Globe Theatre repair project set to begin

Friends of the Globe Theatre chairman Keith Scott indicates where water damage has occurred over...
Friends of the Globe Theatre chairman Keith Scott indicates where water damage has occurred over many years on the back wall of the historic house adjoining the London St theatre. PHOTO: BRENDA HARWOOD

A $20,000 grant from the Otago Community Trust will help the Friends of the Globe Theatre tackle urgent repair work at the theatre.

Newly appointed chairman Keith Scott said the project would involve repairing a section of the back wall of the historic William Mason house, to which the High St theatre is attached.

The wall had been sustaining water damage since the 1980s, when an adjacent property was developed, resulting in a bowing wall and rotting floor joists near the kitchen area, Mr Scott said.

Costed at about $75,000, the project will be funded through a $30,000 grant from the Dunedin City Council Heritage Fund, the $20,000 community trust grant and residual funds held by the Friends of the Globe Theatre after its redevelopment of the theatre.

"We had kept some money aside for this work, and it is very encouraging to have received these grants as well,'' Mr Scott said.

"The situation has been investigated by the builders and now we are ready to go ahead.''

The project will include building a timber-framed wall in the kitchen, parallel to the damaged external wall, to support the upper storey of the house and to allow the kitchen and Green Room to be used during the repairs.

In addition, the spouting and drainage will be stabilised and basic renovations will be completed.

The work would be done by the same team that redeveloped the theatre, led by Amalgamated Builders Ltd and Robin Miller, of Origin Consultants, he said.

The repairs will form phase 1 of a larger project to conserve and eventually restore the 1864 house, which has a Heritage New Zealand category 1 listing.

The repairs are the first major project for Mr Scott as new chairman of the Friends of the Globe Theatre, although he has been a committee member for the past five years.

Mr Scott was appointed chairman at the Globe Theatre annual meeting on March 25, at which theatre stalwarts Brian and Rosemary Beresford stepped down.

The committee also includes Lynne Keen (deputy chairwoman), Paul Allicott (secretary) and members Lorraine Johnston, Campbell Thomson, Helen Fearnley, Sofie Welvaert, Ray Fleury and Brian Byas.

BRENDA.HARWOOD @thestar.co.nz

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