Bats Theatre

Not assessed

• 1923 - 1944
• Britannia Lodge (and the hall could be hired out for events)
• 1944 - 1976
• Wellington Savage Club
• 1969 - 1978
• Unity Theatre (theatre space)
• 1976 - 2011
• Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes (upstairs)
• 1979 - 2012
• Bats Theatre (theatre space)
• 2013 - 2014
• Building vacated for strengthening and refurbishment
• 2014
• Bats Theatre (theatre space)

Not assessed

The Bats Theatre building is a small commercial building of the mid-1920s, three-storeys high, built entirely in rendered reinforced concrete and finished with timber-framed shop-fronts at the street level, a simple horizontal verandah and steel windows to the rest of the building. The front elevation to Kent Terrace is dominated by four square pilasters rising through the first and second floors; the outer two are Doric, the inner Corinthian. These support a heavy cornice with a running dentil moulding below, and a plain parapet. Greek key-patterned panels between the windows add further Classical overtones.

At ground level, two shops still have their original doors and shop-front windows with red tiles below while, in the centre, the original Takaka marble steps and oak doors (nicely patched) open into a modest hall.

Inside the hall, there are stairs on the left to the upper floors and, straight ahead, is the foyer, bar and the space used by BATS Theatre itself. On the left side, the original shop houses a small bar, on the right side the other shop houses the BATS office. Adjoining the office is a large walk-in safe with its original door and fittings intact. Opposite this, a generous open staircase ascends to the other levels of the building.

The shell of the theatre space is raw concrete, now overlaid with seating, lighting, props and other paraphernalia of a modern theatre company.

While the technical value of the building is fairly typical or representative of many interwar commercial buildings, it has a high level of authenticity in its front elevation, the only apparent change being the removal of an iron gate from the front entrance porch. A significant architectural feature, a glazed dome in the Grand Hall on the top floor, is still in existence.

The building has high townscape value, as it is well scaled and discreetly enhanced by Classical detailing. It has group value in conjunction with several other significant heritage buildings in the same area, particularly the Central Fire Station next door (to the north), the Taj Mahal opposite, and the Embassy Theatre on the Majoribanks Street corner. These groups of buildings fittingly terminate the east end of the Courtenay Place precinct.

Reinforced concrete

The building fills the entirety of its small inner-city site. Its setting, the area of Kent and Cambridge Terraces at the eastern end of Courtenay Place is of high overall heritage value and the building both makes an important contribution to that setting and is enhanced by it. The setting has a large number of interesting old buildings and is characterised by their general low scale (two to three storeys), and masonry construction.

To the north, the immediate neighbour is the Wellington Central Fire Station (1937); on the island across the road is the remarkable ‘Taj Mahal’ (1928) and the view across Cambridge Terrace is closed by a number of Edwardian commercial buildings and the Hannah Playhouse (1973). The glaring anomalies in the neighbourhood are the incongruous and over-scaled apartment block to the south and the unfortunate characterless New World supermarket that blocks the view of Waitangi Park and the waterfront from the two Terraces, both of which strongly detract from the setting. Further south, the Clemenger BBDO building and the Embassy Theatre (1924) round out one of Wellington’s important collections of heritage buildings; aside from the apartment building, the streetscape in this area remains much as it was in the 1940s and is of high importance and significance for that.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  1 Kent Terrace is a good representative example of an inter-war Stripped Classical Commercial Building. It was designed by the high-profile architectural practice of Clere & Clere, and is a good example of how a small commercial structure can be given architectural interest with careful attention to form and detail.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  It has high group value in its association with the other heritage buildings and structures, in particular, the Central Fire Station next door and the ‘Taj Mahal’ across the road.

  
  

  The building can be seen as part of a group of nearby performance spaces that include the Michael Fowler Centre and Wellington Town Hall at the nearby Civic Square, the State Opera House on Manners Street, the Paramount and Downstage on Courtenay Place, and the Embassy Theatre on Kent Terrace. 

  
  

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  The building is a well-known local performance venue that gains local landmark-status from its use and association with the BATS theatre company.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  The building is historically significant for its association with the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Society and the now defunct Wellington Savage Club. It is currently home to the influential local BATS theatre company.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• IdentitySenseOfPlaceContinuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  The Wellington arts-scene is an important part of the local city ‘brand’ and venues such as BATS contribute to the city’s sense of identity.

  
  

  The building also contributes to the sense of place and identity of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. 

• PublicEsteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  BATS theatre is likely to be held in high public esteem as a well-known local performing art venue.

• SentimentConnection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  Bats Theatre is likely to be a focus of community sentiment and connection for Wellington’s theatre community and the people that support that.

• SymbolicCommemorativeTraditionalSpiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  Bats Theatre has high cultural value for the theatre community that it supports.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  The building retains authenticity in its exterior form and detail.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  The building is a good representative example of a 1920s commercial building.

• Importance

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  Bats Theatre is important at a local level.

Not assessed

• Bats website. Last accessed May 2013
• CT WN305/199
• Cook, Harison. ‘Notes on Wellington Savage Club’. 1936. MS-0605: Wellington Savage Club Papers, ATL
• Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Vol. 1, Wellington Provincial District. Cyclopedia Co. Ltd., Wellington 1897
• Historic Places Trust. “Fredrick de Jersey Clere”. Professional Biographies. Accessed May 2013
• Henderson, J. ‘Buffaloes and Bats - Manchester Unity Oddfellows Building, Heritage Inventory and Conservation Plan’. ITDN 373, School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington
• Maclean, Susan. 'Clere, Frederick de Jersey - Clere, Frederick de Jersey'. The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 30 October 2012, last accessed May 2013
• Manchester Unity Friendly Society (MUFS). History of the Loyal Britannia Lodge no. 3833, 1843-1943. Loyal Britannia Lodge, Wellington, 1993
• Minute Book 1923-1931. MSY-4728: Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. Wellington District Papers, Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL)
• Murray, Russell. ‘Bats Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington City IX’. Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 53, 2005
• ‘Report on club premises and accommodation at 1 Kent Terrace’. C. 1974. 85-027-4/15: Wellington Savage Club Papers, ATL
• Rules of the Wellington Savage Club. Wellington Savage Club, Wellington, c.1925
• Thomas, Allan. ‘The Savage Clubs: a Spirit of ‘Bohemian Comradeship’. Turnbull Library Record, 31 (1998)

• Inventory Report

Not available