Christchurch

Christchurch is a city on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Entertainment

Theatre

Christchurch has one full-time professional theatre, the Court Theatre (external link). There is also an active recreational theatre scene.

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Cinema

Christchurch has approximately 35 cinema screens, with more planned in the next few years. While historically most cinemas were grouped around Cathedral Square, only the Regent complex remains there. The largest multiplexes are the Hoyts 8 in the old railway station (Moorhouse Ave) and Reading Cinemas (8) in the Palms shopping centre in the suburb of Shirley. Hoyts in Riccarton, just recently opened, has the largest screen in New Zealand, called Cinemaxx.

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Large Concert Venues

• The Westpac Centre is New Zealand's largest permanent multipurpose arena, seating between 5000 - 8000 depending on configuration. It was the venue for the 1999 World Netball championships and has been host to many concerts in recent years including Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Velvet Revolver and many more major international acts.
• The Town Hall Auditorium (2000 seats, opened 1974) was the first major auditorium design by architects Warren and Mahoney and acousticians Marshall Day. It is still recognised as a model example of concert-hall design.

Dance Parties

Christchurch has a wide range of dance parties. Information can be obtained from inner-city cafés such as C1 on High Street, or record stores. While most of the parties are either house or drum'n'bass, occasionally there are trance and hardhouse parties.

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Live Music

The city has a wide range of venues for live music, some short-lived, others with decades of history.

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Christchurch is home to a professional symphony orchestra, the CSO. There are also usually buskers around the town square.

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