Page 7 - OT_70th Anniversary
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None of these ideas proved viable and it The Society had a new building, virtually no
was a great relief when the Council equipment and a debt of $10,000. Who
decided against the Norfolk Street cared? We celebrated the opening with
extensions. The suggestion was made that gusto and flair and a marvelous production
maybe we could use the land behind the of ‘Noah’.
house to build some sort of acting space
and continue to upgrade the house?
Thus the Octagon Theatre
came into being!
Delwyn Taylor, Ann Munn and John Allen in 'Noah'
Within a year the facility proved too small,
and plans were made to extend the foyer,
build a stage properties workplace, and
seal the car park. These additions were
Once the project was agreed upon, completed in July 1982 at a cost of
arrangements snowballed. Over the space $40,666.
of about three or four years, plans were
made, money was somehow raised in The dining concept had proved itself to be
various ways, objections were overcome very successful and, without it, the Society
and the theatre was built. would not have achieved its goals.
However the kitchen also proved to be
inadequate and an $8,000 renovation was
completed by April 1985. At this time the
Society received approval to purchase the
property at 13 Aubrey Street from the
Whangarei City Council.
WHOOPS!!! We had spent all our money.
With the knowledge that the 'system' takes
a long time to make final decisions, the
Society took the mighty leap forward and
decided to buy. The asking price was
$52,000 and in August 1986 we became
the rightful owners of the property on which
John Allen President 1979 and His Worship the Mayor, sits the Octagon Theatre today.
Mr Ted Elliott
One year and three days later, we had
On Saturday July 28 1979 the new Theatre repaid $20,000 of the loan back to the
was opened by His Worship the Mayor, Mr
Ted Elliott, at a finished cost of $38,000, up Bank.
from an estimated cost of $17 000. Who
needs maths?
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