The Lobby

The carpet in this area is an exact copy of the design and colour of the linoleum which originally covered these areas. As lino is cold and noisy it was decided to recreate the design in carpet which was specially woven by Feltex (NZ) Ltd. (The original lino is still underneath the carpet!) The floral carpet which starts at the Grand Staircase is a copy of the original pattern which was unearthed under three layers of carpet in front of the orchestra pit at the commencement of restoration! The chandeliers throughout the theatre have all been recreated from early photographs. The barrel vaulted ceiling has been restored to original condition. At either end of the lobby are huge mirrors - now a matching pair as for many years there had only been one. No one is sure why this was so because two were originally intended. They create an impression of spaciousness and reflect the grandeur of the chandeliers.