Christchurch's relocated Court Theatre opened its first production on Saturday evening, nine months after its inner city premises were severely damaged by the February earthquake.
The country's most successful professional theatre was based in the city's gothic-style Arts Centre for 35 years, but that has been red-stickered.
The new theatre has been built in a former grain store in the suburb of Addington.
Chief executive Philip Aldridge says the theatre has 100 extra seats and a much larger stage.
He says there was a full house tonight's performance of Roger Hall's play A Short Cut to Happiness, and tickets are selling well for other performances.
"There's a great thirst for a good night out," he says, "and we're going to have it with Roger Hall's Short Cut to Happiness."
