A new stage for The Court

This is one of the most challenging times in The Court Theatre's forty-year history. The February earthquake has abruptly halted the theatre's activities within The Arts Centre, which has been the company's home for the past 35 years. The lease has been terminated and we understand it will be a very long time before the building is usable again.

Without a home, a place to put on some of the country's best theatre, The Court cannot survive. But now, after months of concerted effort by a multitude of people, there is opportunity. A space has been found that can house The Court, a place where the company can resume performances and provide entertainment to the people of Christchurch as the central city heals.

A house has been found - it is our intention to convert it into a home before the end of the year. This is no small undertaking and The Court cannot fund this project alone. Recognising the scale of the work to be done, The Court Theatre Trust has created a Fundraising Executive to lead the donation efforts. 2010 saw The Court named by Creative New Zealand as an Arts Leader in the field of Theatre. It is a measure of a leader that they know when to ask for help. The Court is asking for your help now.

We need your donation

Under the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in it is only the generosity of our audiences that will allow The Court to survive the dramatic effects of 22 February 2011 earthquake. We need your financial support.

The Court enjoys tremendous community support with ticket sales producing the vast majority of income. With the loss of several months of performances, our finances are severely depleted. Your donation and those of other supporters and benefactors will enable us to re-establish ourselves at our new Addington premises and resume what the public are crying out for - the staging of live theatre! It will also speed us along the road of financial recovery and help us to plan for the long-term future and security of The Court.

Our objective is to raise $4.6 million for this project. It is an absolutely critical time in our forty-year history.

How to Donate

We have several donation options for our supporters. If you're an international donor, any of the following donation options can be used.

Cheque
Post your cheque (New Zealand or *International), made out to The Court Theatre Trust to:

The Shed Fundraising Appeal
PO Box 268
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand

*International cheques can be in the donor's home currency.

Credit Card
We can take Visa or Mastercard credit card donations over the phone or via email.

Internet banking
Log onto your internet banking page make a direct deposit through the transfer/pay section of the site (use the international payment option if you are an international donor).

Our account details are:
Account name The Court Theatre Trust, The Shed Fundraising Appeal
Account number 02 0800 0844850 025

Please include your surname in the particulars section and send us an email after the transaction has gone through as we'd love to get in touch and thank you for your donation.

Online
We're in the final stages of setting up an online donation form.

If you can help The Court in any other way please give us your contact details and we'll be in touch with you shortly.

To download a copy of our fundraising appeal document click here. (2mb)