It was a case of partying like it was 1917 in Stratford on Tuesday night last week, when the town’s historic theatre was officially presented with its category 1 heritage status plaque. Volunteers, committee members, supporters and friends of the TET Kings Theatre were dressed to the nines, many in the fashion of the early 1920s, for a formal event at the theatre to celebrate its newly awarded heritage status. While not “every heritage place gets an event like this”, the theatre deserved its moment in the spotlight, said Dr Jamie Jacobs, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga director central region.
“We’ve all been swept away by the charm of the theatre,” he said. The category 1 heritage status reflected the fact it wasn’t just an “amazing asset for Stratford,” said Jacobs. “It is a place of outstanding or special significance for all of New Zealand.
” The theatre had been the “birthplace of the talkies” in Australasia, he said, and as such held a unique place in cinematic as well as New Zealand’s history. When the application was made for the theatre to be awarded heritage status, he and his colleagues were impressed by the number of supportive submissions received. “There was just so much community support for the place, the submissions were glowing.
” It was “an honour” he said, to attend the formal celebration, during which he presented Patsy Commerford, Stratford District Theatre Trust chairwoman, with the theatre’s official heritage pla.
