Isaac Theatre Royal vs St James Theatre:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre were level in searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, with an estimated 8.4K versus 8.1K branded searches, at 10.5% and 10.2% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about theatres and performing arts venues, both Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre appeared in all four answers. St James Theatre was mentioned before Isaac Theatre Royal in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
St James Theatre, named ahead of Isaac Theatre Royal in 2 of 3 answers
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Top theatres and performing arts venues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre showed up in all four answers. St James Theatre was listed before Isaac Theatre Royal in two of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
The Civic4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Isaac Theatre Royal4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- St James Theatre4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
ASB Waterfront Theatre3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Q Theatre2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Circa Theatre2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Auckland Theatre Company2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Court Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- Auckland Live1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
BATS Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about theatres and performing arts venues
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which theatre or venue should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best theatre or venue in New Zealand for a night out?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wellington theatre shows”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“theatres and performing arts venues”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Isaac Theatre Royal or St James Theatre more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten theatres and performing arts venues we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Isaac Theatre Royal, St James Theatre. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The Civic | ASB Waterfront Theatre | Q Theatre | Isaac Theatre Royal | Court Theatre | St James Theatre | Auckland Live | Circa Theatre | Auckland Theatre Company | BATS Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 19.3% | 10.6% | 8.9% | 16.4% | 13.1% | 8.6% | 9% | 7.3% | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 22.5% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 12.7% | 18.6% | 5.4% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 3% | 2.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.7% | 7% | 5.9% | 13.4% | 29% | 7% | 7.5% | 8.8% | 3.8% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 16.8% | 13.8% | 7.8% | 17.4% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 8.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 16.7% | 7.5% | 9.6% | 21.3% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.2% | 10.5% | 11.2% | 13.4% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% |
| May 2026 | 16% | 7.1% | 20.3% | 13.7% | 11.8% | 10.7% | 6.6% | 5.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 20.8% | 11.4% | 8% | 14.7% | 12.8% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.7% | 4.4% | 13% | 8.8% | 17.7% | 6.7% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 4.6% | 3% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.9% | 12% | 10.2% | 15.2% | 10.4% | 5.3% | 8.9% | 10.1% | 3.6% | 2.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.7% | 10.6% | 11% | 11.1% | 11% | 10.6% | 9% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Oct 2026 | 22.7% | 15.2% | 10.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 8% | 5.7% | 3.7% | 3.1% |
How has branded search for Isaac Theatre Royal and St James Theatre changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Isaac Theatre Royal was ahead of St James Theatre in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Isaac Theatre Royal’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 16.4% to 10.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.6K to 8.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, St James Theatre’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 8.6% to 10.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 8.1K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand theatres and performing arts venues in October 2026?
3 changes
In October 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre overtook Isaac Theatre Royal and 2 others to rank 2nd among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, with 15.2% of the searches.
In October 2026, Isaac Theatre Royal lost share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, from 11.1% to 10.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for St James Theatre in New Zealand rose 22.7% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 8.1K in October 2026.
How are Isaac Theatre Royal’s and St James Theatre’s branded searches counted?
9 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Isaac Theatre Royal’s and St James Theatre’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Isaac Theatre Royal
8 branded search terms
- isaac theatre royal
- isaac theatre royal events
- isaac theatre royal parking
- isaac theatre royal seating
- isaac theatre royal shows
- isaac theatre royal tickets
- isaactheatreroyal
- the isaac theatre royal
St James Theatre
1 branded search term
- st james theatre
Other head-to-heads among theatres and performing arts venues
- The Civic vs ASB Waterfront Theatre: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Q Theatre: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Court Theatre: compare popularity
- ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Q Theatre: compare popularity
- ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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