Royal Whanganui Opera House

Beautifully restored in recent years, this magnificent wooden theatre was built in 1899 and is one of the country’s finest examples of classical building forms executed in wood. An active Friends Organisation ensures that it continues to be 'a full working working theatre for the use and enjoyment of the community'.
This notable wooden building may be overlooked from the outside but it is a wonder within. It has intimate seating for just over 800, but is also capacious. The ground floor and circle are about the same depth as the stage area giving the audience a sense of the stage being close up but also with a strong three dimensional sense which is helped by the slightly raked stage. The wings area on one side has large storage space for flats and props. The flats are still raised and lowered by ropes and pulleys and require a small team of dedicated and knowledgeable stagehands to operate them. Along with Covent Garden, Whanganui Opera House is the only royal opera house in the world.