Dramatic scenes of destruction at Founders Theatre

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

It was a spectacle that would have thrilled anyone’s inner three-year-old.

And, on Tuesday afternoon, some actual three and two-year-olds were lucky enough to be among those looking on as a pair of gigantic orange demolition excavators tore into the northern wall of Hamilton’s Founders Theatre in the manner of ravenous monsters.

Daniel Firth and his sons Noah, 3, and Hudson, 2 watched spellbound as the engines roared and big chunks of masonry were dislodged by massive mechanical claws.

Until recently, there has not been much action to witness at the site of the Waikato’s one-time premier entertainment venue. All that changed this week with the destruction of the first major portion of the building getting under way in earnest.

The theatre, built and opened in 1962, has been sitting empty since being abruptly closed to the public early in 2016, after it was assessed to be an earthquake risk.

Safety concerns had also been raised over the 'flying system' - the complex mechanism above the stage that held elements such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and sometimes even people.

The flying system was among the elements being brought down to earth this week as passers-bay watched on in awe in the unseasonably warm sunshine.

Many, such as Sarah-Jane Firth had mixed feelings.

“I used to dance here back in the day. I was with Drury Lane [Dance and Performance Studio] and we did a lot of performances in Founders.

“It’s got to a point where it was just sitting here empty year after year. It’s great to finally see some progress.”

Jim Tonks had a slightly more melancholic view.

“It’s such a shame the old girl’s gone.”

By coincidence, his daughter had attended the Drury Lane school as well.

“I have been to a lot of productions here. It’s a pity they could not have done something with it … Then again, it’s not earthquake proof, is it. I wonder what they are going to do with the site?”

What they will be doing with the site has been forefront in the minds of Hamilton’s city councillors in recent times, following the discovery that there was much more dangerous asbestos in the old theatre than previously thought.

This meant plans for a new outdoor gathering space on the site had to be scaled back, with an almost $1 million portion of the total $4.1m redevelopment project having to be reallocated to asbestos removal.

The original plan for the site’s future included the likes of an amphitheatre, a canopy structure for performance and shade, “engaging, playful public art” and the Dame Hilda Ross fountain being repaired and made accessible.

The fountain is still there in the rejigged vision, but not a lot else.

For the contractors working on the project, the age and structure of the building had made the asbestos removal more challenging.

Bruce Levin, the contracting director for demolition firm Yakka, said it was extremely unusual to find asbestos in the kinds of places they had found it in Founders - including wrapped around old pipes set in concrete, in wall cavities, and in both the stagehouse and auditorium roofs.

“In 17 years of demolition projects, we have never come across this usage of asbestos before.”

The demolition is expected to be completed in August.