Time Line

END OF 2011 - Projected opening for new theatre

December 2009 - On the 9th December 2009 Council's Finance and Strategy Committee unanimously vote to give Q Theatre the final sign-off to begin construction. Q Theatre signs the construction contract with selected company Naylor Love. The following day, AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF WORK, Q Theatre management and supporters gather for the official ceremony to mark the start of construction on this new home for the performing arts. (CONGRATULATIONS Q!)

November 2009 - NQ Theatre and its supporters gather alongside Tangata Whenua, including Iwi and Maori performing artists, at dawn on 4 November 2009 to bless the site of the new theatre on 305 Queen Street and celebrate the commissioning of a Maori artwork by Lisa Reihana that will form an integral part of the building. Q Theatre takes possession of 305 Queen street and hold 2 celebratory donor evenings in the space that will become the 120 seat studio. NTi 10th AGM is held in 305 Queen Street a few doors down from the location of the innaugural AGM which was held at the Comedy Club in 2000.

October 2009 - Q Theatre, along with The Edge and Auckland City Council, host the 2nd Auckland Performing Arts Forum, this time entitled "Moving Right Along". Once again an open invitation is issued to anyone and everyone who is interested in the perofrming arts. 150 people attend the day (actors, directors, producers, community groups, writers, designers, coreaographers, musicians, venue operators, funding bodies and more). In one day, 30 separate topics are discussed. Notes of the day will be posted on The Big Idea before the end of the year.

April 2009 - The Q Theatre developed designs are approved by Auckland City Council's Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee. As a result, Q Theatre moves forward into the detailed design phase.

February 2009 - Q Theatre holds a 3rd series of Industry Design Consultations, encouraging practitioners and future users to speak with the Q Theatre architects on the current design and how well it answers their needs.

January 2009 - Q Theatre, together with Ngati Whatua o Orakei, hold a hui to make initial contact with Tangata Whenua, including Iwi and Maori performing artists. As a result of the hui, a small reference group is formed that will meet fortnightly with the initial focus of informing the design and ensuring Maori protocol is able to be carried out. Q Theatre aims to develop a long-term relationship to support the Maori performing arts as part of our arts development initiative.

November 2008 - The Auckland Lottery Grants Board confirm their grant to Q Theatre of up to $6,051,750.

Q Theatre start re-convening the consultants and architects to get the project moving forward again.

Tim Dowson begins work as Q Theatre's Project Manager.

David Appleby resigns as Chairman and Andrew Caisley takes on the role.

August 2008 - Council's venue needs study is completed and Q Theatre is identified as the number one priority with a recommendation to progress "as quickly as possible". The study, undertaken by consultants Horwath HTL, recognised that Q Theatre is "a well-advanced project that already has resource consent" and enjoys "very strong goodwill" from the theatre and dance communities. As well as Q Theatre, the study identified the need for two additional theatre spaces: a 500-600 dedicated drama space and a 100-200 seat black box studio space.

June 2008 - Q Theatre, along with The Edge and Auckland City Council, host "What Do You Think of the Show So Far" – an Auckland theatre forum. An open invitation is issued to anyone and everyone who is interested in making theatre and just over 100 people attend - among them: actors, directors, producers, community groups, writers and designers. In one day, 21 separate topics are discussed which can be viewed on The Big Idea forum.

March 2008 - Resource consent is granted on the 31st March and Q Theatre submits a funding application to the Lotteries Significant Projects Fund for the balance of funding required.

February 2008 - The review of In appeal of this, Q Theatre's future gets debated at council’s Annual Planning Direction Setting meeting. Over 120 members of the performing arts industry turn up in support of Q Theatre's. At the (3 hour!) meeting Councillors vote to allow Q Theatre's to draw down $200,000 of their grant to finalise resource consent in order to lodge an application to the Auckland Lotter Grants Board.

Councillors also vote to undertake a venue needs study with an expected completion date of June 08.

The Town Hall Arts Precinct gets deferred for 3 years by council’s Arts, Culture & Recreation committee.

Lisa Bates, Q Theatre's new development manager begins work.

November - December 2007 - Newly elected council, with a mandate of keeping rates at a level of inflation, reviews all capital spending. Q Theatre is on a list of projects to be deferred for 3 years. In appeal of this, Q Theatre presents to the Arts Culture & Recreation Committee in December, supported by high profile members of the performing arts industry. We are subsequently removed from the deferral list pending a review.

October 2007 - Government announces a new Lottery Grants Board fund ("Lottery Significant Projects Fund") for capital projects worth over $1m. Applications require resource consent and are due in April. Q Theatre starts recruiting for a Fundraising Manager.

September 2007 - Council’s Arts Culture & Recreation committee votes unanimously to recommend additional funding be granted to Q Theatre ((to total acapital contribution of $9.6m). Passed unanimously by Finance committee and full council.

Resource Consent is lodged.

August 2007 - Consultation begins with the neighbours on Q Theatre's draft construction plans.

July 2007 - A second design consultation is held, with the architects reporting back to the practitioners who attended the February sessions. A first draft of seating layouts are provided.

Chapman Tripp comes on board as our pro-bono legal providers.

June 2007 - RCP are appointed as Project Managers. Leading the team is Waren Warfield. RCP are also project managers for the Town Hall Arts Precinct development.

May 2007 - Q Theatre's 2007 Business and Strategic plan is presented to Council.

A thank you event is held for our donors.

March 2007 - ASB Community Trust gives additional grant of $2.645m, bringing their total funding of Q Theatre to almost $4.5m, and making us one of the Trust’s largest funded projects. This is a particularly satisfying result for Q Theatre as the decision came out of an extensive external audit by ASB Community Trust on the project – further consolidation that this theatre is absolutely needed for Auckland.

February 2007 - General Manager Susanne Ritzenhoff begins work at Q Theatre.

A series of design consultation meetings are held, with Q Theatre architects talking directly to practitioners and future users of the new theatre about their needs and thoughts on size, seating and so on.

January 2007 - The office moves out of 305 Queen St and the James Wallace Arts Trust who had kindly housed us for two plus years, and move into the office of David Appleby, Q Chairman at the time.

December 2006 - NTi announces the new Board of Q Theatre to take on leadership of the project. Subsequently, the appointment of General Manager is made and NTi welcomes Susanne Ritzenhoff to manage the project. The NTi executive begins the transition phase of handing the reins to the Board of Q Theatre.

Architects are appointed to the project after a tender process. Auckland based Cheshire Architects will work alongside Williams Ross, a Melbourne firm with specialist theatre design experience.

November 2006 - The Q Theatre brand is launched in magnificent fashion with one fantastic party! created by Mike Mizrahi and Marie Adams of Inside Out Productions and worked on by over 200 volunteers who perform, sing, play, organised, or simply folded 400 t-shirts! The event was attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Mayor Dick Hubbard.

September 2006 - It’s a busy period as NTi goes through the process of transitioning into the new organisation who will actually run the theatre. Advertising begins to recruit the first Chair, Board and General Manager.

July 2006 - Auckland City Council announces they will develop the Town Hall Arts Precinct, as part of plans for improving the Aotea Quarter.

June 2006 - ASB Community Trust brings us even closer! They contribute a further $1 million towards the capital project, bringing our funds raised to over $7 million towards the capital fundraising target. ASB Commmunity Trust have been tremendous supporters of the project, not only with the capital fundraising but with day-to-day support as well.

NTi holds 2 open meetings with the performing arts community to get the industry’s feedback on the current design of the new theatre and the governance structure. Feedback is hugely positive and constructive.

May 2006 - NTi makes a submission to the Auckland City Council’s Draft Long-Term Plan for developing Auckland for the next 10 years. Lots of our members come in behind to support this advocacy, which aims to ensure a really buzzy re-development of the Town Hall Arts Precinct goes ahead - these plans include providing offices and rehearsal spaces for an exciting new group of leading arts producers.

March - June 2006 - NTi holds a series of intimate fundraising events with some of Auckland’s noted arts patrons and citizens, inviting them to get engaged in plans to build Auckland's newest, most exciting theatre. Champions of the project attend or perform at these events. With this support, we’re well on the way with our fundraising. The first event in Waiheke alone generated pledges of $90,000.

November 2005 - Council confirms their financial support of the $3 million plus land and buildings, plus contributes an extra $1.6 million.

NTijoins in discussions with the council on the Outside the Square project.

NTi holds 5th AGM at 305 Queen Street, future home of the new theatre.

June 2005 - ASB Community Trust contribute $900,000 to the capital campaign, and the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Trust donate $100,000. NTi meets council's condition and target of $1.5 million.

November 2004 - NTi holds 4th AGM on site at 305 Queen Street, future home of the new theatre.

September 2004 - NTi fundraising group is established.

July 2004 - Project Manager Margaret Belich is appointed to oversee fundraising efforts.

March 2004 - Council's Recreation and Events Committee resolve contribute the 305 Queen St and Lower Greys Ave garage site and buildings plus $3 million towards capital costs (estimated at $10 million) on condition that NTi raise $1.5 million by June 2005.

August 2003 - After further development, the revised Business Case is presented to Auckland City Council.

September 2002 - NTi holds 3rd AGM. Report to members includes progress updates on council's response to the business case, as well as designs and plans for next 12 months.

June 2002 - Council's Recreation and Events Committee approve 'in principle support for the development of a flexiform theatre on the sites at the rear of the Town Hall.' Further work is required to strengthen the Business Case including a feasibility study and development of more detailed architectural plans to enable more accurate estimation of building and fitout costs.

February and April 2002 - NTi hold 2nd series of Creative and Professional Artform Development Workshops for 6 mentored projects involving 32 participants.

August 2001 - NTi Business Case for development of a flexiform theatre on the Garage Site in partnership with council is submitted to Auckland City Council.

June 2001 - NTi holds 2nd AGM, new executive members are elected. Report to members includes concept drawings for the new theatre on the Garage site, draft Aims and Vision and a draft governance structure.

March and May 2001 - NTi holds first series of Creative and Professional Artform Development Workshops at UNITEC studios. 8 mentored projects involving 60 participants.

December 2000 - City Attractions Committee of council invite NTi to submit a proposal on how a flexiform theatre could be developed on 205 Queen St and Lower Greys Ave site.

August 2000 - Establishment of New Theatre Initiative (NTi) as an incorporated society. First AGM is held and Executive committee appointed.

May 2000 - Theatre and dance practitioners meet to discuss need for a new, flexible theatre in Auckland, and air ideas. Their vision is a theatre that supports work of a number of companies and talented individuals; a theatre that brings new talent through, commissions some work and acts as a focal point for the community with an active arts development programme; and one that has a bar and restaurant open throughout the day.

August 1999 - Jasmax complete a feasibility study on Lower Greys Ave garage site and 305 Queen St (beside the Town Hall) that shows a 350 seat flexiform theatre is possible on the site. Study also examines a range of other city locations. (at the back of the Town Hall and next to Silo).

August 1998 - Flexiform Working Party established by Auckland City Council to progress design brief and identify and audit potential sites. Committee is made up of a number of arts professionals including John Verryt, Cath Cardiff, Lester McGrath, Margie Mellsop, and Justin Lewis, who work with Council and architects Pip Cheshire and Warren Young from Jasmax to develop the brief.

March 1998 - Workshop held with members of the theatre sector to seek input to brief.

1998 - Auckland City Council Commission Jasmax to develop draft design brief for flexiform theatre.

1997 - Auckland City Council commissions Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu survey of professional performing arts venues in Auckland to identify what, if anything is needed. The Deloitte report concludes that a flexiform (moveable stages and seating) theatre is most pressing need.

1996 - The Watershed Theatre closes and first industry meetings are held to gather support for the idea of a new theatre to replace the Watershed.