If use of the Regent Theatre is not increased, its viability could be at risk, the outgoing chairwoman of the Otago Theatre Trust, Bronwyn Powell, says.
Her comments, made at the trust annual meeting last week, come as the theatre is facing a major redevelopment which, when announced last year, was expected to cost about $10 million.
A major part of the redevelopment will involve upgrading the theatre's outmoded counterweight system which raises and lowers the scenery.
The limitations of the existing system mean that the theatre has difficulty staging productions with large and complex sets, including some major Royal New Zealand Ballet productions. Sets for some ballets seen at the theatre in the past have had to be scaled down.
At this stage, plans for the redevelopment are still being finalised.
Incoming trust chairman Michael Shield said the cost of the project was also not settled yet and he could not give an indication of when the fundraising campaign would be launched.
Originally, it had been thought that the building could begin early in 2009, but he expected it to be later than that.
Ms Powell, who chaired the trust for six years, said in order to sustain and maintain the theatre and justify the redevelopment, it was imperative use of the theatre was increased.
In the past financial year, decreased revenue and increased costs meant the theatre had to draw on funds raised from the book and music sales to support the theatre's operation.
During the year, both performance/film days and ticket sales had been lower than in the previous year.
There were 39 live performance days and 24 film days last financial year compared with 44 live performance days and 36 film days for the previous one.
The difference between the years did not seem great, but it had to be remembered that in the previous year the theatre was out of action for more than three months because of building work.
Incoming chairman Michael Shield was not prepared to elaborate on the trust's financial situation other than to say the theatre was not in dire straits.
Increasing theatre use would make a difference and the trust and new manager Sarah Anderson, who was appointed at the beginning of this year, were working hard on that.
It was always difficult to attract shows to this end of the country, he said.
A year ago, the trust celebrated the first stage of redevelopment with the official opening of a $2.4 million upgrade, which included new toilets and disabled access.
Ms Powell said theatre patrons had been full of praise of the toilet facilities and the lift. Those with mobility difficulties had been pleased to be able to access the auditorium with dignity, she said.
Mr Shield, whose involvement with the theatre began about 15 years ago when he was a volunteer at one of its book sales, said the time as chairman would be challenging, but he was looking forward to keeping the redevelopment momentum going.
• Officers elected were. - Chairman Michael Shield; deputy chairman Andy Henderson; board members Bronwyn Powell, Allan Casey, Garry Gibson, Christine Gibson, Joy Henderson, John Aitken, Kathleen Wallace, Charles Campbell, Doug Lovell, Rob McLennan, Heather Aubin, Paul Williams, Sallyjane Cranfield, Margaret Collie, Anne Williams, Brefni Hellyer, Russell Atkinson, Raewyn Atkinson, Carol Melville, Joan Sinclair, Noel Stanaway, William Armitage, Dawn Williams and Pat Martin.
