worldclass venue and its journey from an idea to reality is a tribute to the people who were bold enough to advocate and support it.

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2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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