Fears held for neglected 1883 theatre

Heritage advocates are warning the historic Odeon Theatre could be lost to Christchurch if urgent action is not taken.

The theatre has been a Tuam Street landmark since 1883. It is the oldest masonry theatre in the country and one of only three purpose-built 19th-century theatres that have survived in New Zealand.

However, neglect and the ravages of time mean the Odeon is slowly falling into disrepair.

The theatre's owner, property developer Dave Henderson, is having financial difficulties, and a month ago Christchurch City councillors voted to buy five Henderson-owned properties but not the Odeon.

That decision surprised the Odeon Trust, which was set up in 2004 to try to preserve the theatre.

Chairman Nick Paris said he believed a refurbished Odeon would have met the council's vision to revitalise a moribund part of the central city. He feared the theatre's future was far from secure.

"There are structural issues in one particular corner of the building that need to be seen to," he said.

"Any building that amount of years old has issues, with plaster becoming brittle and all of that sort of stuff. Some of the building's ornate plaster is actually deteriorating alarmingly.

"The ambulance is almost at the bottom of the cliff. I haven't been in the building for about six months, but the last time I looked at it, it wasn't in good shape.

"My frustration is about the slow pace of events. I know these things take time, but unfortunately this particular case doesn't have that up its sleeve."

The Historic Places Trust's southern region general manager, Malcolm Duff, said the Odeon was a category 1-registered building, had recognised heritage values and was an integral part of New Zealand's heritage.

"One of the most notable and nationally significant uses was for the public meetings held in 1893 when Kate Sheppard led the campaign for women's suffrage from Christchurch," he said.

Independently from council debates over the theatre, city council-owned management company Vbase has spent a year considering whether to make a bid for the theatre.

Chief executive Bryan Pearson said Vbase's interest had not progressed beyond informal discussions.

"We do have an interest in the Odeon's potential as a venue to bring more visitors and events to Christchurch," he said.

"We see that it has real potential as a wonderful venue. Obviously it would need to be brought back to its former glory and there is considerable cost involved in that.

"The opportunity that we see for it as a venue would require a specialist fit-out, and all of those things need to be taken into account in deciding whether we want to take it forward formally. We haven't got to that point yet."

- © Fairfax NZ News