Editorial: Shaken by theatre finding

Chris O'Reilly, chairman of the Hawkes Bay opera house in Hastings. Pictured at the theatre after a press conference to announce the immediate closure.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule was reported to be surprised to hear of the earthquake prone issues facing the Hawke's Bay Opera House theatre building.

I had a similar reaction when I heard Tuesday's news for similar reasons - a previous $13.6 million Opera House upgrade had included work to bring it up to code.

My time in Hawke's Bay comes to an end in three weeks and I feel obliged to confess, in my two-and-a-half years in the Bay, I have not visited the theatre once.

In hindsight, it ranks third on my list of Hawke's Bay 'should-haves', following closely behind surfing Mahia Peninsula and walking Lake Waikaremoana.

Perhaps it is a bit rich of me to wax lyrical of the theatre when I have not stepped foot inside it. But, in testament to its cultural status, one needs only to be vaguely familiar with it to know it is synonymous with Hawke's Bay.

The historic old theatre is of massive value to the Bay. Not only in its logistical importance hosting the region's flagship events - but as a cultural icon for our entertainment scene.

The opportunity to rectify my apathy has now well and truly passed, with the theatre closed until at least May, when the council will have a better understanding of whether strengthening the structural integrity of its two 12m-high side brick walls is an option.

Maybe my reaction to the theatre's closure, and the question mark over its future, is the motivation I need to pack the surfboard and hastily organise a trip north.