Majestic Theatre was an Art Deco cinema building in Christchurch, New Zealand. Majestic Theatre opened on 1 March 1930, and for almost 40 years, operated as a cinema and theatre venue. Designed by the architectural firm of Sidney and Alfred Luttrell in the late 1920s, it was the final project in the Majestic Theatre programme, which saw several cinemas built across New Zealand.
Majestic Theatre opened as the largest cinema in the city, and was the first building in Christchurch to be built with a complete steel frame. It housed a two-tier auditorium with 1650 seats, and also featured office space (originally tenanted by the Department of Labour) and shops on the ground floor. In 1946, shortly after being acquired by Sir Robert Kerridge, the building was damaged in a fire, and underwent renovations overseen by architect Harry Francis Willis.
Following the growth of television in New Zealand in the 1960s, which impacted cinema ticket sales, Majestic Theatre utilised its large space to increasingly host stage performances. Notable performers included The Beatles, The Kinks, Manfred Mann and The Dave Clark Five, as well as successful long-running shows such as Startime Spectacular.
In August 1970, Majestic Theatre officially closed following a second fire started in the dress circle. It was remodelled into a nightclub named Moby Dick’s Nite Spot, which operated until the mid-1970s when a third fire damaged the venue. The building was acquired by the Christchurch Revival Fellowship and reopened in 1978, and became known as Majestic Church in its later years.
Majestic Theatre incurred moderate damage in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and was immediately closed. As a Category 2 scheduled heritage building, heritage advocates and members of the Christchurch City Council argued the building should be saved. However, in a controversial decision, the CCDU department of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) decided to demolish the building as part of their central city rebuild plan. Small protests and campaigns were held in attempt to save the building, but demolition went ahead in May 2014.