St James Theatre

Visitor information

Standard opening hours:

• The St James Theatre is open 60 minutes before a performance but can be event dependent.
• Contact us for access outside of these hours.

Accessibility

St James Theatre is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all patrons. The theatre has wheelchair access, accessible seating, hearing assistance devices, companion tickets and guide dog facilities.

Wheelchair access

• The St James Theatre has eight accessible spaces and eight companion seats located in the stalls on the ground floor of the venue. Elevator access is available from the ground floor.
• Wheelchairs are available at the venue but require you to give advanced notice so they can ensure they are on-site during the event

Reduced mobility access

• Stalls — The entrance is via the ground floor with no stairs.
• Dress Circle — Access is either via the stairs or elevator. There are a few steps as you enter the theatre seating space, therefore it is not suitable for wheelchairs.
• Grand Circle — Access is via stairs only.

When seated, walkers need to be stored under your seat for the duration of the show, to avoid creating a safety hazard. If you need additional assistance at the venue, please ask our friendly staff, who are trained to help.

Visually impaired

• Guide dogs are welcome at the St James Theatre.
• Some shows offer audio-described performances and touch tours.
• If you need additional assistance at the venue, you can ask their friendly staff, who are trained to help.

Hearing impaired

• The St James Theatre is equipped with an audio loop for patrons with hearing impairments.
• The loop covers all levels of the theatre and uses an infrared system with receivers and headphones.
• Some shows offer sign-language-interpreted performances.

Contact and booking tickets

• For more information on accessibility at the St James Theatre, you can contact Venues Wellington.
• To book accessible tickets, including with audio loop, or for more information on accessible ticketing, you can contact Ticketmaster on 09 970 9711 or customer.service@ticketmaster.co.nz

Parking and public transport

• The St James Theatre has no public parking available and limited space directly outside for drop off and pick up.
• However, the venue is in the heart of the city, so there is convenient street parking and parking buildings nearby.
• There are Metlink bus stops directly outside the St James Theatre and across the road.

Only buy tickets from authorised sellers

Ticketmaster is the official ticketing agent for all events at Venues Wellington venues.

You can buy tickets:

• online through our Events section
• online from Ticketmaster
• at the Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre.

To make sure you don’t miss out on attending an event, please only buy tickets from Ticketmaster. Unauthorised resellers on Viagogo and TradeMe often sell fake tickets. Our venues are not obligated to let you in if you have purchased a ticket from an unauthorised reseller.

About the St James Theatre

The St James Theatre (originally called His Majesty’s Theatre) opened in 1912. The land, on Courtenay Place in central Wellington, had long been used for entertainment, with a large hall known as ‘Fuller’s’ opening there in 1899. When the hall was deemed a fire risk and demolished in 1911, entertainer and owner John Fuller vowed that the building to replace the hall would be the best in New Zealand.

Fuller employed New Zealand-born theatre designer Henry Eli White to design a new venue. It was the first entirely steel-framed and reinforced concrete theatre in the world, with more than 500 tonnes of steel used during construction.

Interior design

Pillars in the auditorium were kept to a minimum to allow perfect viewing, and seating was arranged in an arc around the stage. Interior adornment included stained glass, marble pieces, carved face masks, and cherubs.

The plasterwork was made by William Leslie Morrison, who reinforced the lime plaster with cow hair. The wooden floors were made of rimu and jarrah, with totara for window frames and doors. In all, the St James cost £32,000 and took nine months to build.

Throughout the years

In its early years, it was used primarily to play silent movies but slowly evolved into a live performance venue. By the 1970s, it had reverted to showing films again and had fallen into decline. Newer venues like the Michael Fowler Centre, Downstage, and the restored Town Hall were being used for live performances.

Rumours of ghosts haunting upper seat levels didn’t help the theatre’s reputation either. Its last screening was the action movie ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ in 1987 before effectively closing down.

During the 1990s, a campaign to save the theatre from demolition by developers gained momentum, and the city council eventually purchased it. A trust raised money for its renovation, and by 1997 it had reopened as one of the jewels of Wellington’s live performance venues. By then, the building had gained classification from Heritage New Zealand as a ‘Category I’ historic place. In 2019, the building closed for major restrengthening and refurbishments and opened again in 2022. 

Hire the St James Theatre

Classical grandeur lends a sense of occasion to any event at the St James Theatre. Frame your presentations and performances with a magnificent proscenium arch, or host a dinner or social occasion on the stage itself.

It plays host to a variety of dance, drama, opera, comedy, and cabaret every year. The theatre’s proscenium arch and historic decorative interior also make for a unique and memorable venue for functions, conferences, and onstage dinners.

Contact us

If you’d like to know more about venue options or organise a visit, get in touch with the Venues Wellington Sales Team.

Contact Venues Wellington

Rooms and spaces

Stage / Auditorium

The St James Theatre’s auditorium is a stunning space for performances, presentations, prizegivings and seminars. The historic surroundings offer a unique environment of gilts and glamour.

Treat your guests to a unique onstage dining experience, looking out towards the historic, 100-year-old theatre. The spacious stage can comfortably accommodate your guests, along with room for presentations, dancing and live entertainment.

First Floor Gallery

This grand space is an inviting blank canvas, ideal for your next meeting or function. Large windows overlooking Courtenay Place let in plenty of natural light — or luxe velvet drapes can divide the space and instantly transform the atmosphere.

The First Floor Gallery is a popular venue for wine tastings, cocktail receptions and product launches.

The Hospitality Suite

The Hospitality Suite is a hidden gem for events and meetings. Tucked away at the south end of the building, this cosy space adds a touch of theatre to business engagements.

With a high stud and natural light streaming in, the Hospitality Suite is ideal as a pre-or post-show hosting venue for performances

The Foyer

At street level, The Foyer is a great area for welcome cocktails and hosting, with plenty of space for registration and coat check.

Layout and capacity

Downloads

St James Theatre fact sheet and floor plan [PDF, 946 kB]