News
The Civic Theatre is turning 120.
The Invercargill theatre opened on November 14, 1906, when Governor Lord Plunket and Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward cut the ribbon on what was then called the Invercargill Town Hall and Theatre.
Invercargill City Council manager venues and events Ryan Sycamore said the Civic Theatre was a vital piece of Invercargill's history and a fixture of the local landscape.
"The Civic has witnessed the history of this town, from the advent of electric trams to the rise and fall of prohibition. It has survived earthquakes, floods, storms and threats of collapse and demolition," Sycamore said.
"As all of this history unfolded around it, the Civic has continued to entertain us with productions and events year after year. Our theatre stands as proud today as it did on the day of its grand opening more than a century ago."
The building originally housed both the municipal offices of the Invercargill Borough Council and purpose-built theatre facilities. Council offices moved out in the 1960s but returned in 2024.
Over the decades, the venue has hosted grand operas, musicals, recitals, ballets, drama and orchestral productions. It doubled as a cinema and boxing ring. The World's Fastest Indian had its global premiere there in 2005, and it hosted Sir Tim Shadbolt's funeral earlier this year.
Sycamore said the Edwardian façade was an icon of Invercargill and a source of pride for residents, despite several calls for demolition in the past.
"By all accounts, the building was not in good shape by the 1970s and some members of the community thought it was time to get rid of our old theatre," Sycamore said.
"Luckily, there was enough foresight at the time to fix it up and save it for future generations."
A major upgrade in 1983 prevented imminent demolition. A full refurbishment in 2005 brought the venue up to modern standards.
Sycamore said the theatre was now a contemporary, fit-for-purpose venue that retained its historic character.
"There is still a lot of history to be discovered within these walls. We'll be sharing more details about opportunities to celebrate these stories as we approach the anniversary date in November," Sycamore said.
"It's a chance for us to reflect on the people and performances that have helped make the Civic Theatre such an important part of Invercargill for the last 120 years."
The Civic Theatre is classified as a Category 1 Historic Place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.