Since taking over in June last year, the cinema’s owners, husband and wife team Chris and Grace Rottenberry, had their biggest opening during the first weekend of this school holidays.
The Riviera at present operates two screens: one theatre seats 78 and the other 58.
Mr Rottenberry said recommissioning a third, out-of-use theatre, in the complex by June 19 would be a significant advance.
‘‘We’ve pretty much gutted it, and it will have all new seating, a new screen, new equipment, new sound system - the whole shebang,’’ he said.
The upgrades had been planned since January and work started the following month.
The third theatre would have 36 seats. Couches at the front would enable a 44-person capacity per viewing, Mr Rottenberry said.
New seats were due this month and the new cinema would feature a 3.6m-high, 7.5m-wide ‘‘wall to wall’’ screen.
‘‘We’re glad we ordered everything before the crazy tax tariffs were introduced as everything is coming internationally.’’
Mr Rottenberry said they realised the cinema had good potential to expand when they bought it last year.
The timing was right for a third screen.
‘‘We’ve been so busy. We’ve also had our second biggest opening this week again with the Minecraft movie for the school holidays.’’
Since taking over, the couple had dabbled in a variety of movie offerings to see what Oamaru audiences would like: ‘‘It turns out Oamaru likes a bit of everything’’.
The couple have also set up a small Riviera Cinema in Balclutha.
- By Jules Chin
