New Zealand Local Custom Tips by rozehill

Theatre Royal in Christchurch

The existing Theatre Royal is in fact the third Theatre Royal in Gloucester Street. Christchurch's first theatre, the Canterbury Music Hall, was built in 1861 and renamed the Theatre Royal five years later. In 1876 the building was replaced by one designed by Alfred Simpson. Designed in the Edwardian Baroque style by the Luttrell Brothers, the third version was a sturdy red brick building with Oamaru stone dressings. It opened in 1908 with a performance of Blue Moon. With its traditional horseshoe-shaped dress circle and gallery and fibrous plaster decoration or walls and dome. Twenty years later the Royal underwent major changes so movies could be screened. In just 14 weeks the contractors rebuilt the interior, according to the theatre brochure. Only the dome, famous for its Italianate painting by Christchurch artist William Williams of scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream remained. Support pillars were removed and the circle and gallery cantilevered to give clear sight lines. An elegantly proportioned 3 metre wide marble staircase rose to the dress circle, replacing the old wooden staircase. Little change occurred for the next 40 years. However in 1975, the owner J C Williamson Theatres, began scaling down activities after almost 100 years in show business promotion. Supporters of the theatre rallied to save the building and the newly-formed Friends of the Christchurch Theatre Royal attracted widespread support from city leaders, companies, the Historic Places Trust and many individuals. Finally, in 1980, the Theatre Royal Trust committed itself to the purchase and restoration of the theatre. The Theatre Royal, with its grand interior and excellent acoustics, continues to attract bookings for shows like Rush which performed there this month. It looks set to provide many more years of entertainment.

Paua Oyster

Paua Oyster Shell

NZ Paua

Family: Haliotidae. 70 living species. Nicknamed the sea ears, the Abalone’s flattened, oval shape with iridescent interior can reach up to one foot in length. The animal uses the small holes for exhaling water. The many types of Abalone shells are found on rocks near the shores of all warm waters with the exception of the western Atlantic Ocean. The thick muscle, or foot, of the animal is edible and sold as a delicacy in many countries. Most of the abalone meat is exported to Asia