Consultation with the public has been under way around South Canterbury regarding the future of Timaru’s Theatre Royal.
Theatre Royal project manager Nicole Timney had been hosting drop-in sessions in the Timaru District Council chambers, the foyer of the Royal Theatre and at the Temuka Library.
She had also been setting up meetings with those who wanted them.
This included a drop-in evening at the Playhouse Theatre with members and supporters of the South Canterbury Drama League, who mostly preferred option one — refurbishing the Theatre Royal.
The refurbishment would include removing the back of the house and rebuilding it, along with adding a new heritage facility.
South Canterbury Museum director Philip Howe said he noticed how there had been some misunderstanding of what would be happening on the heritage side.
‘‘We plan to shift all publicfacing programmes and exhibitions next to the Theatre Royal.
‘‘All of the research will stay at the current location — we are splitting our operations.’’
Mr Howe explained how it was difficult to get any travelling exhibitions in their current location due to access and the lack of space.
‘‘The temporary exhibit room is not big enough.
‘‘We want to be able to tell stories — South Canterbury stories — better, and create spaces for activities.’’
He said one of their main focuses was education for children and school groups within the region, as well as enhancing adult learning opportunities.
‘‘I’m really excited from a museum point of view, creating spaces for activities and exhibits for a world class experience for the community.
‘‘This is an opportunity to get interesting things in Timaru.’’
Ms Timney said if anything changed structurally that was not in the contract, it could result in losing the $11.6 million government funding from the Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment.
‘‘We agreed contractually to build both the theatre and the heritage facility.
‘‘If option three is adopted where we only build the theatre, we risk losing that funding.’’
If the funding was lost, the rest would be completely funded by the community.
Councillor Peter Burt said they needed to start moving this forward.
‘‘Let’s start moving it, get the positivity out there.
‘‘It starts as an anchor for the whole community.’’
Ms Timney said locals had not been involved up until now because it had all been structural planning. ‘‘We will get locals involved as we go into the detail part of planning and work with them.’’
South Canterbury Drama League president Chris Thomas said they needed to focus on the plans. ‘‘This has left people with something to think about. ‘‘It might not be absolutely everything that we want but it will be good. ‘‘We need to get online and put our submissions in. ‘‘We run the risk if we don’t vote.’’
Mr Thomas said he hoped for greater communication in the future as they wanted to provide a world-class theatre experience. ‘‘We need to start bringing in travelling shows and the ballet. ‘‘I’m not saying it’s the last chance, but it’s getting close to it.
‘‘We have to get behind this.’’
He also put forward the idea of doing their own fundraising for certain things that they would like to see, which Cr Burt supported.
‘‘Aspirations come with a lot more grunt with skin in the game. That would be a really good start,’’ Cr Burt said.
As of November 9, 160 people had submitted feedback about the project.
Submissions close on November 24 at 6pm and a final decision would be made on December 6 by the council, with an opportunity for the public to speak if they had requested it.
‘‘We have been listening and your feedback is appreciated, we are at crunch time,’’ Ms Timney said.
