Civic Theatre, Auckland
Step back in style at Auckland鈥檚 Civic Theatre 鈥� one of the few 鈥瀉tmospheric鈥� cinemas left in the world, where the d茅cor turns the ceiling into a starlit sky, complete with fluttering clouds and dreamy minarets. Opened on 20 December 1929, this grand dame was built in just eight months under Thomas O鈥橞rien, with architects Bohringer and Leighton leading the design. It was meant to dazzle 鈥� and it still does.
Inside the auditorium you鈥檒l find room for over 2,300 people, and every corner is dripping with detail: Moorish arches, indian temple motifs, and plasterwork that鈥檚 more decorative than some jewellery boxes. The foyer, too, is an adventure 鈥� flashy lighting, velvet curtains, and art nouveau touches. Civic isn鈥檛 just a place to see a show; it鈥檚 a spectacle before the first act even begins.
In recent years it鈥檚 had its share of care and upgrades. In 2025, for example, waterproofing work was carried out in the basement dressing rooms after some flooding, and heritage experts made sure new materials didn鈥檛 compromise the original fabric of the building.
Did you know? In 2024, volunteers recreated the original 1929 theatre curtain 鈥� silver and pink flamingos on purple velvet, sprinkled with rhinestones 鈥� every tiny detail patched together to match the flamboyant original. It鈥檚 become part of the legend of this place.
Civic Theatre isn鈥檛 just about what鈥檚 on stage 鈥� it鈥檚 about the magic between the seats, under the lights, and in every decorative flourish.
Inside the auditorium you鈥檒l find room for over 2,300 people, and every corner is dripping with detail: Moorish arches, indian temple motifs, and plasterwork that鈥檚 more decorative than some jewellery boxes. The foyer, too, is an adventure 鈥� flashy lighting, velvet curtains, and art nouveau touches. Civic isn鈥檛 just a place to see a show; it鈥檚 a spectacle before the first act even begins.
In recent years it鈥檚 had its share of care and upgrades. In 2025, for example, waterproofing work was carried out in the basement dressing rooms after some flooding, and heritage experts made sure new materials didn鈥檛 compromise the original fabric of the building.
Did you know? In 2024, volunteers recreated the original 1929 theatre curtain 鈥� silver and pink flamingos on purple velvet, sprinkled with rhinestones 鈥� every tiny detail patched together to match the flamboyant original. It鈥檚 become part of the legend of this place.
Civic Theatre isn鈥檛 just about what鈥檚 on stage 鈥� it鈥檚 about the magic between the seats, under the lights, and in every decorative flourish.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Auckland. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Civic Theatre on Map
Sight Name: Civic Theatre
Sight Location: Auckland, New Zealand (See walking tours in Auckland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Auckland, New Zealand (See walking tours in Auckland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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