House Guidelines

To have the best experience at the Hawke's Bay Opera House, please take a moment to review the following information. Our performances start promptly at the time listed on your ticket so please allow for sufficient time for travel, parking, dining, ticket collection, cloaking and other pre-performance activities in order to arrive at your performance space before the performance begins.

Tickets

A valid ticket is required to access to the Theatre and all performance spaces. Please have your ticket with you at all times as you may be asked to present it for inspection.

Late seating

For the safety and comfort of the performers and other audience members, latecomers will only be admitted into venues at a suitable break. This varies from performance to performance and for some performances this can be at the first interval. We regret any inconvenience and disappointment this may cause latecomers.

If you leave a performance once it has commenced, you will only be re-admitted at a suitable break.

Audio / video recording and photos

The Audio / Video recording and taking of photos (including camera phones) at performances is prohibited at Hawke's Bay Opera House unless specific permission is granted by the promoter.

Mobile phones

We request that mobile phones are turned off prior to a performance. If you must keep your phone turned on, please place it on silent or vibrate mode. Please also remember that light from your phone may be distracting to other audience members.

Smoking

The Hawke's Bay Opera House is a smoke free area, however there are limited outside areas where smoking is permitted.

Bar Service

The bar will be closed five minutes before the published show start time.

Food and beverages in performance spaces

We welcome you to enjoy a drink or snack purchased at our bar prior to the performance or during the interval. If you would like to take your drink into the theatre, the bar staff or ushers can issue you a plastic cup prior to entry. We ask that you do not eat during the performance as the rustly of packaging can be a distraction for patrons seated nearby.