Mercury Theatre

by The Auckland Psychogeographer

The Mercury Theatre is an itch that K’Rd simply cannot seem to scratch. A glorious, heritage 500-seat venue in the heart of Auckland’s independent cultural bloc, replete with its own sound system, that is almost never active? It’s a recipe for pure frustration. In a city where music, theatre and cinema alike have intricate lusts for sustainable venues that are also fundamentally built for purpose (not repurposed cowsheds like many spaces) the Mercury squats, empty. Presently owned by a multinational “not-for-profit Christian organisation”, the place hasn’t seen any quote-unquote religious activity for some time. Unable to find buyers in 2012, the landlords have nominally farmed out the Mercury as a theatre-for-hire, but - possibly due to more competitive hire rates elsewhere, possibly due to the numerous accessibility issues K’Rd is famed for - it struggles to find clients.

In another city, things would be very different. Category two listed by Heritage New Zealand, the Mercury is Auckland’s oldest surviving theatre, built as the Kings Theatre in 1910 by architect Edward Bartley in the Edwardian Baroque style. It features superb acoustics, a majestic balcony and a stunning skylight. By 1926 cinema had swept theatre under the carpet, and a jazzy new entrance was installed via K’Rd - a foyer that eventually became the Norman Ng fruit and veg shop, and the late, lamented bohemian hangout Brazil.

Then, dramatically, full-time theatre returned, staving off cinema’s advances during the period of 1968 to 1991, as the home of the diverse projects of the Mercury Theatre Company. Happy, extravagant decades passed, but despite strong audience attendance, bills accrued, and the final curtain closed on the company’s long run with “The Rose Tattoo” and “Glorious Ruins”.

Instead of lurking glumly in a corner, today the Mercury should be lively, humming, and at the very least operational. Meanwhile, in the wings, construction on the K’Road train station next door has finally begun in earnest. Who knows what the next five years will bring on Mercury Lane? Will the public seek to be transported?

Image Credits: The Auckland Psychogeographer and Google Maps