# Capital E > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Capital_E > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Capital_E.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_E > Source revision: 1352507061 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Te_Ng%C4%81kau_Civic_Square), Wellington]] [[File:CapitalDiscoveryPlace_01.jpg|thumb|Opening of the Capital Discovery Place in [Civic Square](/source/Te_Ng%C4%81kau_Civic_Square), Wellington]] '''Nōku te Ao Capital E''' is an organisation in [Wellington](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Wellington_Central_Library). 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](/source/Te_Ng%C4%81kau_Civic_Square), Wellington in spring 1992.{{Cite web |title=Capital Discovery Place (Museum) |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22402895 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=natlib.govt.nz}}{{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}} 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."{{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}} The director who developed Capital Discovery Place, Te Aho a Maui was Philip Tremewan.{{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}} It went into a purpose-designed building designed by [Rewi Thompson](/source/Rewi_Thompson) and [Ian Athfield](/source/Ian_Athfield). Capital Discovery Place was part of a global trend of centres with interactive exhibits to de-mystify science. Prior to the opening of Capital Discovery Place in 1990, an interim project, ''Video 90'', was run between [Te Papa](/source/Te_Papa) and Capital Discovery Place, with nine young people from 11 to 17 years old recording to [VHS](/source/VHS) and editing their views on 1990. In 1997, the organisation changed its name to Capital E.{{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}} In 2013, the Capital E building in Te Ngākau Civic Square was yellow-stickered after an earthquake assessment triggered by the [2013 Seddon earthquake](/source/2013_Seddon_earthquake) and Capital E had to stop operating from the site.{{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}}{{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}} It moved to 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington in the TSB Sports Arena building. 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](/source/Wellington_Central_Library), which opened in 2026.{{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}}{{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](/source/The_Post_(New_Zealand_newspaper)) |access-date=4 May 2026 |date=2 April 2026}} == Areas == Capital E has three areas. A play space for children under five is located on the mezzanine level, modeled on the [taniwha](/source/Taniwha) Ngake and Whāitaitai.{{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}} The second floor of the library contains ''Te Rūma Pāpāho OnTV'' and ''Te Taiwhanga Arapāho MediaLab''. OnTV is a television production studio, including a [green screen](/source/Chroma_key) and [control room](/source/Master_control); students take on different roles, including [director](/source/Film_director), [presenter](/source/Television_presenter), and [sound mixer](/source/Audio_mixing).{{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}} MediaLab is a computer suite where students engage in activities such as making video games.{{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}} == Organisation == Capital E is part of Experience Wellington which is the trading name of the Wellington Museums Trust, a registered charity established in 1995.{{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}} Alongside Capital E, Experience Wellington also run the [City Gallery Wellington](/source/City_Gallery_Wellington), [Wellington Museum](/source/Wellington_Museum), [Space Place at Carter Observatory](/source/Space_Place_at_Carter_Observatory), [Nairn Street Cottage](/source/Nairn_Street_Cottage), and the Cable Car Museum. 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. == National Theatre for Children == The Capital E National Theatre for Children started in 1997.{{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}} In 2023 it was led by Kathy Watson (Manager & Producer) and Lynne Cardy (artistic director).{{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}} In October 2023, Experience Wellington announced that it would close the National Theatre for Children, blaming financial issues and falling visitor numbers.{{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}} === Selected performances === 2007 ''Songs of the Sea,'' New Zealand tour to 14 centres and Australia 2007 ''Hinepau'' 2007 ''REM-Zone,'' co-produced by [Footnote Dance](/source/Footnote_Dance) and Capital E 2014 ''Mr McGee & the Biting Flea'' based on books by [Pamela Allen](/source/Pamela_Allen), produced by Capital E and [Patch Theatre Company](/source/Patch_Theatre_Company) at the [Hannah Playhouse](/source/Hannah_Playhouse) {{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}} 2022 ''Kiwi Moon'' based on the book by [Gavin Bishop](/source/Gavin_Bishop), adapted by Rachel Callinan{{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}} == Capital E National Arts Festival == The [Capital E National Arts Festival](/source/Capital_E_National_Arts_Festival) is an event that programs theatre for children from New Zealand and overseas companies. {{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}} The target age range is 2–14 years and the expected audience numbers are over 40,000 attendances.{{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}} == References == {{reflist}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Capital E}} Category:1992 establishments in New Zealand Category:Arts organizations established in 1992 Category:Theatre companies in New Zealand --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Capital E](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_E) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_E?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.