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Auckland City Council is backing Auckland Theatre Company's bid to create a multi-theatre complex in the abandoned Mid City cinema complex in Queen St.
Auckland Theatre Company chairman Kit Toogood said the company intended submitting an expression of interest for the cinema site by the deadline of today.
"Auckland City and Auckland Theatre Company consider the Mid City site may provide a solution to at least some of Auckland City's theatre venue needs. It certainly presents some exciting possibilities for us," he said.
Auckland City deputy mayor David Hay said council backing for the theatre bid included an agreement to help fund the the next stage of due diligence if the expression of interest was successful.
The vision is that for under $35 million, the existing concrete shell could be converted into a 550-seat home for major drama productions, a 350 or so seat substitute for the long-planned Q Theatre and two or three rehearsal spaces, one of which could be a 250-seater "black box, suitable for dance.
However, a report for the council has highlighted a number of drawbacks with the cinema complex, such as the need for upgrading fire-safety provisions and problems providing truck access and backstage facilities.
Interest in the four-cinema site at 239 Queen St by the city's leading theatre company and council is not shared by Q Theatre, which has been working for 10 years to build a 350-460 seat flexible theatre behind the Town Hall at 305 Queen St.
The Q Theatre board has unanimously decided not be be part of a bid for the Mid City site and to continue with its own $21 million project.
Q Theatre general manager Susanne Ritzenhoff said the Mid City proposal was worth investigating but the board felt it was not wise to go down another track at this point.
Q Theatre has raised $14.3 million of the $21 million needed to proceed. It has applied to a lottery significant projects fund for the remaining $6.6 million and expects to know in July how successful it has been.
The new council under Mayor John Banks has reaffirmed a $9.2 million grant from the previous council towards Q Theatre, but there have been concerns that the estimated cost has blown out from $9 million to $21 million.
Mr Hay said if Mid City, which had wide industry support, got through due diligence and works "then I will go into bat for the best solution for Auckland".
