circa theatre

Te Aro - Wellington, NZ

Circa Theatre Redevelopment

What began as a simple roof repair became a transformative project to reconnect Circa Theatre with Wellington’s waterfront. Driven by trustee Carolyn Henwood’s bold vision, the northern façade was reimagined, opening up and extending with a new upper level, linked by a sculptural stair to capture harbour views and welcome the public in. A project about collaboration with many hands and hearts going into its creation.

 A shimmering kinetic sculpture by Kayne Horsham of Kaynemaile — the Velarium — now shades the new outdoor patio and acts as a beacon, reflecting the creative energy of the waterfront and inviting curiosity.

Inside, the ground floor was redeveloped into Chou Chou, a French bistro by restaurateur Jamie Williams offering café-style dining by day and a fine dining experience by night. The new upper floor doubles as a breakout space for actors and directors during the week and expands the restaurant on weekends.

 This project is about dissolving barriers - between theatre and city, art and everyday life - opening Circa to a wider audience and embedding it ever more deeply in the fabric of Wellington.