Blog V: Locovisual - The St James Theatre

St James Theatre in 1986 - Now Showing Delta Force, starring Chuck Norris. Rated R13 (McGIll, 1998)

“Don’t let theatres be pulled down. The building of theatres seems to be an art we have lost.”

-          Lord Laurence Olivier, October 1948 (as cited in McGill, 1998)

The St James Theatre on Courtenay Place, downtown Wellington is an iconic structure with a magnificent presence. Built in 1912 with the architectural direction of Henry Eli White, The St James Theatre is considered the Shakespeare’s Globe of New Zealand (McGill, 1998, p. 2). Clearly, the St James Theatre has Baroque and Rococo influences. White, being a frequent audience to the performed arts called this ‘cheerfully theatrical Rococo’ style 'Louis Quinze' as this style was extremely popular in 18^th Century France (McGill, 1998, p. 12). 

fig.1 the St James Theatre Stage (McGill, 1998), fig.2 Borromini's Carlo alle Quatro Fontane, Rome (Millon, 1961)

fig.3 laurel-crowned theatrical masks above the royal boxes (McGill, 1998), fig.4 Kloster Oberzell bei Wurzburg (Popp, 1913)

The façade of the building features many half-columns and pediments that frame the windows but do not serve a structural purpose. These are then decorated with plasterwork. The interior of the theatre is ornamented in this style but also with Greek comic and tragic masks, cupids and caryatids on columns which again, serve little structural function. The interior is beautifully painted and ‘gilded’ in gold with a large ceiling lamp that resembles a dome found in some of Borromini’s work in the Renaissance (Millon, 1961, p. 63). White also took into account the comfort of those not seated in the Royal Box, by using a shallow curve and minimal columns to maximise the visibility and audibility of the stage. 

St James Theatre in December 1997 nearing its complete refurbishment (McGill, 1998)

Those who identify with the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19^th century may find White’s use of ornament and material (incidentally, cement, plaster and metal framing) something of a ‘false magnificence’ (Pugin, 1843). However the St James Theatre is more than meets the eye. White was concerned with not only the location in that it uses rimu and totara, and that White, a Dunedin born man was selected as the architect. White also stayed true to the function of the building – a theatre. A theatre is a place of opulence and drama and although very heavily ornamented, the St James Theatre is a masterpiece of New Zealand architecture and theatricality. 

The St James as it stands today.

Reference

 McGill, D. (1998). Full Circle: The History of the St James Theatre.  Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand: Phantom House Books

Varriano, J. (1986). Italian Baroque and Rococo Architecture. New York, USA: Oxford University Press

Millon, H. A. (1961). Baroque & Rococo Architecture. New York, USA: George Brazillier Inc.

Popp, H. (1913). Die Architektur der Barok – und Rokokozeit in Deutschland und der SchweizI. Stuttgart, Germany: Julius Hoffman

Pugin, A. W. G. (1843). An Apology for the Revival of Christian Architecture in England.  London, UK: John Weale