The Rangiora Town Hall turns 100 this year, and the bright lights of the Main Auditorium will again play host to dancers and musicians from across the district as the Waimakariri arts community reminisces on a century of performances.

On Saturday, September 5, the Rangiora Town Hall Centenary Showcase will be presented as a matinee show at 2 pm and a main show at 6:30 pm.

It promises to be a night of entertainment, music, and just a hint of nostalgia, with performances by the North Canterbury Musical Society, Rangiora RSA Brass Band, North Canterbury Academy of Music, Hartley School of Performing Arts, North Canterbury School of Dance, Jenna McKenzie School of Dance, and many more.

Production Manager and Committee Member, Dale Hartley-Brown of Hartley School of Performing Arts (HSPA) says there’s something for everyone at the shows.

“We’ve pulled together performers from all corners of the arts scene to pay tribute to this incredible venue in a variety show with a little 1920s flair.”

“We’ve packed in as much as we can to give the audience a night that they will hopefully be talking about another 100 years from now,” she says.

For Dale, the Rangiora Town Hall’s Main Auditorium has been her favourite performing place since she first tread the boards there in 1996.

“I was 12-years-old, and I had gone along with a friend to audition for the North Canterbury Musical Society’s production of the musical ‘Annie’, and I ended up in the lead role.”

She says things were a bit different back then as the theatre part of the town hall wasn’t what it is today.

“You entered the town hall through the turret, and the foyer was very small.

"There were only basic facilities for performers, and the rooms we used were actually underground and at times very cold and damp. It even flooded one year, and we had to use a bus parked outside as a changing room.

"I always remember there was only one toilet situated on the side of the stage itself, and performers had to wait for a laugh or applause to flush the loo. It wasn’t a pleasant smell at times, but I loved being there.

“I have so many fond memories of the shows I took part in or ran over the years, and I still love the smell of old school grease paint and make-up.”

The earthquake of 2011 changed everything, and despite the tragedy of it, Dale believes it was the rebirth of the town hall.

“It was a game changer for the town hall. It’s now been developed into an amazing space that has just boomed since it reopened in 2015.

“Now it’s a lovely place to work in. There are wonderful facilities, it's warm, and there are plenty of toilets available.”

She says one of the highlights of her 40-year-long association with the town hall was the first production following its reopening in 2015, the HSPA production of The Wizard of Oz.

‘‘It was a massive highlight. I had played Dorothy as a kid, and it was the first show I had directed in four years.’’

“Now we have a space that fits the needs of the community and artists in the district, and it’s going to be a fun commemorating it all in a couple of weeks time.”

Tickets for the shows are available from the Rangiora Town Hall Cinema or online at townhallcinemas.co.nz.

There will also be a photographic and historical information display in the upstairs area of the Rangiora Town Hall over the weekend, which anyone can view.