NAPIER MUNICIPAL THEATRE ART DECO ARCHITECTURE

The Napier Municipal Theatre is a model of Art Deco architecture. It was built in 1937 to replace Napier’s original Municipal Theatre which was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake.

Much of Napier was rebuilt in the Art Deco style following the earthquake, and the city centre houses a remarkable concentration of architecture from this elegant era. Napier Art Deco attracts visitors from all around the world, with the theatre a focal point of the popular walking tours of the city.

In the early 1990s a major project was undertaken to update the building, with a prime focus on preserving the integrity of its original Art Deco architecture. Local architect Guy K. Natusch led a team of designers in the skillful addition of modern theatre facilities for both performers and patrons.

Now considered one of the best provincial performing arts centre in the country, the theatre is an icon of Art Deco Napier and its stage has been graced with international acts and local performers alike.