Wellington entertainment
Wellington has long been considered the cultural centre of New Zealand, being the home of most major musical, dance and performing arts schools, museums, theatres and now the new national Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Our Place). All of this is located in a small picturesque city on one of the worlds most beautiful harbours.
Theatres
The prime theatre in Wellington is the Westpactrust Saint James Theatre, which was renovated for over NZ$28 million in 1997. This beautiful state of the art theatre hosts the Royal New Zealand Ballet and many productions from the highly successful biennial Wellington International Festival of the Arts. The more specialised playhouses Downstage Theatre and Circa Theatre, are renowned for performances featuring the best of local and overseas dramatic talent. The 'grand old lady' the Opera House is host to a variety of musicals and plays. Bats Theatre is the home of avant-garde productions and Stagecraft Theatre covers a wide spectrum of theatrical experiences.
The Wellington Festival & Convention Centre is actually an umbrella for three distinct theatres including the Michael Fowler Centre which plays host to a variety of international acts. The other two are the venerable Town Hall and the small Ilott Theatre. Other top grade theatres for hire include the Phoenix, Te Papa Soundings Theatre, and Victoria University Memorial Theatre.
In this theatre crazy city it is no surprise to find specialised childrens theatres including the McKenzie Theatre at Capital E. A final mention must be made of the top quality amateur theatrical groups that abound including Mana Little Theatre and Hutt Repertory Theatre.
Performing Arts & Music
Classical music is well served in Wellington with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZPost Wellington Youth Orchestra, Chamber Music New Zealand, the Wellington Sinfonia, and various string orchestras based here. Vocal choral groups such as the Orpheus Choir and Baroque Voices are world class.
Venues for local popular and rock music groups also abound with Bar Bogeda and Blue Note being well worth a visit. Top international acts can be seen at many sites including the Queens Wharf Events Centre, James Cabaret and the WestpacTrust Stadium. The New Zealand College of Performing Arts, the Wellington Performing Arts Centre, Footnote Dance Company and the New Zealand School of Dance and Drama, the latter with its own 200-seat auditorium, perform various concerts throughout the year and notably at the biennial Wellington Fringe Festival.
Museums
The showpiece of the city is the new national Museum of New Zealand, the NZ$300 million Te Papa Tongarewa (Our Place). With technological, interactive displays, virtual reality rides, and the unique national art collection, this facility is a must. The City Gallery is one of the most proactive and provocative fine arts museums in New Zealand. Other interesting exhibitions can be found at the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace, the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, and the Dowse Art Museum. If you have time, travel 50 minutes north of the city to the incredible Southwards Car Museum which hosts some of the rarest vintage cars in the world.
Bars & Nightclubs
The best nightlife in Wellington definitely centres on Courtenay Place. Safe, well-lit and surrounded by restaurants, theatres and cafes, the bars in this area party to dawn. The Grand, Coyote Street Bar and Restaurant, Opera, Big Easy, Wellington Sports Café, and Molly Malones Irish Bar are prominent and all provide top quality drink, food and music. Head towards Cuba Mall for some of the more colourful hangouts such as the Fat Ladies Arms, Matterhorn and the Bristol Hotel. Friday night after work revellers can be found at the Arizona Bar & Grill, the Backbencher Pub and the Malthouse. Gay bars include Bojangles Nite Club and the Dome. There are many other good quality city and suburban bars other than those mentioned, where you can have a quiet tipple or a riotous good time.
Cinema
The last of the palatial picture theatres, the Embassy (1924) has been refurbished by a trust including the Wellington City Council and Lord of the Rings director and local resident Peter Jackson. In conjunction with its sister theatre the historic Paramount (1917), the Embassy hosts the annual Wellington International Film Festival and the Incredibly Strange Film Festival. Alternative and art house movies are shown at the Penthouse and the Rialto 3-theatre complex. Hoyts have 2 multiplex cinemas in Manners Street and other partners in the suburbs to exhibit the latest Hollywood releases. Local historic film can be viewed at the Film Centre and the unique Time Cinema plays old and cherished international films and shorts. With over 10 television series and 4 feature films being made in Wellington annually some humorists have dubbed the city Wellywood.
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