Contractors move onto site this week to set the stage for the project to restore Timaru’s Theatre Royal.

Local company Paul Smith Earthmoving will start work this week to demolish the structures that are being upgraded and replaced in preparation for the earthworks required to build the laneway and museum.

Mayor Nigel Bowen said that it was good to see the physical works kick off on the project to bring new life back to more than 100 year old theatre.

“We’ve been too long without a theatre and have missed out on so many events and shows coming to town, so it’s fantastic to see this transformational project kick off.

“It wasn’t great to see all the things we’ve missed out on the past few years for the lack of a good venue to host them.

“The recent Six60 Grassroots tour was in theatres of our size in provincial towns throughout the country, we’ve not had a visit from the 7 Days crew in years, and everyone misses the major shows from the Drama League after the amazing Beauty and the Beast in 2018.

“Carols by Candlelight always filled the auditorium with light and song, proud parents shared their kids’ achievements at the ARA graduation, and I think nearly every kid in the district has been on stage with Jump Jam over the years.

“The comedian Bill Bailey is playing in Oamaru in November, which could have easily been in Timaru, and Jimmy Carr is playing an 11-stop tour of NZ in places of similar size to us. The lack of a large Theatre has meant we’ve not even been in the running for this kind of show.

“The project isn’t just to breathe life back into the theatre and bring it back to what it was.

“It’s to modernise the venue and put an operating model in place to aggressively market the venue and bring shows to Timaru, so we can all benefit from the cultural and economic boost that brings.”

Project Director Paul Haggath of TEAM Projects Advisory said that the commencement of the demolition works is a major milestone for the Theatre and Museum redevelopment.

“It has taken a lot of hard work from the whole project team to reshape the project to a point where we can now start the physical works, and it is great to see the project now moving forwards with pace,” he said.

Murray Beeby, Projects Manager for Paul Smith Earthmoving, said: “Paul Smith Earthmoving is delighted to be involved in this exciting project.

“We have watched its progress over the past few years and relish the opportunity to play our part in the redevelopment of what will be a central focus point for the Timaru community.”

The demolition work takes place from July through to early September, the next stage of the project is the civil and earthworks, which will be kicking off immediately thereafter.

A project hub for the theatre, which will offer the latest designs and behind the scenes information from the project, will be launched soon on the Timaru District Council website.

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