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would require the use of the chamber, necessitating the set being struck and taken to the Durham Street Art
Gallery; the furniture being moved back into the chamber and the process reversed for the next evening's performance. The Stone Chamber was one of the city's most magnificent structures, but it
318:
After the 2011 earthquakes, the Court remained in the Shed while planning for a permanent home in the city. In
December 2019, Ross Gumbley became the Court's Artistic Adviser/Lead Director, helping to plan for a new theatre, while Daniel Pengelly took over as Interim Artistic Director. In May 2020,
233:
Next was the Durham Street Art
Gallery (June 1971 – May 1972), which was used as an interim venue between the Canterbury Society of Arts vacating the premises and the Law Court expanding into the area. From June to August 1972, the Court was housed in the Beggs Theatrette and staged two productions
237:
The next four years (September 1972 – February 1976) were a period of relative stability. The Court
Theatre was housed at The Orange Hall on Worcester Street. In 1974, Mervyn Thompson stood down leaving Yvette Bromley as sole artistic director until 1975 when Randall Wackrow (who had joined the
361:. Its education programme provides training for school-age students and adults, regularly liaising with high school and tertiary institutions as well as other community groups. The company also produces school holiday kids' shows and an annual touring primary school show.
272:. Hooper served as artistic director for more than two decades. Hooper declared his intent to balance the theatre's repertoire with "three main thrusts — the classic, the contemporary and the indigenous". Although economic pressure saw a fledgling second auditorium,
306:. Hooper retired as artistic director in 1999 and Catherine Downes served as artistic director of the Court Theatre from 2000 to 2005. Ross Gumbley became the Court's Artistic Director in 2006 and helped the Court find a new venue in Addington when the
364:
Furthermore, the company employs a troupe of professional improvisors and corporate entertainers, the Court
Jesters. The most public face of their work is the improv comedy show "Scared Scriptless" which is staged every Friday night at 10:15pm.
329:
In July 2020 the Court entered into a lease agreement with the local council for a new venue in the city centre that was yet to be built. The venue was originally due to open in 2023 but in 2021 it was rescheduled for 2024. In
October 2023,
326:, the Court Theatre's shows were postponed or cancelled. The Court began staging productions in the Shed's foyer with safety measures in place in August 2020 and on 21 September 2020 announced that the main auditorium would be reopening.
353:
The Court
Theatre employs professionals from around the country and internationally. It sustains a full-time professional staff and an ensemble acting company and is administered by the Court Theatre Trust.
357:
In addition to being a full-time professional theatre company, the Court
Theatre operates numerous other activities in the community. The company annually tours a show regionally around the
336:
reported that the theatre was in a precarious financial position. At that time chief executive
Barbara George said that the last profitable show for the theatre had been
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in 1971 who served as Co-artistic
Directors for the first three years of the company. Bromley chose the theatre's name out of affection for the
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In November 2023, George resigned as chief executive following allegations of a culture of bullying within the organisation.
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During the first eighteen months of its existence, the Court had three venues. The first was the Stone Chamber of the
77:
276:, closed as a regular venue following the economic slump of the mid-eighties (although it was to be later revived as
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From 1977 to 1978, Randall Wackrow served as sole artistic director, standing down in 1979 with the appointment of
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was impractical for a theatre company, as there was little room for an audience and a lack of toilets.
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528:"Arrivals and Departures: The Directorship of the Court Theatre, Christchurch"
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in the late 1980s and the formation of professional improvisation troupe, the
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in December 2011. As of 2023 it is New Zealand's largest theatre company.
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complex, in the buildings which were formerly the Engineering School of
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This article is about the theatre in Christchurch. For other uses, see
650:. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 13 September 2011. Archived from
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Pengelly was appointed artistic director until 31 December 2020.
810:"Court Theatre CEO resigns after allegations of 'toxic' culture"
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company as Business Manager in 1973) joined her as co-director.
644:"Star of Stage and Screen to Support Court Theatre Fundraising"
214:, which she knew well from her upbringing and drama education.
211:
784:"Court Theatre 'running out of cash', amid culture crisis"
160:, New Zealand. It was founded in 1971 and located in the
283:
The Court expanded its company with the introduction of
221:(April – May 1971), where the Court's début production,
724:"Covid-19 updates - information from the Court Theatre"
265:. The performance space was previously lecture room D.
699:"The Court Theatre Announces New Artistic Director"
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445:. Christchurch: Court Theatre. Archived from
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156:is a professional theatre company based in
418:"Why does the Court Theatre drama matter?"
196:The company was founded by Yvette Bromley
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310:destroyed the Court's Arts Centre venue.
280:), overall this philosophy was rewarded.
129:Learn how and when to remove this message
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302:and the 1990 Commemoration medal by the
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674:"Artistic Changes at the Court Theatre"
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910:Arts organizations established in 1971
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219:Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers
65:Please improve this article by adding
808:Redstall, Shannon (6 November 2023).
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782:Redstall, Shannon (2 October 2023).
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915:Organisations based in Christchurch
753:McDonald, Liz (22 September 2020).
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471:"Reliving Court's ties to landmark"
27:New Zealand theatre in Christchurch
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930:1971 establishments in New Zealand
534:. Spring 1979 (13). Archived from
257:In 1976, the company moved to the
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561:"Alumni - Hon doc - Elric Hooper"
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78:"Court Theatre" New Zealand
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469:Crean, Mike (22 October 2011).
298:In 1990, Hooper was awarded an
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416:Brooks, Sam (2 October 2023).
342:in the 2020/21 summer season.
32:Court Theatre (disambiguation)
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225:was staged. Occasionally the
223:The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
191:Canterbury Provincial Council
164:from 1976 until the February
67:secondary or tertiary sources
308:2011 Christchurch earthquake
168:. It opened new premises in
166:2011 Christchurch earthquake
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394:. Christchurch City Council
392:Christchurch City Libraries
349:Current role and activities
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250:The Court Theatre at the
565:University of Canterbury
443:"Christchurch's Theatre"
259:Christchurch Arts Centre
252:Christchurch Arts Centre
181:Founding and early years
162:Christchurch Arts Centre
145:The current premises in
920:Culture in Christchurch
886:43.54136°S 172.61039°E
593:"History of the Court"
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54:relies excessively on
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835:"Scared Scriptless"
538:on 15 February 2021
503:New Zealand History
388:"The Court Theatre"
314:The Shed, Addington
208:Royal Court Theatre
734:on 10 October 2020
263:Canterbury College
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289:Australasia
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