Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin Explained

Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin
Location:31 Albany Street, Dunedin
Operator:Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society (1876–1960)
Southern Comedy Players (1961–1969)
Southern Theatre Trust (1969)
Dunedin Repertory Society (1969–present)
Capacity:130-seat
Website:https://www.playhousetheatre.co.nz/

The Playhouse Theatre is a theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was converted from a lodge into a 100-seat theatre by the Southern Comedy Players in 1962. Since the late 1960s it has been home to the Dunedin Repertory Society, who regularly perform youth productions for children.

Southern Comedy Players

The building, at 31 Albany Street, dates from 1876, and was converted from the Foresters' Lodge Hall in 1962 by William Menlove and Bernard Esquilant for theatre company Southern Comedy Players.[1] When opened the theatre had 100 seats, and the "Stage Set" cafe and a craft exhibition space on the top floor.[2]

The repertoire for the Southern Comedy Players included contemporary West End comedy, musicals, classics and dramas.[3] The Southern Comedy Players became the Southern Theatre Trust which folded in 1970.[4]

Dunedin Repertory Society

The Playhouse is home to the Dunedin Repertory Society, which was formed in 1931 but has been based at The Playhouse since the late 1960s.[5] [6] The Society currently specialises in youth productions, and regularly performs youth productions for children in the school holidays. Recent productions have included The Hunting of the Snark, adapted from Lewis Carroll by Diane Dupres, in April 2021,[7] and Treasure Island; Sleeping Beauty is an up-coming production for July 2021.[8] The Playhouse also hosts an annual adult production, past productions have included a professional production of Aristophanes' The Clouds, directed by Harry Love in 2019, and Never the Sinner, by John Logan, directed by Lewis Ablett-Kerr.[9] [10]

During 2020 the society had to move productions to Logan Park High School due to a leaking roof. The roof was subsequently replaced using a grant from the Dunedin Heritage Fund, which was the first renovation work since the conversion in the 1960s. In April 2021, the Society's President Jemma Adams called for public input into the future of the building, which is in need of significant further renovation.[11]

Musical Theatre

Some of Dunedin Operatic Inc.'s early productions [now Musical Theatre Dunedin] were staged in the Playhouse Theatre.[12]

Notable alumni

Ryan O'Kane began his acting career performing with Playhouse Theatre, aged 5.[13]

Awards

At the 2019 Dunedin Theatre Awards, the Playhouse was awarded Outstanding Contribution to Children's Theatre.[14]

References

-45.8661°N 170.509°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MacLean. Hamish. 2021-04-14. Playhouse upgrade probably too much for Repertory. 2021-07-03. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182536/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/playhouse-upgrade-probably-too-much-repertory. live.
  2. Web site: McDonald. Alister. 16 Apr 2021. BERNARD ESQUILANT OBITUARY: PIONEER OF NZ PROFESSIONAL THEATRE. live. 2021-05-20. www.theatreview.org.nz. 19 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519023630/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/forum/topic.php?id=1994.
  3. Web site: 11 March 2021. Bernard Esquilant, 1926-2021 (As published in the Otago Daily Times). live. 2021-07-03. www.theatreview.org.nz. 19 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519023630/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=1737.
  4. Web site: Smith. Charmian. 2014-07-17. Theatre of Fortune. 2021-07-03. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183435/https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/theatre-fortune. live.
  5. Web site: Theatre Aotearoa. live. 2021-07-03. Theatre Aotearoa database. en. 23 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923143149/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106827442.
  6. Web site: Harwood. Brenda. 2019-09-01. Playhouse looking to play greater role. 2021-07-03. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183647/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/playhouse-looking-play-greater-role. live.
  7. Web site: The Hunting of the Snark — Dunedin City of Literature. 2021-07-05. www.cityofliterature.co.nz. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183250/https://www.cityofliterature.co.nz/whats-on/the-hunting-of-the-snark/. live.
  8. Web site: Playhouse Theatre Dunedin. 2021-07-05. Playhouse Theatre Dunedin. 19 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519030620/https://www.playhousetheatre.co.nz/. live.
  9. Web site: Fox. Rebecca. 2019-07-29. A tragic education. 2021-07-05. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 11 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711181438/https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/tragic-education. live.
  10. Web site: Fox. Rebecca. 2017-05-25. No easy answers. 2021-07-05. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184131/https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/theatre/no-easy-answers. live.
  11. Web site: Harwood. Brenda. 2021-04-22. Opinion sought on Playhouse future. 2021-05-20. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 19 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519030638/https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/opinion-sought-playhouse-future. live.
  12. Web site: History - Musical Theatre Dunedin. 2021-07-10. mtd.org.nz. en. 19 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519220242/https://mtd.org.nz/History/. live.
  13. Web site: 2014-08-09. Ryan O'Kane - Class of 2000. 2021-07-10. Otago Daily Times Online News. en. 10 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710014610/https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/ryan-okane-class-2000. live.
  14. Web site: New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews. live. 2021-07-09. Theatreview. 14 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614232507/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=1688.

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