The Civic

The Civic is a much-loved entertainment venue located in the heart of Auckland’s city centre. Built in 1929, it’s home to two stunning performance spaces, The Civic auditorium and the Wintergarden.

The Civic auditorium is one of only seven of the world’s surviving examples of the period’s opulent ‘atmospheric theatre’ style, with a unique soft-top ceiling that sends “clouds” floating amongst a star-spangled sky. Cleverly painted to resemble a dome, the design mirrors the Southern Hemisphere at 10:00pm on April 20 1929, the day construction started. 

At The Civic, the show begins before you’re seated. Step inside the lobby to find a rock-cut Buddhist temple and a mural of a Hindu wedding. Head to the theatre bar for a pre-show beverage, or for something more substantial, visit Stark’s Café and Bar. When you’re ready to take your seat, wander into the auditorium where you’ll be transported into a Moorish garden at night, complete with turrets, minarets, spires, tiled roofs, and Abyssinian panthers.

Following extensive restoration work The Civc reopened on December 20 1999. The Civic auditorium houses a modernised stage, world-class backstage facilities, and a state-of-the-art digital projection system, as well as one of New Zealand's largest cinema screens, all enabling a fantastic performance for up to 2,379 seated viewers.

The Wintergarden is used for a wide range of events including intimate music gigs, talks, and opening nights, accommodating a seated audience of up to 500 people, or up to 700 standing.