Behind the curtain
This April, take a peek backstage at Baycourt’s colourful history – and celebrate its ruby anniversary with a diverse roster of performances, exhibitions and community engagement.
Words Monique Balvert-O’Connor
If a venue like Baycourt is marking a milestone, then it follows that creative celebrations can be expected.
And such is the case, with all eyes on the stage between April 21-29, when Baycourt’s 40th anniversary
celebrations will be rolled out. It will be a time to reflect upon, and celebrate, the many magic moments delivered in one building over four decades, says Baycourt manager Reena Snook.
In its time Baycourt has served its community well – providing the venue for hundreds of school musicals, primary school music festivals, all sorts of dance competitions, dramatic performances, Tauranga Art Festival and Jazz Festival events, and so many more. It’s provided a stage for comedians like Ben Elton, for example, and national dance companies like Atamira, for Kiri Te Kanawa, and repeatedly for The Royal NZ Ballet and NZ Symphony Orchestra.
Many have used the Baycourt stage over the years as the springboard to stardom, with these including actor Tim Balme, and prima ballerina Katherine Grange. Technicians involved backstage have gone on to work in some of the world’s biggest venues.
This Tauranga premier performing arts venue’s impressive history actually has a royal connection too. On April 26, 1983, Baycourt was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales – the late Princess Diana and the then-Prince Charles.
Baycourt’s Technical and Operation manager Dale Henderson - who has a lengthy association with Baycourt - tells how the Royals were restricted to entering solely the then-called Exhibition Space as Addison Theatre, with its many curtains and entry points, offered too great a security risk.
Reena says the 40th celebrations are a time to remember such momentous events and to acknowledge her predecessors, such as the late Bob Addison. The city identity started his time as long-serving manager of Baycourt in 1988. Dale recalls Bob’s focus on getting school and community groups in using the venue.
Baycourt’s history tracks many changes in performing arts in general, he says, back to the days pre-radio microphones, LED lighting, and e-ticketing. And he recalls the days before Baycourt’s flytower was constructed. One of the biggest changes Baycourt has been through, he believes, is in what was called The Exhibition Space, now X Space.
“It was used as a display/exhibition area but is now much more around performing arts and enables emerging-type performances to go ahead there.”
Baycourt can boast many wonderful stories of community involvement, and Dale offers up one dating right back to when it was being built.
“With acoustics in mind, material was needed for the back wall. So, local spinners and weavers managed to create 20 woollen wall hangings. They still hang today on The Addison Theatre’s back wall.”
Reena and Dale see the 40th anniversary celebrations as a launching pad for the next stage of Baycourt’s journey too. In the not-too-distant future, Baycourt’s interior will be refurbished and its façade upgraded, as part of the development of the new civic arts and culture precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. ”
Let’s celebrate
There’s much to remember, much to celebrate, and Reena assures the public can expect a diverse 40th anniversary programme that will involve:
A gala concert (7pm on April 21). Think royal variety show. Taking the stage will be groups like Tauranga Musical Theatre, Opus Orchestra, and local dance groups – all of which have performed on the Baycourt stage over the years.
A curated art exhibition in the X Space (from April 21-29) – free entry. Organised in collaboration with The Incubator, X-bition will be a creative presentation of historical and current images from Baycourt’s collections.
An online digital component which has involved taking archival images and digitalising them. A website, with the images, will be launched on April 21.
A community engagement programme named He Toi Kupu is being produced by Tauranga-born creative Jason Te Mete (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) and his organisations Tuatara Collective and Ahipoutu Collective. This event will involve extracted stories dramatically interpreted.
A whānau day on April 29 to end celebrations. The community will be welcomed for guided tours of Baycourt during this free, family event. Face painters, balloon sculptures and food will all be part of the fun atmosphere.