28 Jan 2026

Why the new Waikato Regional Theatre is creating a buzz

From Afternoons, 1:20 pm on 28 January 2026
This is a head shot of Greame Ward. He is wearing a blue suit and sat in what looks like a meeting room.

Photo: RTD Pacific

Over the weekend a brand-new theater opened on Hamilton's Victoria street, it kicked off with an opening show from Teeks on Friday and spent the weekend hosting Dave Dobbyn.

The Waikato Regional Theatre is the long-anticipated replacement to Founders Theater, which closed almost a decade ago. But unlike Founders Theatre, it is right in the CBD.

Graeme Ward was the project lead on the new theater and has been involved from the start. He speaks to Jesse.