It’s amazing what can be found tucked hidden away in sprawling suburbia that forms part of Papamoa. In an ordinary but smart street, a large upmarket brick home gives few clues to the gracious theatre inside. Ross Mead, a former cabinet maker and boat builder, owner of Elite Limousines, built this home and the theatre attached, himself.
The theatre is furnished in Ross’s own corporate colours, of a dark maroon and gold. The plush, elegant auditorium has seats of dark leather, with lacquered drink holders fashioned from the hardwood jarra. Gold pillars frame the door.
A blue, curved ceiling overhead has twinkling lights (fibre optic) just like the Civic Theatre in Auckland, and you can “alter the twinkle.” Ross used to visit the Auckland Civic as a youngster and never forgot the magic atmosphere. His describes his creation as a “mini Civic theatre – I used to go to it as a boy of about 10 or 12 years old.”
In his scaled down version, he’s installed a Martin sound system imported from the U.K. which has 11 speakers pumping out thousands of watts. The room is equipped with a $35,000 projector and big screen, and has its own custom-made air conditioning system. The adjustable lighting system can create all sorts of moods; all green for Patrick’s Day for example. The wooden dance floor of polished jarra, with just the right amount of bounce, was professionally sprung, with fittings imported from Germany.
The theatre has its own bar of course, and even the gold-doored powder room is a crafted marvel, with granite bench tops.
The sound-proofed theatre is used for everything from small weddings, to private film showings and corporate screenings. To Hire his theatre phone Ross on 05080- 35483. He’ll even pick you up in the blue S-type Jag with the custom-made drinks tray.
