The PumpHouse Theatre
Historic pumphouse
The pumphouse was originally built on the shore of Lake Pupuke as a pumping stations to provide freshwater for the local community. The building was opened in 1906. The pumping machinery was removed in 1931 when a new water supply was sourced from the Waitakere Ranges, and the building was used for water treatment until it was closed in 1941. The building then began to fall into disrepair. In 1968 two hundred people attended a public meeting in support of preserving the building and turning it into an arts venue. Things got heated as local residents clashed with council and North Shore Horticultural Society who also wanted the land. The casting vote of Mayor Fred Thomas saved the building and local residents began work to renovate and convert the derelict building into a community theatre and arts centre.
In 1983, the pumphouse was classified as a Category II Historic Building by The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand).
Establishment of the theatre
The North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The Pumphouse Theatre) was established as a Registered Charitable Trust in 1971. Major fundraising began with the establishment of the annual "PumpHouse Picnics".
The PumpHouse was converted to a theatre and arts centre, and opened in 1977 by Takapuna City Council Mayor Fred Thomas. Margaret Escott was a founding member of the trust board and was a writer and director. She wrote the play Saved that opened the theatre, a melodrama set in colonial Auckland. She died in the same year and it is said her ghost haunts the greenroom.
The updated trust deed of the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust, as filed in December 2018, states that the objectives of the trust include:
(a) to promote the preservation, protection and development of The PumpHouse on Lake Pupuke
(b) to use The PumpHouse as a centre to encourage and promote the arts for the interest and participation of the North Shore general public
(c) to promote and encourage the arts including all forms of theatre arts, music, drama, poetry and the visual arts, applied arts, crafts, the art of film and ballet and the study of the arts with the assistance of the Friends of the PumpHouse ...
The PumpHouse has three main areas available for events:
- a theatre-style auditorium seating 190
- an outdoor amphitheatre seating 200
- a studio space seating 50
In 2017, the main auditorium was renamed the Genevieve Becroft Auditorium. This was to recognise the contribution of Genevieve Becroft towards saving the historic pumphouse building, and her role as patron of the arts.
References
- ^ "North Shore Heritage – Thematic Review Report – Volume 2" (PDF). Auckland Council. July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Christian, Dionne (2 May 2017). "Love letters a perfect 40th birthday gift to historic Takapuna playhouse". NZ Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Pump up the volume". New Zealand Herald. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Pumphouse (Former)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The Pumphouse Theatre) (NZBN: 9429042789055)". New Zealand Business Number. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Genevieve Becroft" (PDF). Auckland North Community and Development Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "A Timeline of The PumpHouse" (PDF). The PumpHouse Theatre. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Dellane, Tom (7 June 2016). "PumpHouse theatre plans its 40th anniversary". Stuff. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Our Ghost". The PumpHouse Theatre. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ McLeod, Aorewa (1998). "Escott, Cicely Margaret". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "The Pumphouse Theatre". Auckland Fringe. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021.
- ^ Christian, Dionne (29 November 2017). "PumpHouse Theatre gets a name to remember". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
