Michael Fowler Centre
The Michael Fowler Centre is a landmark of Wellington’s cultural and civic scene. It is a modern and versatile venue that hosts concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and other events.
87/77 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
Home of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the St James Theatre is the jewel in the crown of Wellington’s flourishing theatre scene.
For ticketed events, the box office opens 60 minutes before the event starts. At the box office, you can buy tickets, arrange ticket collection, and resolve ticketing issues.
Latitude Creative
Ticketmaster is the official ticketing agent for all events at Venues Wellington venues.
You can buy tickets:
To make sure you don’t miss out on attending an event, please only buy tickets from Ticketmaster. Unauthorised resellers on Viagogo and TradeMe often sell fake tickets. Our venues are not obligated to let you in if you have purchased a ticket from an unauthorised reseller.
St James Theatre is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all patrons. The theatre has wheelchair access, accessible seating, hearing assistance devices, companion tickets and guide dog facilities.
If you need additional assistance at the venue, please ask our friendly staff, who are trained to help.
Latitude Creative
The stalls seating area is on the ground floor with stair-free access and eight accessible spaces with companion seats.
For more information on accessibility at the St James Theatre, you can contact Venues Wellington.
To book accessible tickets, including with an audio loop, or for more information on accessible ticketing, you can contact Ticketmaster.
Phone: 09 970 9711
The St James Theatre (originally called His Majesty’s Theatre) opened in 1912. The land, on Courtenay Place in central Wellington, had long been used for entertainment, with a large hall known as ‘Fuller’s’ opening there in 1899. When the hall was deemed a fire risk and demolished in 1911, entertainer and owner John Fuller vowed that the building to replace the hall would be the best in New Zealand.
Fuller employed New Zealand-born theatre designer Henry Eli White to design a new venue. It was the first entirely steel-framed and reinforced concrete theatre in the world, with more than 500 tonnes of steel used during construction.
Wellington City Council Archives, 00540-2-33
St James Theatre, Courtenay Place. Wellington City Council Archives Online.
Pillars in the auditorium were kept to a minimum to allow perfect viewing, and seating was arranged in an arc around the stage. Interior adornment included stained glass, marble pieces, carved face masks, and cherubs.
The plasterwork was made by William Leslie Morrison, who reinforced the lime plaster with cow hair. The wooden floors were made of rimu and jarrah, with totara for window frames and doors. In all, the St James cost £32,000 and took nine months to build.
In its early years, it was used primarily to play silent movies but slowly evolved into a live performance venue. By the 1970s, it had reverted to showing films again and had fallen into decline. Newer venues like the Michael Fowler Centre, Downstage, and the restored Town Hall were being used for live performances.
Rumours of ghosts haunting upper seat levels didn’t help the theatre’s reputation either. Its last screening was the action movie ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ in 1987 before effectively closing down.
During the 1990s, a campaign to save the theatre from demolition by developers gained momentum, and the city council eventually purchased it. A trust raised money for its renovation, and by 1997 it had reopened as one of the jewels of Wellington’s live performance venues. By then, the building had gained classification from Heritage New Zealand as a ‘Category I’ historic place. In 2019, the building closed for major restrengthening and refurbishments and opened again in 2022.
Wellington City Council
Classical grandeur lends a sense of occasion to any event at the St James Theatre. Frame your presentations and performances with a magnificent proscenium arch, or host a dinner or social occasion on the stage itself.
It plays host to a variety of dance, drama, opera, comedy, and cabaret every year. The theatre’s proscenium arch and historic decorative interior also make for a unique and memorable venue for functions, conferences, and onstage dinners.
St James Theatre fact sheet and floor plan [PDF, 946 kB]
If you’d like to know more about venue options or organise a visit, contact the Venues Wellington Sales Team.
The St James Theatre’s auditorium is a stunning space for performances, presentations, prize-giving ceremonies and seminars. The historic surroundings offer a unique environment of gilts and glamour.
Treat your guests to a unique onstage dining experience, looking out towards the historic, 100-year-old theatre. The spacious stage can comfortably accommodate your guests, along with room for presentations, dancing and live entertainment.
This grand space is an inviting blank canvas, ideal for your next meeting or function. Large windows overlooking Courtenay Place let in plenty of natural light — or luxe velvet drapes can divide the space and instantly transform the atmosphere.
The First Floor Gallery is a popular venue for wine tastings, cocktail receptions and product launches.
Mark Tantrum
The First Floor Gallery floor area is 600m² and is suitable for up to 650 delegates. Enquire now
The Hospitality Suite is a hidden gem for events and meetings. Tucked away at the south end of the building, this cosy space adds a touch of theatre to business engagements.
With a high stud and natural light streaming in, the Hospitality Suite is ideal as a pre-or-post-show hosting venue for performances.
Wellington City Council
The Hospitality Suite floor area is 73m² and is suitable for up to 80 delegates. Enquire now
At street level, The Foyer is a great area for welcome cocktails and hosting, with plenty of space for registration and coat check.
Latitude Creative
The Foyer floor area is 270m² and is suitable for up to 500 delegates. Enquire now
Layout | Stage / Auditorium | First Floor Gallery | Hospitality Suite | Foyer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Floor Area (m²) | 600 | 173 | 270 | |
Stage Area (m²) | 480 | |||
Theatre | 1,552 | 350 | 150 | 150 |
Classroom | 200 | 90 | 90 | |
Cocktail | 289, onstage | 650 | 150 | 500 |
Banquet | 289, onstage | 250 | 100 | 150 |
Performance | 1,543, seated | |||
Exhibition stands | 30 |
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