Photo: Supplied/ Wellington City Council
A Wellington theatre mainstay is to reopen with a new focus, after being closed since 2020.
The Hannah Playhouse has been given a boost, and will not have to pay its annual rent for three years as part of a new partnership with the city council.
In a statement, the council said the space will re-open as an "affordable theatre space for the development of the professional performing arts sector in the city".
The theatre company will provide technical infrastructure for guest productions and events, and will undertake upgrades of the facilities to restore flexibility to the performance space.
Hannah Playhouse closed in June 2020 when the Wellington Museums Trust: Experience Wellington's lease on the theatre came to an end, according to a post of the playhouse's Facebook page at the time.
The trust said the decision was not due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The creative sector voiced its concern about a lack of access to specialist development and performance spaces in the city.
Council's head of creative capital Gisella Carr said the sector was concerned about the Hannah being out of commission so the council was "excited t bring it back".
"In reopening the Hannah, we're interested in how a specialist performance space can help artists develop, as well as showcase, great work. Theatre laboratories are a known development tool across the world, and we will be welcoming actors, directors, choreographers, dancers, musicians, composers, literary performers as well as the City's arts organisations to consider how the Hannah might be of interest to them."
Hannah Playhouse Trust chairman Murray Lynch said the trust was delighted to be collaborating with the council to reactivate the venue.
The council will contribute $200,000 per annum to the theatre's operating costs for an initial three years.
Those using the theatre will pay hireage fees on a sliding scale, the council said.
It's hoped the theatre will reopen in October and Footnote New Zealand Dance has booked to use the space in November for its performance of ChoreoCo, a new experimental contemporary dance work by choreographer Elijah Kennar and five emerging dancers.