To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in regards to the wonderful performance experience we had at the Playhouse Theatre in Decemeber 2013. We had sold out our show at the Mapua hall on the 28th. Due to demand Nic from the Playhouse offered us another night in the area at the Playhouse Theatre on the 29th. With only a weeks notice and no marketing spend Nic was able to sell this show out as well.
We found the venue to be the most incredibly intimate performance space with by far the best acoustics we have experienced for some time. The fact that the audience came early and dined was a sublime experience. The dancefloor was packed by 8pm and the 150+ crowd were in great spirits. The performance space allowed us to interact with the audience in a way that larger venues can not. The Salmonella Dub crew were extremely thankful for the great hospitality the Playhouse provided. The food is exceptional, the staff were extremely accommodating and the setting was entirely unique. We can’t wait to play the Playhouse again.
 Kind Regards
Andrew Penman
Salmonella Dub

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
I (and my friends : Hammond Gamble,Sam Hunt,Paul Ubana Jones,Mayor Tim Shadbolt) have done numerous shows at the Playhouse Café.
I was delighted when Nic and his partner took over and rescued such an important performance venue. They have proven to be
a) Committed to providing a good performance venue.
b) Very hard-working.
c) Supportive of performing artists.
d) Honest.
e) Extremely efficient.
f) Very easy to work with.
Given that being a performance artist is a tenuous occupation at best…..  it has been an enormous help to know that we can count on the Playhouse as an “anchor” venue in the Nelson –Mapua area.
Warm regards,Gary McCormick 

The Playhouse Cafe is a specially unique venue where it can double as a seated / dining / listening crowd or clear the floor and have everyone on their feet dancing.
The cave like quality of the roof and the large stage give the performer the confidence of grandeur, and the crowd a ‘can see the stage from any spot’ experience.
I would like to endorse the Playhouse Cafe 
Oakley Grenell
Musician

The Playhouse is one of the most unique and hospitable venues we’ve ever played. Great stage, great room, great food & beverage and most of all great people. – Julian Temple

The Playhouse Café in Mapua, NZ is a gem on the South Island. As a performer, it’s a pleasure to play on their beautiful stage and in such a nicely-designed interior with great acoustics. The size allows for a couple hundred people but in a way that we don’t lose the intimacy with the audience. It’s also great that their reputation draws people from all over the region to come hear the bands – this really helps us expand our audience, and makes for a really nice vibe in the crowd. Nic & Manu’s hospitality towards the performers is amazing! As an audience member, it’s great to have live music in this area of the country, where otherwise it would mean a long drive to see bands play. They manage to attract artists from all over the country and even internationally, which is very difficult for many venues. It’s so important to have nice locations for artists to perform, and the Playhouse is ideally located to encourage bands to come to this part of the country. Oh, and their food so good! The hosts, Nic & Manu, are always very welcoming and make us feel at home.
Mike Field
International Trumpet Player

To Whom it May Concern
I have been touring extensively throughout New Zealand for about 15 years, mostly with my trio Hot Club Sandwich, and have played thousands of gigs at hundreds of venues in both rural, provincial and metropolitan areas from Stewart Island to the Far North.
I have been a regular at the Playhouse Theatre Cafe in Mapua since early 2000, when it still operated as ‘Silkwood’. Once the improvements were made it quickly became clear the venue would attract both performers and clientele from far and wide, given the lavish attention the designers gave to both groups’ needs.
The venue is unique in New Zealand as far as I know, insofar as it is a purpose-built entertainment venue with excellent acoustic properties, plenty of room for even large groups of performers, and uniform line-of-sight for the audience. The addition of in-house lighting and sound facilities made it ideal for small intimate cabaret-style theatre shows, comedy and music of almost every genre.
I believe the semi-rural location and striking outdoor art installations add to the appeal for performer and punter alike, although the location obviously presents an additional challenge in attracting an audience from the scattered local population. The current owners have always recognised this, and succeed by having developed promotional mechanisms which in my view could serve as an instructional template for every other entertainment venue in the country. They have established personal relationshipswith the locals, nurtured press and radio contacts in the area, and taken advantage of internet-based facilities including an extensive email database, well-maintained website and social media trends.
The fare is always excellent and the service impeccable as far asI am aware – and my supporters are always very quick to give me the lowdown on their experience at the venues I drag them out to, especially if it’s negative. I have never had anything other than the most glowing feedback about the Playhouse.
For these reasons I always try and secure a date at the Playhouse when organising a tour, and build our South Island leg around it. I am happy to be contacted for discussion.
yours faithfully
Andrew London

Madsen Promotions have been performing at the Playhouse for around 3 years.
Our first impressions on Nic and Manu were that they would have this Venue humming !
3 years down the track its a happening Entertainment hotspot ! Its isn’t easy promoting a Venue thats situated slightly of the “beaten track” bit Nic and Manu have won through with great food and hospitality topped of with carefully selected Entertainment.
The decor of the cafe is great with a Rustic /contemporary feel to it ….
It could now be said ”What would we do without the playhouse?
Good on ya Nick and Manu ! A dynamic Team!
Paul Madsen , Manager / Director Madsen Promotions

I have been performing as an actor at the Playhouse since it first opened in December 2007, and I have to say it’s my favourite venue for dinner theatre in the Nelson region. I love the immediacy and intimacy of the venue, the fact that as a performer you are so close to your audience. It’s quirky look ticks all the boxes as far as I’m concerned.
Hugh Neill Theatre Alive Nelson

The Playhouse is a lovely place to play. Great hospitality, good stage and system and lovely people.. the kind of venue that makes you feel like you’re on holiday rather than on tour!Flip Grater

“The Playhouse Café at Mapua has hosted a number of our touring acts, both theatrical and musical, with considerable success.
They offer a quality stage area for the performance  and treat the acts with respect. They work hard to attract an audience, who appreciate quality artistry and entertainment.
They are careful to create a supportive environment for the artists to perform to their best abilities, while also providing patrons with a quality dining experience.  
This is not an easy thing to do and they accomplish it with flair.”
Steve Thomas, Arts on Tours Director

“I have performed  in venues all across NZ and Australia and the Playhouse Cafe still stands out in my top 10. Lovely atmosphere and staff are always friendly & well organised. To present our music in venues like this is simply an honour and I hope they win the award.” Bryce Wastney (NZ Singer/songwriter) www.brycewastney.com

We have a true focus on customer service with an effort to make customers as comfortable as possible. We also have a focus on our performers, making them feel at home in our large green room area, friendly staff and a large theatre stage on which they have the audiences full attention.

Over all, the Playhouse Cafe and Theatre is a unique venue with a reputation for providing great talent to our customers and a true performers venue for artists from around the world.

When it comes to ambience, The Playhouse Theatre is one the most unique and special venues in the country. In 2008 a multimillion dollar renovation was undertaken on the premise, with large changes taking place both inside and outside of the building. This transformed the ambience from small country cafe to an oasis of art and reflects the values and culture we have created here.

The artist behind the re design was the late John Gosney, and his motifs of large sculpture features and Gaudi inspired interior design have left an unmistakable mark on the venue.

From the moment you venture through the large steel archway, the massive art works, stone tables and artistic features are breath taking. The pieces are custom designed by the artist for the Playhouse, and many have practical elements to them.

The large concrete tables were built on site, while many of the steel art pieces double as lights. These are topped off by a 3 ton lime stone feature rock which was taken from the top of the Takaka hill.

Legend has it, that it was the one piece of rock the quarry bosses said was not to be taken, the audacious John Gozney took the piece anyway, and once it was down the hill there was little they could do to get it back up there.

Customers love the many nooks and crannies of the gardens and deck, providing privacy for each group to enjoy the environment till late into the summer evening. The main deck has large glass doors which open right into the restaurant providing a lovely social space with a direct line of site right onto the stage and act for the night.

As impressive as the outside is, it is out shined by the interior.

A mass under taking from the artist has taken a standard wooden style building and moulded it into a piece of art. Gozney was truly inspired by Gaudi, and the grotto style interior of the restaurant pays homage to that. Starting with a thick layer of sprayed on styrofoam and finished with a thin layer of concrete and paint, the interior feels more Barcelona than Mapua.

Adding to this, are decorative copper plates and tubes which are also the mood lighting for the restaurant. The main focal point for patrons during the events is of course the stage. With large red curtains and a professional lighting system, each patron table is arranged to provided a good view of the performance on the night. Regular patrons will often request the raised platforms at the back of the room, which ensure the entire audience has a great view of the stage.

As a mark of respect to our love of music at The Playhouse, an extensive vinyl collection is located by the bar area for customers to flick through and explore, and we will often play vinyl before and after a show which reflects the style of music which the audience has come to see.

Beyond an artistic level, John Gozney’s technique of styrofoam and concrete has created 2 very important practical aspects to the building…amazing acoustics and excellent insulation. The uneven surface and sloping ceiling provide a perfect acoustic environment, while the styrofoam helps cool the restaurant in summer, and keeps it toasty warm in the winter.

Overall, the amazing artwork and practical design of John Gozney creates an ambience which is like no other in the country. We were very sad to hear of his passing last year and The Playhouse is legacy to his work and passion. The space is designed by a true artist, for artists and art lovers.