Mayfair Theatre

The Mayfair Theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand, is a historic venue that opened on 8 December 1914 as the King Edward Picture Theatre. It was built as a purpose-designed cinema by the King Edward Picture Theatre Company, whose backers included prominent Dunedin business figures such as William and Mary Ann Hudson of the Hudson confectionery company, brewer Charles Speight, and Robert and Charles Greenslade of Speight's brewery. The building is located on King Edward Street in South Dunedin, near the crossroads known as Cargill's Corner. It was modified for sound in 1934 and renamed the Mayfair Theatre, with a re-fit designed by Llewellyn E. Williams. It closed as a cinema on 25 September 1966 and was acquired by the Dunedin Opera Company in 1967, which converted it into a live venue, reducing seating from 862 to 413. In 2013 the Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust was formed from members of the Dunedin Opera Company, and on 30 June 2014 the Opera Company gifted the theatre to the Trust. The theatre is registered as a Category II historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Today it operates as a 400-seat venue for live performances by local community groups and touring agencies. Note: The official website mayfairtheatre.ca refers to a different Mayfair Theatre located in Ottawa, Canada, which is a single-screen cinema showing films and hosting events. The two entities share a name but are distinct.

The Mayfair Theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand, was opened on 8 December 1914 as the King Edward Picture Theatre. It was built as a purpose-designed cinema by the King Edward Picture Theatre Company, which included prominent Dunedin business people such as William and Mary Ann Hudson of the Hudson confectionery company, brewer Charles Speight, and Robert and Charles Greenslade of Speight's brewery. The design is attributed to Edward Walter Walden (died 1944), though it likely reflects the expertise of Edmund Anscombe (1874–1948). The theatre features a rectangular auditorium and exuberant plasterwork by Robert Wardrop (1858–1924), including caryatids and putti. It was modified for sound in 1934 and renamed the Mayfair Theatre, with a re-fit designed by Llewellyn E. Williams that altered the proscenium and added stained glass windows. It closed as a cinema on 25 September 1966. In 1967 it was acquired by the Dunedin Opera Company, which converted it to a live venue, reducing seating from 862 to 413 by removing ground floor stalls and advancing the proscenium. It has since operated as a live theatre, particularly for opera. By 2008 it was one of the oldest three remaining purpose-designed cinema buildings in New Zealand. In 2008 a new fire alarm system was installed, and on 5 December 2008 the theatre was registered as a Category II historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. In 2013 the Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust was formed from members of the Dunedin Opera Company and registered as a charity on 15 October 2013. On 30 June 2014 the Dunedin Opera Company gifted the theatre to the Trust, separating the two groups. The theatre continues to serve as a community venue.

• 2014

  Theatre gifted to the Trust on 30 June

• 2013

  Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust formed and registered as charity on 15 October

• 2008

  Registered as Category II historic place on 5 December

• 1967

  Acquired by Dunedin Opera Company and converted to live venue

• 1966

  Closed as a cinema on 25 September

• 1934

  Modified for sound and renamed Mayfair Theatre

• 1914

  Opened as King Edward Picture Theatre on 8 December

Community-focused historic live performance venue

Product categories. Live performances · Opera · Community events · Cinema screenings (historically)

1. 1Mayfair Theatre official websitemayfairtheatre.ca
2. 2Mayfair Theatre, Dunedin - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Mayfair Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Mayfair Theatremayfairtheatre.ca
5. 5Mayfair Theatremayfairtheatre.ca