BATS Theatre

About

BATS Theatre is a theatre venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Initially founded as the Bats Theatre Company in 1976, then established in its current form in 1989. BATS Theatre has seen the development of many performing arts talents of New Zealand.

The BATS Theatre Company was founded in 1976 by Rodney Bane and David Austin. BATS is an acronym of "Bane Austin Touring Society". Initial plans were to tour one-act plays in Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wellington. Bane and Austin took over the current building at 1 Kent Terrace in the late 1970s and the building was renamed BATS Theatre in 1979.

By the 1980s, Bane and Austin had moved on to other things. BATS Theatre venue became a space that could be leased and was 're-opened as a professional theatre' in 1989 by Simon Bennett (director) and Simon Elson after months of renovations. Bennett went on to become a television director, working on shows including Shortland Street and Power Rangers. Because of their vision in setting up BATS Theatre, Bennett and Elson won the Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre in 2014 at the Wellington Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.

BATS celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 with an event called BATStravaganza Birthday at the Embassy Theatre. In an interview about the early days of BATS as a professional theatre, Simon Elson said:

"... (the) philosophy for Bats was not to have an artistic director making decisions of what shows could be staged there. Instead, the theatre helped facilitate what people wanted to stage. The theatre's small size was very important; there was less financial risk in staging new shows."

For many decades BATS Theatre operated the theatre space on the lower floor, while the building's owners Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) used the space upstairs for regular meetings. According to playwright Ken Duncum, BATS Theatre in the 1980s "existed as a place that could be rented for 60 dollars a day – they didn't mind what you did in it". BATS was a venue for the work of young and emerging theatre practitioners. Staff members have included theatre manager Guy Boyce, appointed 1993 – 1994, who went on to Downstage Theatre, Playmarket and the Christchurch Arts Festival.

The building that BATS now occupies was built in 1923 for the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Society, with a meeting room upstairs and a purpose-built performance space on the ground floor for use as a dance hall and theatre venue. There were also two shops on the street front. The architects were Frederick de Jersey Clere and his son, Herbert Clere. From the 1930s – 1960s the hall was hired out for concerts, dances and other events. It became the Savage Club Hall in 1944 after the Wellington Savage Club (WSC) purchased the building. It was bought in 1976 by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) to serve as the site of their lodge temple. Unity Theatre leased the ground floor theatre space from WSC and RAOB until 1978.

In 2011, the RAOB decided to sell the building, asking a price of $1.9 million, potentially leaving the theatre without a home. BATS attempted to purchase the building but was unable to raise the funds. The building was purchased by film director Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh later that year with the intent to provide a stable home for the theatre.

After the sale, the building underwent extensive renovation and earthquake strengthening, and was closed from February 2013 to November 2014. The renovations added two more performance spaces, which included taking over space formerly used by the ROAB. During the renovations BATS relocated to a temporary theatre space on the corner of Cuba Street and Dixon Street. This space was branded BATS: Out of Site and had a 78-seat venue and bar.

The BATS Theatre Company was founded in 1976 by Rodney Bane and David Austin. BATS is an acronym of "Bane Austin Touring Society". Initial plans were to tour one-act plays in Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wellington. Bane and Austin took over the current building at 1 Kent Terrace in the late 1970s and the building was renamed BATS Theatre in 1979.

By the 1980s, Bane and Austin had moved on to other things. BATS Theatre venue became a space that could be leased and was 're-opened as a professional theatre' in 1989 by Simon Bennett (director) and Simon Elson after months of renovations. Bennett went on to become a television director, working on shows including Shortland Street and Power Rangers. Because of their vision in setting up BATS Theatre, Bennett and Elson won the Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre in 2014 at the Wellington Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.

BATS celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 with an event called BATStravaganza Birthday at the Embassy Theatre. In an interview about the early days of BATS as a professional theatre, Simon Elson said:

"... (the) philosophy for Bats was not to have an artistic director making decisions of what shows could be staged there. Instead, the theatre helped facilitate what people wanted to stage. The theatre's small size was very important; there was less financial risk in staging new shows."

For many decades BATS Theatre operated the theatre space on the lower floor, while the building's owners Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) used the space upstairs for regular meetings. According to playwright Ken Duncum, BATS Theatre in the 1980s "existed as a place that could be rented for 60 dollars a day – they didn't mind what you did in it". BATS was a venue for the work of young and emerging theatre practitioners. Staff members have included theatre manager Guy Boyce, appointed 1993 – 1994, who went on to Downstage Theatre, Playmarket and the Christchurch Arts Festival.

The building that BATS now occupies was built in 1923 for the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Society, with a meeting room upstairs and a purpose-built performance space on the ground floor for use as a dance hall and theatre venue. There were also two shops on the street front. The architects were Frederick de Jersey Clere and his son, Herbert Clere. From the 1930s – 1960s the hall was hired out for concerts, dances and other events. It became the Savage Club Hall in 1944 after the Wellington Savage Club (WSC) purchased the building. It was bought in 1976 by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) to serve as the site of their lodge temple. Unity Theatre leased the ground floor theatre space from WSC and RAOB until 1978.

In 2011, the RAOB decided to sell the building, asking a price of $1.9 million, potentially leaving the theatre without a home. BATS attempted to purchase the building but was unable to raise the funds. The building was purchased by film director Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh later that year with the intent to provide a stable home for the theatre.

After the sale, the building underwent extensive renovation and earthquake strengthening, and was closed from February 2013 to November 2014. The renovations added two more performance spaces, which included taking over space formerly used by the ROAB. During the renovations BATS relocated to a temporary theatre space on the corner of Cuba Street and Dixon Street. This space was branded BATS: Out of Site and had a 78-seat venue and bar.

In 2011, the RAOB decided to sell the building, asking a price of $1.9 million, potentially leaving the theatre without a home. BATS attempted to purchase the building but was unable to raise the funds. The building was purchased by film director Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh later that year with the intent to provide a stable home for the theatre.

After the sale, the building underwent extensive renovation and earthquake strengthening, and was closed from February 2013 to November 2014. The renovations added two more performance spaces, which included taking over space formerly used by the ROAB. During the renovations BATS relocated to a temporary theatre space on the corner of Cuba Street and Dixon Street. This space was branded BATS: Out of Site and had a 78-seat venue and bar.

Part of the philosophy of BATS is to be accessible, supportive of emerging artists and to allow theatrical risk with experimental work. Nearly all the productions at BATS have been New Zealand works, and their current policy is 80% New Zealand work. They programme three to six months in advance and invite anyone to propose a show. Ticket prices are kept low, ranging from $14 to $25. BATS is largely funded by Creative New Zealand and the Wellington City Council. The theatre employs six full-time staff, and uses volunteers as ushers. The BATS Theatre Board has about five volunteer board members.