Q Theatre

Client

Cheshire Architects

Location

Auckland

Completion date

2011

Q Theatre is a 350-450 seat flexible venue in the centre of Auckland, designed by Cheshire Architects. The business case for the venue was first developed in 1998 by the New Theatre Initiative, a passionate group of performing arts practitioners, with the venue finally opening in 2011.

Our Brief

Marshall Day Acoustics provided full acoustic consulting services, including room acoustic design, sound insulation and noise control for building services.

Facilities include:

  • Rangatira: a 350-450 seat experimental theatre, with flexible stage and audience arrangements
  • The Loft: a small studio theatre performance space
  • A rehearsal space
  • A foyer bar and café
  • Associated back-of house and administration facilities

Challenges

Q Theatre is beside the Auckland Town Hall with the auditorium directly adjacent to the Town Hall Organ Loft and the Studio Theatre adjacent to the Concert Chamber. The close proximity of these performance spaces to the Town Hall created particular challenges for the sound insulation design, which has proved to be highly successful. An organ recital in the Town Hall is not audible within Q Theatre.