It was the end of an era when Hamilton's Founder's Theatre closed in 2016, and many were heartbroken when a bid to save it failed last year.
Luckily there is some respite coming in the form of a new Waikato Regional Theatre.
It's scheduled to open in June 2024 with performances spaces for orchestras, theatre companies, bands, comedians and everything in between.
Gus Sharp was recently announced as the incoming inaugural manager of the theatre.
He's our guest for the first bookmarks of 2023.