Auckland's St James Theatre to Feature Massive New Basement Venue Upon 2028 Reopening

Renovations at Auckland's historic St James Theatre have revealed space for a massive new basement venue. The theatre is on track to reopen for its centenary in 2028.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 5:56 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

An Accidental Discovery During Restoration

The St James Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1928, has been a silent landmark in midtown Auckland since a fire forced its closure in 2007. During the current multi-million dollar restoration, Steve Bielby of the Auckland Notable Properties Trust revealed that the new venue was a result of practical necessity. To comply with modern fire codes, the existing northern and southern basements needed to be linked for emergency egress. Cost analysis showed that excavating the entire area to create a single, massive space was more predictable and affordable than constructing a specialized tunnel.

A Versatile "Black Box" for 1,200 People

The newly unearthed space is being designed as an "empty black box," providing maximum flexibility for the Aotea arts quarter. With a capacity for up to 1,200 people, the basement venue is expected to host:

Live Music: From international bands to local acts.

Corporate Events: Large-scale meetings and gala dinners.