Listen
105 years after it opened, the Hawke's Bay Opera House's multi-million-dollar earthquake strengthening and refurbishment are about to be revealed.
It's taken six years and more than 15-million dollars, including installing state-of-the-art technology into what's described as one of top lyric theatres in Australasia.
There are other changes too. It's now part of Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre in Hastings, a growing cultural hub for the city.
On Saturday morning there's a blessing, and in the evening the ribbon-cutting ceremony is followed by a tour of the building for several hundred invited guests.
On Sunday the public will be able to look through the Opera House.
Megan Peacock-Coyle is the Centre's manager. She tells Lynn Freeman that the building now looks more like it did when it first opened.
The refurbished Opera House at Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre opens on 29 February.