Plan Your Visit

Our Venues

Christchurch Town Hall

86 Kilmore Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013

  • CSO Centre
  • Douglas Lilburn Auditorium
  • James Hay Theatre
  • Ron Ball Studio

For accessibility information, bus and parking advice, seating maps, and how to find our CSO Centre, click here.

The Piano (Centre for Music and the Arts)

156 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011

Wheelchair accessible; hearing loop capabilities; bicycles and animals are not permitted.

If you'd like to view The Piano seating map, click here

What to Know Before a CSO Concert

How do I get there?

When should I arrive?

What should I wear?

How do I get there?

There are a variety of carparks near to Christchurch Town Hall and The Piano. Please visit parkopedia.co.nz to peruse.

For information on the best bus route to Christchurch Town Hall and The Piano please visit metroinfo.co.nz

There are also a range of bike stands at all our venues.

When should I arrive?

We open the doors to our concerts approximately 45 minutes before the start of the performance. We recommend leaving enough time to find a carpark and grab a drink or something to eat ahead of the concert. For some of our concerts, if you are late, we may need to ask you to wait until the first piece of music has finished. Venues Ōtautahi have a wonderful range of kai to enjoy ahead of Town Hall concerts.

What should I wear?

There is no dress code to attend a CSO concert. You can wear whatever you'd like. We look forward to seeing you at a concert regardless of whether you're in your sneakers, a ballgown, or both!

Can I take photos and videos?

Will there be food and drink?

I'm running late!?

Can I take photos and videos?

We are very happy for photos and videos to be taken on your mobile phone, however, we ask you make sure your phone is on silent and the flash is off. If you share it on socials, please tag us! We love to see your CSO experience.

Will there be food and drink?

There are bars available in the Christchurch Town Hall foyer to purchase kai and drinks before the concert and during intermission. The menu ranges from cheese platters and sandwiches to woodfired pizzas. Yum. A reminder Christchurch Town Hall is totally cashless. The Piano also has a bar open before concerts with drinks and limited snacks.

I'm running late!?

If you're late to a performance you'll still be able to enter the concert hall, but ushers will wait to let you in until there's a break in the music, usually between a movement or at the end of a piece.

Pre-concert Talks

Held before every Lamb & Hayward Masterworks performance, pre-concert talks are an opportunity to learn more about the concert programmes before you hear them performed. Talks either feature conductors, composers, or soloists of the performance.

Pre-concert talks are held in the Ron Ball Studio, Level 1, Christchurch Town Hall, and begin 45 minutes before the performance starts; lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Programmes

We offer free digital programmes for every concert with the repertoire and player list, which you can access via a link in the pre-concert information email that you will receive at least 24 hours before the performance or on the event page.

You can view the programme on your smartphone during the concert, or print it out at home and bring it with you.

There will also be QR codes around the venue for you to view the programme on your smartphone.