Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) is Auckland's premier professional theatre company and is one of the leading theatre companies in New Zealand. It was founded in 1992 following the bankruptcy of Mercury Theatre, Auckland's original professional theatre company which had been the largest subsidised company in the country.
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ATC presents a mainbill season of six to eight plays to people from throughout Auckland and the Upper North Island each year. The role of Artistic Director is currently held by Colin McColl, who took up the position in 2003. The previous artistic director was Simon Prast, a stage and screen actor. Since November 2008, Philippa Campbell has been the ATC's Literary Manager.
Auckland Theatre Company offices are located in the lower ground floor of the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall in Balmoral, New Zealand. ATC refit the space to include their administration offices, box office and two rehearsal spaces and moved to this Dominion Road space from Quay Street in December 2010.
ASB Waterfront Theatre
In September 2016, Auckland Theatre Company opened their new home the ASB Waterfront Theatre. The ASB Waterfront Theatre is Auckland's new state-of-the-art performing arts facility located in the Wynyard Quarter. Comprising a 660-seat, international standard theatre, bar, café, gallery space and lounge, the ASB Waterfront Theatre is a purpose-built venue and the home of Auckland Theatre Company.
The Foundation Partners of the ASB Waterfront Theatre are Auckland Council, ASB Bank and AUT University. Major funders include Creative New Zealand and Foundation North. The project funders are the Edmiston Trust, The Lion Foundation and Lotto NZ. The Founding Corporate Partners are Kensington Swan and Villa Maria, and Platinum Corporate Partners are Cooper and Company, ECC Limited, and Moller Architects. Panuku Development Auckland and Auckland Theatre Company are Project Partners.
The premier show presented in the ASB Waterfront Theatre was the Auckland Theatre Company production of Billy Elliot the Musical, presented by ASB. The first preview was on October 7 2016, and the official opening was on October 13 2016.
History
Before the opening of the ASB Waterfront Theatre, ATC presented their shows in many venues around Auckland. The most-used venues were the Kenneth Maidment Theatre (commonly known as The Maidment) in the Auckland University campus and the Sky City Theatre. Other theatres ATC performed in were Q Theatre, Civic Theatre, Herald Theatre and the Basement Theatre.
In 2009, the company's productions included the classic Bruce Mason play The Pohutukawa Tree, directed by McColl with lead actress Rena Owen. The cast included Stuart Devenie who has also worked as a director for the company.