Symmetry and Composition

This striking photograph, with its sweeping semi-circles of mustard yellow seats mirrored by curving balconies, testifies to a discerning eye for symmetry and composition. Showing the Opera House, as the theatre was known then, it was taken in 1976 by New Plymouth photography studio Charters and Guthrie Associates, established by Roy Harland Charters and Rowan Guthrie. Charters began his first photography business in 1938 and was joined by Guthrie in 1945. Later, John Crawford became an additional partner.

In 2008, when preparing to leave New Plymouth for Wellington, Crawford donated a box of “historic” Charters and Guthrie negatives to Puke Ariki. This photograph, which was amongst the donated collection, is a reminder of a long ago colour scheme. Bits and pieces of the palette have changed over the years and in 2011 a new paint job added further lustre to the TSB Theatre, as it is now known. Gone is the grey and mustard yellow. Now, along with lashings of deep grey brown and rich copper gold, the ornate mouldings have been painted in a “dazzling gold, full of glistening promise and luxury”, fit for the very best theatrical production.