Ian Mckellen Catches Up On the Isaac Theatre Royal Rebuild

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Ian Mckellen Catches Up On the Isaac Theatre Royal Rebuild – ‘a Year On’ from His Solo Fundraising Tour

Television, film and theatre star Sir Ian McKellen visited a “grand old lady friend’ in Christchurch during a brief day trip to the city last week.

Ian is back in New Zealand working on Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy, but took some time out from his busy schedule to see the rebuild progress of Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal first hand.

An active supporter of the theatre’s recovery, Ian played 15 sold-out shows to more than 7000 theatregoers across New Zealand last year raising more than $350,000 to help the rebuild of the city’s famous heritage theatre which was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes.

Ian donned a high-visibility vest and safety helmet and walked around the ITR building site and familiar backstage areas with Canterbury Earthquake Recover Minister Gerry Brownlee. The Minister spent time talking with Sir Ian and the theatre’s directors and chief executive Neil Cox, and with the building contractors and project managers about this significant restoration and rebuild project.

Mr Cox said the restored and rebuilt Isaac Theatre Royal will encompass enhanced state-of-the-art technology and facilities and will be a core part of a renewed performing arts sector, hosting the best of our own local artistic talent as well as bringing the best of the world’s performances to the city.

Sir Ian flew back to his Hobbit commitments in Wellington pleased that the rebuild was well underway. “I am so pleased we found the time to visit and see the progress. I love this beautiful old theatre and feel like a real member of the Isaac Theatre Royal family.”

Mr Cox commented: “We are thrilled and honoured with the ongoing support of Sir Ian and were delighted the Minister was able to spend so long on site with us, we are all very grateful for his support for this challenging rebuild project.”

The 105 year old theatre is being rebuilt and restored at a cost of $36 million and is targeted for completion mid-2014. Insurance and private fundraising to date has contributed over $27 million to that cost but fundraising continues to secure the shortfall of approximately $8-9 million to complete the work.

ENDS

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