Small audience but big message

Tim Finn shares his views in song. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Tim Finn is used to playing to thousands at concert venues around the world but yesterday he happily sang for 13 councillors in the North Shore City Council chamber his plea to save an old movie theatre from destruction.

"It's not the best song I ever wrote but I'm passionate about the Victoria Theatre in Devonport," the singer-songwriter of Split Enz and Crowded House fame told councillors as he began strumming his guitar.

When he finished singing the two verses, with the haunting refrain "How could you let her down?" some councillors were so moved that they applauded.

Now a North Shore resident, Finn said he felt compelled to make his singing submission as 184 people give their views for and against the council buying the theatre for a performing arts venue.

He said he remembered with sadness His Majesty's Theatre being demolished during the 1980s building boom in downtown Auckland.

Split Enz had played that theatre when starting out on the road to international acclaim and he felt the special qualities of the building had lifted its performance.

"It sounds a bit flaky but there's a magic and atmosphere in a theatre.

'You can't build that into a space. It takes time to create in layers and layers."

Finn said he believed the council should buy the 1912 building and lease it to the Victoria Theatre Trust, because theatre people were better able to survive the cycles of ups and downs that a venue experienced.

The trust plans to raise funds to pay for restoring the theatre and will operate it. "If it's pulled down and turned into apartments you have lost a performing space," said Finn.

The Victoria, with seating for 200 to 300 people, would be perfect for getting "a few mates" together for intimate and informal shows using only acoustic instruments, the singer said.

He would also like to use the theatre for the launch of his new album, said Finn who, with brother Neil, has reformed Split Enz for a tour of Australia in the middle of this year.

Playwright Roger Hall also joined those who are trying to persuade the council to buy the Category A heritage building at a cost of $2 million, including upgrading works.

On top of that is a $122,000 a year maintenance cost.

A Takapuna resident, Hall said many theatres had been pulled down "and with the burgeoning of the performing arts the disappearance of these theatres had turned out to be a major loss".

"It's of a size that retains [the] intimacy needed for so many plays and shows but has enough seats to make it reasonably viable."

Devonport residents make up 47 per cent of the 4579 submissions to the council.

Ninety-one per cent of them favour buying the theatre, which was given an art deco makeover in 1929.

But only 51 per cent of those from other areas - both within the city and outside it - support that option.

The proposal could mean a rates rise of 1.68 per cent.


Star's lyrics for a local cause

The Victoria is a beautiful theatre
how could you let her down?
and why would you want to do that to this town?
Under the proscenium every word rang true
From the stalls we'll be watching you.
And if you let her down
soon there will be nothing left
You will take away a place where all they ever did
was give give give.