{{Short description|Organisation in Wellington, New Zealand}} {{use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} [[File:CapitalDiscoveryPlace_03.jpg|thumb|Construction of the Capital Discovery Place in Civic Square, Wellington]] [[File:CapitalDiscoveryPlace_01.jpg|thumb|Opening of the Capital Discovery Place in Civic Square, Wellington]] '''Nōku te Ao Capital E''' is an organisation in Wellington, New Zealand, that creates theatre, events and activities for children. It was established in the 1992 and formerly named the '''Capital Discovery Place'''. Capital E is a council controlled organisation and part of Wellington City Council's Experience Wellington. Capital E runs a children's playspace and digital laboratories at their current premises in Wellington Central Library Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui. The National Theatre for Children, MediaLab, OnTV Studio and the Capital E National Arts Festival are entities of Capital E.
== History == Capital Discovery Place, Te Aho a Maui opened as a children's science centre and technology museum in Te Ngākau Civic Square, Wellington in spring 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Capital Discovery Place (Museum) |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22402895 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=natlib.govt.nz}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Capital Discovery Place opening, 1992 |url=https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/836289 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Archives Online}}</ref> The concept was that the centre had a "strong New Zealand focus, with science treated as part of everyday life, and linked closely to arts and culture."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Demystifying science |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/demystifying-science/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=New Zealand Geographic |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The director who developed Capital Discovery Place, Te Aho a Maui was Philip Tremewan.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tremewan |first=Philip |date=1989 |title=Museum Education Association of Australia Biennial Conference – Adelaide, 25–29 Sept. 1989 |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/media/uploads/2017_08/AGMANZ_Journal_Volume_20_Number_4_1989_optimized_for_web.pdf |journal=AGMANZ Journal |volume=20 |issue=4 |page=3}}</ref> It went into a purpose-designed building designed by Rewi Thompson and Ian Athfield.<ref name=":1" /> Capital Discovery Place was part of a global trend of centres with interactive exhibits to de-mystify science.<ref name=":1" /> Prior to the opening of Capital Discovery Place in 1990, an interim project, ''Video 90'', was run between Te Papa and Capital Discovery Place, with nine young people from 11 to 17 years old recording to VHS and editing their views on 1990.
In 1997, the organisation changed its name to Capital E.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Te Karere - Te Aho Maui |url=https://ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=425794 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=ngataonga.org.nz |language=en}}</ref>
In 2013, the Capital E building in Te Ngākau Civic Square was yellow-stickered after an earthquake assessment triggered by the 2013 Seddon earthquake and Capital E had to stop operating from the site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CHAPMAN |first=KATIE |date=2013-04-10 |title=Capital E searching for a new home |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/8533399/Capital-E-searching-for-a-new-home |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=Te Ngākau Civic Precinct programme |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/te-ngakau-civic-precinct-programme |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}}</ref> It moved to 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington in the TSB Sports Arena building.<ref name="tematapihi"/> thumb|Interior during construction of the Capital Discovery Place in Civic Square, Wellington
Capital E moved back to Te Ngākau Civic Square as part of the renovated Wellington Central Library Te Matapihi, which opened in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=A space for the whole community to enjoy |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2022/08/a-space-for-the-whole-community-to-enjoy |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name="parker">{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Scott |title= How a Wellington legend shaped library’s new children’s play space |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/360978025/how-wellington-legend-shaped-librarys-new-childrens-play-space |website=The Post |access-date=4 May 2026 |date=2 April 2026}}</ref>
== Areas ==
Capital E has three areas. A play space for children under five is located on the mezzanine level, modeled on the taniwha Ngake and Whāitaitai.<ref name="tematapihi">{{cite web |title=We’re Moving to Te Matapihi, Wellington Central Library |url=https://www.capitale.org.nz/moving-to-te-matapihi/ |website=Nōku te Ao Capital E |access-date=4 May 2026 |language=en-NZ |date=17 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="parker" /><ref name="gibbens"/> The second floor of the library contains ''Te Rūma Pāpāho OnTV'' and ''Te Taiwhanga Arapāho MediaLab''.<ref name="tematapihi"/> OnTV is a television production studio, including a green screen and control room; students take on different roles, including director, presenter, and sound mixer.<ref name="gibbens">{{cite web |last1=Gibbens |first1=Krystal |title=First look inside the new Wellington Library |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/books/first-look-inside-the-new-wellington-library |website=RNZ |access-date=4 May 2026 |language=en-nz |date=3 March 2026}}</ref><ref name="culver"/> MediaLab is a computer suite where students engage in activities such as making video games.<ref name="culver">{{cite web |last1=Culver |first1=Finn |title=Student to specialist: Finn Culver’s Nōku te Ao Capital E Journey |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2025/02/from-student-to-specialist-finn-culver-capital-e-journey |website=Our Wellington |publisher=Wellington City Council |language=en-NZ |date=22 November 2024}}</ref>
== Organisation == Capital E is part of Experience Wellington which is the trading name of the Wellington Museums Trust, a registered charity established in 1995.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2016-04-12 |title=What We Do |url=https://experiencewellington.org.nz/about-us/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Experience Wellington |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Alongside Capital E, Experience Wellington also run the City Gallery Wellington, Wellington Museum, Space Place at Carter Observatory, Nairn Street Cottage, and the Cable Car Museum.<ref name=":5" />
At the beginning of 2023 there were 19 staff listed at Capital E including four at the National Theatre For Children part of Capital E. The director was Justine McLisky.<ref name=":2" />
== National Theatre for Children == The Capital E National Theatre for Children started in 1997.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2006-11-18 |title=Capital E launches 10th anniversary schools programme |url=https://thebigidea.nz/node/174358 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Big Idea |language=en}}</ref> In 2023 it was led by Kathy Watson (Manager & Producer) and Lynne Cardy (artistic director).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2016-04-07 |title=Wellington Creative Experience {{!}} Kids Theatre & Creative Learning |url=https://www.capitale.org.nz/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Capital E |language=en}}</ref> In October 2023, Experience Wellington announced that it would close the National Theatre for Children, blaming financial issues and falling visitor numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chumko |first=Andre |date=20 October 2023 |title=National Theatre for Children to close after 25 years |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350094382/national-theatre-children-close-after-25-years |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.thepost.co.nz}}</ref>
=== Selected performances === 2007 ''Songs of the Sea,'' New Zealand tour to 14 centres and Australia<ref name=":6" />
2007 ''Hinepau''<ref name=":6" />
2007 ''REM-Zone,'' co-produced by Footnote Dance and Capital E<ref name=":6" />
2014 ''Mr McGee & the Biting Flea'' based on books by Pamela Allen, produced by Capital E and Patch Theatre Company at the Hannah Playhouse <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2014-04-04 |title=Explore Wellington with Capital E for Everywhere this April |url=https://thebigidea.nz/connect/media-releases/2014/apr/140197-explore-wellington-with-capital-e-for-everywhere-this-april |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Big Idea |language=en}}</ref>
2022 ''Kiwi Moon'' based on the book by Gavin Bishop, adapted by Rachel Callinan<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-24 |title=Live Kids Shows {{!}} Touring Childrens Theatre Company |url=https://www.capitale.org.nz/national-theatre-for-children-show-library/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Capital E |language=en}}</ref>
== Capital E National Arts Festival == The Capital E National Arts Festival is an event that programs theatre for children from New Zealand and overseas companies. <ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Ignite your children's creative spark at Capital E |url=https://www.wellingtonnz.com/experience/see-and-do/capital-e/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Wellington NZ |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The target age range is 2–14 years and the expected audience numbers are over 40,000 attendances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dusty&Lulu - The Design Duo - Capital E Wellington |url=https://www.dustysandlulu.com/cape.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.dustysandlulu.com}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Capital E}} Category:1992 establishments in New Zealand Category:Arts organizations established in 1992 Category:Theatre companies in New Zealand