Opera house work delights ex-mayor

Former Waitaki mayor Alan McLay says he is "rapt" with the refurbishment of the Oamaru Opera House.

Mr McLay, who was mayor when the $9.7 million redevelopment and restoration project was approved by the Waitaki District Council, said the building looked "just fabulous".

It was something the community could be proud of, he said.

Mr McLay said he would be attending the opening night of the Oamaru Operatic Society's production of Oklahoma! tomorrow night.

In terms of conference facilities, there were "not too many better" than the spaces in the building, he said.

While the project had attracted some controversy, Mr McLay said the community could achieve a lot if it worked together instead of fragmenting.

Else Mackenzie, who was Opera House Encore co-ordinator until she joined the Forrester Gallery as curator in June, said the staging of Oklahoma! was "incredibly exciting".

It was important for people to remember it was a shakedown show and things could go wrong - "but they won't", she said.

She had toured the building on Wednesday and thought it looked amazing.

It was "almost unreal" the project was nearing completion.

The official opening will be held in February.

Oklahoma! director Douglas Kamo said the redevelopment was "fabulous" and it meant the opera house was now on a par with some of the best theatres in New Zealand.

 

 

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