Auckland Event Raises Over $100k For Christchurch's Court Theatre

$17000 for a lunch with John Key has contributed to the $125,000 raised for The Court Theatre rebuild campaign at a black tie fundraiser at the Pah Homestead in Auckland on Saturday night .

A host of New Zealand theatre stars including Paul Barrett, Yvonne Martin, David McPhail, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, George Henare, Lara Macgregor (Fortune Artistic Director), Ross Gumbley (Court Artistic Director) and Philip Aldridge (Court Chief Executive) entertained more than 150 guests in four of the gallery rooms during the evening. The rooms were hosted by Ross Gumbley, Alison Quigan, Cameron Douglas and Philip Aldridge.
 

Over 50 works of art were donated by NZ artists for a silent auction, which raised $24,000 (a Peter Panyoczki work sold for $6000); a live auction raised $22,000 – which included $17,000 for a luncheon with the Right Hon. John Key at The Wine Chambers restaurant, $4000 for a picnic with Sam Neill at his vineyard in Queenstown and $1000 for a framed poster signed by the cast of Downton Abbey, including Dame Maggie Smith, Patron of The Court’s Fundraising Appeal. The remaining money raised came from donations, and corporate sponsorship.
 

Philip Aldridge and Ross Gumbley acknowledged the generosity of Sir James Wallace in making the venue available, as well the event organising team, Aucklanders Penny Devereux, Georgina Ralston and Fiona Stevens. The theatre’s Chief Executive spoke of the “extraordinary local and international support - from Canterbury to Queenstown and Sydney to London”.
 

The Court Theatre, which lost its home of 35 years after the February quakes, will be the first public institution to re-open in new premises in Christchurch on December 10th with A Shortcut to Happiness, the latest play by New Zealand’s most successful playwright, Roger Hall. Tickets are on sale now ph 03 963 0870 or www.courttheatre.org.nz. Online and phone bookings only, until December 10th when the box office opens on site.