Circa Theatre Looks Forward to the Next Million Patrons

7 November 2012

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For immediate release

Circa Theatre Looks Forward to the Next Million Patrons

At an event on Monday night hosted by comedian Dai Henwood and attended by Sponsors, Friends and Patrons, Circa announced the name of the Millionth Patron, unveiled plans for the future of the Circa building and launched the Millionth Bum Fundraising Campaign.

Congratulations to Renate Savage, who purchased the one millionth ticket through Circa’s waterfront box office. After making a spectacular arrival at the event in a helicopter, she was awarded with a prize package including a night in the Museum Hotel, a three course dinner with matching wine at Hippopotamus Restaurant and Bar, two bottles of wine from Gladstone Vineyard and a double pass to every production at Circa Theatre in 2013.

“The word that comes to mind about Monday night is smile – it was such a smiley evening!” said Mrs Savage. “And that’s how I feel about Circa – Wellington has a lot to smile about because of Circa. Theatre is such an important part of life and Circa brings so much happiness to so many people in Wellington. Thank you to all the actors and people involved in Circa from the bottom of my heart.”

Theatre Artists Charitable Trust Board member Anna Kennedy presented plans for an exciting redevelopment of the Circa building, including expanding on the foyer and restaurant areas as well as the rehearsal and performance spaces, making Circa Theatre a world class theatre destination on Wellington’s waterfront. Circa’s first priority will be to replace the seats in Circa One, which haven’t been upgraded since they were first installed in 1994.

The Hon. Chris Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, kicked off the Millionth Bum Fundraising Campaign, calling for a community effort to help Circa realise its goals. Circa will ‘sell’ the new seats for $1000 each, earning the ‘buyer’ a commemorative plaque on the back of a seat in the theatre. Circa will also hold fundraising events throughout the year and will accept donations of any denomination.

In 1976, Circa Theatre opened on Harris Street, a small theatre space managed and run by a breakaway group of actors and theatre practitioners who decided a new way of producing theatre was required for New Zealand. In 1994, after 18 years of presenting some of the liveliest and most innovative theatre in New Zealand, Circa moved into the much larger, purpose-built building on Wellington’s Waterfront. Since then, Circa Theatre has continued its tradition of producing the highest quality professional theatre in Wellington.

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