Latest news with #GraeBurton


Scoop
09-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Devastating Fire Destroys The Dust Palace's Stored Circus Equipment And Theatre Assets
Press Release – The Dust Palace Auckland, NZ – A massive fire in the early hours of Sunday morning June 9th has completely destroyed the storage facility housing all of The Dust Palace's circus props, aerial equipment, costumes, and recently donated theatre seating. The fire broke out in a commercial warehouse on Maurice Road in Penrose just before 1am on June 8, with over 50 firefighters responding to the blaze. Among the tenants of the facility was The Dust Palace Trust, a renowned circus and performing arts organisation known for its community engagement, national touring productions, and kaupapa Māori-led education programmes. The fire resulted in the total loss of more than 15 years of creative material, including hand-crafted set pieces, specialist circus gear, and the full inventory of aerial rigging equipment. Also lost were newly donated theatre seats used in the recent production of Haus of YOLO at Ellerslie Arts—seats that were destined to support the creation of affordable performance spaces. 'The damage is catastrophic,' says Grae Burton, Chair of The Dust Palace Trust. 'This is more than just equipment—this is the creative heartbeat of years of mahi, training, and generosity from our community.' The Trust has launched a Givealittle page to raise funds to rebuild and recover. Donations will go toward replacing essential equipment so that upcoming shows, community classes, and youth outreach can continue as planned.


Scoop
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Devastating Fire Destroys The Dust Palace's Stored Circus Equipment And Theatre Assets
Press Release – The Dust Palace The damage is catastrophic, says Grae Burton, Chair of The Dust Palace Trust. This is more than just equipmentthis is the creative heartbeat of years of mahi, training, and generosity from our community. Auckland, NZ – A massive fire in the early hours of Sunday morning June 9th has completely destroyed the storage facility housing all of The Dust Palace's circus props, aerial equipment, costumes, and recently donated theatre seating. The fire broke out in a commercial warehouse on Maurice Road in Penrose just before 1am on June 8, with over 50 firefighters responding to the blaze. Among the tenants of the facility was The Dust Palace Trust, a renowned circus and performing arts organisation known for its community engagement, national touring productions, and kaupapa Māori-led education programmes. The fire resulted in the total loss of more than 15 years of creative material, including hand-crafted set pieces, specialist circus gear, and the full inventory of aerial rigging equipment. Also lost were newly donated theatre seats used in the recent production of Haus of YOLO at Ellerslie Arts—seats that were destined to support the creation of affordable performance spaces. 'The damage is catastrophic,' says Grae Burton, Chair of The Dust Palace Trust. 'This is more than just equipment—this is the creative heartbeat of years of mahi, training, and generosity from our community.' The Trust has launched a Givealittle page to raise funds to rebuild and recover. Donations will go toward replacing essential equipment so that upcoming shows, community classes, and youth outreach can continue as planned.


Scoop
09-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Devastating Fire Destroys The Dust Palace's Stored Circus Equipment And Theatre Assets
Auckland, NZ – A massive fire in the early hours of Sunday morning June 9th has completely destroyed the storage facility housing all of The Dust Palace's circus props, aerial equipment, costumes, and recently donated theatre seating. The fire broke out in a commercial warehouse on Maurice Road in Penrose just before 1am on June 8, with over 50 firefighters responding to the blaze. Among the tenants of the facility was The Dust Palace Trust, a renowned circus and performing arts organisation known for its community engagement, national touring productions, and kaupapa Māori-led education programmes. The fire resulted in the total loss of more than 15 years of creative material, including hand-crafted set pieces, specialist circus gear, and the full inventory of aerial rigging equipment. Also lost were newly donated theatre seats used in the recent production of Haus of YOLO at Ellerslie Arts—seats that were destined to support the creation of affordable performance spaces. 'The damage is catastrophic,' says Grae Burton, Chair of The Dust Palace Trust. 'This is more than just equipment—this is the creative heartbeat of years of mahi, training, and generosity from our community.' The Trust has launched a Givealittle page to raise funds to rebuild and recover. Donations will go toward replacing essential equipment so that upcoming shows, community classes, and youth outreach can continue as planned.

RNZ News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Regional Wrap: the arts scene in Takapuna
Every week in RNZ Culture 101 's Regional Wrap we find out about the arts scene in a place beyond our city centres. This week it's a suburb that developed its own sense of identity before travel was made easier by a harbour bridge. It's Takapuna on the North Shore of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Known for its beach and beachside culture, it also boasts a distinctive volcanic lake Lake Taupo. It was here in the late 1960s the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust renovated an old brick pumping station to become the busy Pumphouse Theatre. It was joined by the larger Bruce Mason Theatre near the beach in 2015. Just up the road from the Pumphouse, the Lake House Arts Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary in another historic house. It's billed as community of hundreds of artists and members participating in exhibitions and events, including classes and holiday programmes accessed by thousands. It was originally an Edwardian boarding house situated between the lake and beach, before being shifted and restored to Fred Thomas Drive on Barry's Point, We welcome to Culture 101 Lake House Arts Centre operations manager Grae Burton.