Stairway to Heaven

Hopefully I have had my last visit to the physiotherapist today. Since putting the strapping back again on my foot, the leg hasn't hurt at all. Now I just have to leave the strapping on until it falls off and hopefully all will be well!

I stopped of in the city and had a catch-upon all the buildings that are coming down or going up. These shots were taken of buildings going up... the shot on the left hand-side at the top is off a stairway going into a new building. It looked so funny just setting up there in the sky.. not something you see every day!

The other two shots are taken of the Isaac Theatre Royal rebuild. I think where the concrete tilt slabs being lifted into place, is part of a side building for the Isaac Theatre Royal. In the bottom shot is the crane driver maneuvering the concrete tilt slabs in place. Look at all those notices and signs!

Information on the Isaac Theatre Royal

The Isaac Theatre Royal was subjected to severe shaking during the earthquakes of 22nd February and 13th June 2011 and sustained considerable damage; this damage was exacerbated by the constant aftershocks and subsequent significant earthquake of 23rd December 2011. The Back of House, which was built in 2004/05, suffered only moderate damage and will be repaired, but the 1908 auditorium and 1928 foyer spaces were not considered repairable in their original form, due to the dangerous nature of the unreinforced masonry walls. It is noteworthy that the structural strengthening carried out in 1999/2000 prevented complete collapse of the theatre and enabled the retrieval of key heritage items
and stabilisation of the Edwardian façade. All heritage fabric will be retained,
restored and/or reinstated.

There have been three Theatre Royals in Christchurch. The first was a wooden building opened in Gloucester Street in 1863, over the road from the present building. Originally called the Canterbury Music Hall, it later became the Royal Princess Theatre and then, after refurbishment, the Theatre Royal. It served for many years, but a better facility was wanted, so it was replaced on the same site with a new building, also made of wood. This second theatre was a new and much improved performance structure, designed by Christchurch architect A.W. Simpson. It opened on 4 November 1876, and operated for several decades until plans for a bigger theatre were hatched.

When work on the third incarnation began on 20 November 1906 the Christchurch Press confidently stated that the building would be 'one of the most modern and comfortable south of the line'. The Australian brothers Sydney and A.E. Luttrell designed the original French Renaissance-style building, and acted as architects and structural engineers during its 15-month construction.

For more information on the Theatre.