Mercury Theatre (Auckland)

Mercury Theatre (Auckland)

The Mercury Theatre is a theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, located on Karangahape Road. It was built in 1910, by the architect Edward Bartley and is the oldest surviving theatre in Auckland. Built in the English Baroque style, it was initially known as the Kings Theatre. However in 1926 on being coverted into a cinema, a new entrance on Karangahape Road was built, which is now the Norman building.

It gained popularity from the late 1960s where it was owned by the Mercury Theatre Company from 1962 to 1990. The Auckland Theatre Trust was established in 1966 and raised the finance to open it formally as a professional theatre in 1968. cite web|url=http://0-www.aucklandcity.govt.nz.www.elgar.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/virt-exhib/realgold/Arts/mercury-theatre.html|title=Mercury Theatre Records (1966-1990)|publisher=Auckland City Government|accessdate=August 27|accessyear=2008] The first production initiated by the theatre was "The Admirable Crichton" by J.M Barrie. At least 12 productions were put on annually after this period ranging from children's pantomines to serious tragedy-dramas including those by Shakespeare and Chekhov. Notable actors who performed at the theatre during their careers include Pam Ferris, Lee Grant, Roy Billing, George Henare, Michael Hurst and Ian Mune.Raymond Hawthorne joined the theatre in 1971 and worked as an actor, director and a tutor and became artistic director of the theatre in 1985 until its closure in 1992. [cite web|author=Meyer-Dinkgräfe,Daniel| url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GYsu5Tfr1eAC&pg=PA118&lpg=PA118&dq=Mercury+Theatre++auckland&source=web&ots=04RdPMrEES&sig=8w3r2--Hi0JnKbxiKnmPVvl3-7w&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result|title=Who's Who in Contemporary World Theatre|date=2000|pages=p.118|publisher=Routledge|accessdate=August 27|accessyear=2008]

Although the theatre steadily attracted visitors, the extravagance of the theatre productions and running costs forced the Mercury Theatre as it was to close in 1992, putting on a final production of "The Wind in the Willows".

The theatre is currently owned by a church, but occasionally is used for theatrical performances.

References

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