Civic Theatre - Invercargill

Civic Theatre - Invercargill Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Civic Theatre - Invercargill, Performance & Event Venue, 88 Tay Street, Invercargill.

How incredible is this?! šŸ¤© šŸ§±Local artist Tienkie Venter has recreated our iconic Civic Theatre in LEGO at this yearā€™s So...
05/09/2026

How incredible is this?! šŸ¤© šŸ§±

Local artist Tienkie Venter has recreated our iconic Civic Theatre in LEGO at this yearā€™s Southland Brick Show!

Forgot Dadā€™s present for Sunday? Give him something to look forward to šŸŽThere are plenty of Fatherā€™s Day gift options co...
03/09/2026

Forgot Dadā€™s present for Sunday? Give him something to look forward to šŸŽ

There are plenty of Fatherā€™s Day gift options coming up at the Civic Theatre:

Pipinā€™ Hot, Che Fu and the Kratez, Beatlemania, Echoes of Pink Floyd or The Sweet Caroline Tour for the music fan.

šŸ½ļø Dinner in the Spotlight for a five-course night out on the Civic stage.

šŸš“ Wise Old Bu**er in Lycra for the dad who loves a laugh.

And donā€™t forget Freestyle Kings LIVE is taking over Rugby Park this December with backflips, fire and full-throttle action.

Imagine standing backstage at the Civic, waiting for a chandelier to make a dramatic descent to the stage.In 2015 Inverc...
02/09/2026

Imagine standing backstage at the Civic, waiting for a chandelier to make a dramatic descent to the stage.

In 2015 Invercargill Musical Theatre performed Phantom of the Opera at the Civic. One of the key scenes involved a chandelier making a swift and precarious journey from the auditorium to the stage.

The teams worked together behind the scenes to figure the puzzle out, and once they did it could be worked by just one person.

For the audience, it was a few seconds of theatre magic. Behind the curtain, it took plenty of planning, testing and problem-solving to make it happen.

šŸ“· Invercargill Musical Theatre

Garnieā€™s first job at the Civic Theatre didnā€™t exactly go to plan. It was 1974 and he was an electrical apprentice earni...
28/08/2026

Garnieā€™s first job at the Civic Theatre didnā€™t exactly go to plan.

It was 1974 and he was an electrical apprentice earning about $35 a week. When the chance came up to earn a bit extra helping with lighting at the Civic, he took it. He wasnā€™t particularly interested in theatre ā€“ he just wanted the extra cash.

One of his first shows was the New Zealand Balletā€™s Romeo and Juliet. With directions coming from the stage manager, Garnie's approach to following the dancers with the spotlight was fairly simple: aim for the middle and hope for the best. Heā€™s pretty sure he missed the dancer completely the first time.

Fortunately, he got better, and he kept coming back. What started as a second job became 50 years spent behind the scenes at the Civic.

Over those years, Garnie watched the theatre move from h**p ropes and lamps fitted with coloured gels to modern flying systems and LED lighting. He met performers including Windsor Davies, John Farnham, The Irish Rovers and John Inman, and even helped rewire the theatre during electrical upgrades in 1982.

One show that still stands out is Les MisƩrables in 1994. Featuring a largely local cast alongside Chris Fennessy as Jean Valjean, it was originally advertised for two weeks but sold out and ran for three, bringing more than 10,000 people through the Civic.

In 2001, after years of working at the theatre alongside his day job, Garnie became a full-time member of the Civic team.

Not bad for someone who first walked into the Civic because he wanted a few extra dollars a week.

šŸŽ‚ Celebrating the people, performances and stories that have shaped 120 years of the Civic Theatre.

šŸŖž These ornate boxes are one of the most eye-catching parts of the Civic Theatre auditorium, but they werenā€™t where you ...
20/08/2026

šŸŖž These ornate boxes are one of the most eye-catching parts of the Civic Theatre auditorium, but they werenā€™t where you sat for the best view.

In theatres of this era, boxes were traditionally associated with wealthier patrons and the gentry. They gave people a more private space, but just as importantly, they put them on display.

A night at the theatre was a social occasion. People came to see the show, of course, but they also came to see who else was there, catch up, dress up and be noticed.

These boxes came with plenty of status, but not necessarily the best view. Sitting off to the side meant you could miss part of the action, with only around three-quarters of the stage visible from some seats.

So, in a way, they were less about having the best seat in the house and more about making sure everyone else knew you had one.

And if the setup looks familiar, thereā€™s probably a reason. Statler and Waldorf from The Muppets turned the theatre box into the perfect spot to heckle.

šŸŽ‚ Celebrating the people, performances and stories that have shaped 120 years of the Civic Theatre.

It's July 6 1957 and a young Paul McCartney and John Lennon have met each other for the first time. The Civic Theatre is...
19/08/2026

It's July 6 1957 and a young Paul McCartney and John Lennon have met each other for the first time. The Civic Theatre is already 51 years old.

Are you ready for Pipin' Hot 2026? The stage is set and kilts are ready for Friday 25 September here at the Civic. šŸ”„ Cau...
16/08/2026

Are you ready for Pipin' Hot 2026? The stage is set and kilts are ready for Friday 25 September here at the Civic.

šŸ”„ Caution to anyone sitting in the front row, it's gonna get hot in here!

This year, weā€™re celebrating 120 years of the Civic Theatre ā¤ļø To mark the occasion, we have two anniversary events comi...
14/08/2026

This year, weā€™re celebrating 120 years of the Civic Theatre ā¤ļø

To mark the occasion, we have two anniversary events coming up.

šŸ½ļø Dinner in the Spotlight: Friday 13 November

Celebrate 120 years of the Civic with a special evening on our stage. Enjoy a five-course dining experience by MASH Catering Limited showcasing the flavours of Murihiku Southland, with delicious Domaine Thomson Wines. Throughout the evening, Invercargill Musical Theatre will bring back to life some of their much-loved performances from across the years.

Buy your tickets now: premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=IDINSPOT26

šŸŽ­ Free Community Open Day: Saturday 14 November

Step behind the curtain to see parts of the Civic Theatre you may not usually get to experience. Discover its rich history and learn more about the people and stories that have shaped the Civic over the past 120 years.

Explore the theatre at your own pace, or join one of our free guided tours, departing at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm.

Find out more: www.facebook.com/share/1CXuw2MCR9/

We look forward to celebrating 120 years of this much-loved Invercargill landmark with you ā¤ļø

Have you seen the Big Lebowski? An American Werewolf in London? Creedence Clearwater Revival have had their songs featur...
12/08/2026

Have you seen the Big Lebowski? An American Werewolf in London? Creedence Clearwater Revival have had their songs featured in over 70 movies.

Address

88 Tay Street
Invercargill
9810

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+6432117777

Website

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