The Entertainment Centre (Roxburgh)
|
Address: 134 Scotland Street, Roxburgh, Central Otago 9500
Contact Person: [email protected] Phone: 03 446 8105 Mobile: 027 383 270 (Curtis) or 021 2804800 (Annie) Website: www.roxburghmovies.nz or www.centralotago.com Facebook: facebook.com/roxburghcinema |
|
Details
Capacity: Main theatre 258 + The Attic theatre 14
Screen: Two
Sound: good. 5.1 system in The Attic
Seating: flip seating in the main theatre, with excellent sightlines; armchair seats in the Attic
Snackbar: Liquor licence
Accessibility: good
Capacity: Main theatre 258 + The Attic theatre 14
Screen: Two
Sound: good. 5.1 system in The Attic
Seating: flip seating in the main theatre, with excellent sightlines; armchair seats in the Attic
Snackbar: Liquor licence
Accessibility: good
Geoff's Review
I have journeyed to the Entertainment Centre in Roxburgh several times and wondered what lay behind the imposing brick facade of the building on the main street of this Central Otago town (next to the Goldfields Hotel). It was not until December 2019 I was able to see inside, courtesy of Curtis who is chair of the community trust which runs the Centre (his garage Pinder Motors is just across the road). Roxburgh is a small town (population 600) in the Teviot Valley, and it is largely known for its gold-mining past, and as an important fruit production region (cherries and apricots).
The Entertainment Centre really is something: housing a large main theatre which seats 258 and offers both film screenings and live events; and The Attic which opened in August 2019, utilising an under-used space on the second level, and offering more of an art house cinema experience.
The large cinema space makes a claim to fame as the longest-continuously-running cinema in the world, first screening films in the same location in 1897. The Committee for the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre is currently seeking external confirmation and gathering evidence for this claim. they succeed in their bid, then I think the Roxburgh Theatre should be declared a national, indeed a global, taonga.
The cinema is in excellent shape, with main theatre undergoing a digital upgrade in the 1990s and further renovations 10 years ago. A new screen and sound system upgrade are planned. The Attic is also an attractive space and was build with considerable community labour. Both are looked after by a charitable trust. There are typically three movie screenings each week: in The Attic theatre and the Main theatre from 8pm, and Sunday afternoon screenings from 3pm, featuring recent releases. Ticket prices are generous: Adults $12 (Main theatre) and $15 (The Attic); children $6 (all screenings), with all profits going towards maintaining this wonderful asset.
Listen to this interview about the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre on Afternoons (RadioNZ) from April 3 2020: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018736572/roxburgh-cinema-could-be-setting-a-world-record