Downstage Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Downstage Theatre is a theatre
in Wellington
, New Zealand
, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.
The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library
on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland
, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson
, with restauranteur Harry Seresin for the business arrangements. Sanderson believed in a small professional company in Wellington performing challenging works in an intimate venue.
The first locally-written production, in 1966, was Father's Day a dark social comedy by Peter Bland starring Pat Evison
as the eccentric mother with two pregnant daughters.
The theatre is based at the Hannah Playhouse which seats approximately 250 people in the main auditorium, and is situated in Courtenay Place
in central Wellington. The present building opened in 1973, and replaced earlier premises upstairs on the same site. Downstage temporarily occupied the Star Boating Club
during construction.
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.
The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library
Wellington Public Library
Wellington City Libraries in Wellington, New Zealand has over 600,000 books. There are 12 branches of the Wellington City Libraries, the largest of which is the Wellington Central branch.-Branches:...
on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland
Peter Bland
Peter Bland is a British-New Zealand poet and actor.-Life:He emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 20 and graduated from the Victoria University of Wellington....
, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue...
, with restauranteur Harry Seresin for the business arrangements. Sanderson believed in a small professional company in Wellington performing challenging works in an intimate venue.
The first locally-written production, in 1966, was Father's Day a dark social comedy by Peter Bland starring Pat Evison
Pat Evison
Dame Helen June Patricia Evison, DBE , known as Pat Evison, was a New Zealand actress.-Early life and education:...
as the eccentric mother with two pregnant daughters.
The theatre is based at the Hannah Playhouse which seats approximately 250 people in the main auditorium, and is situated in Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place
There are numerous city squares and streets around the world named Courtenay Place. Among them are the following:-In New Zealand:*Courtenay Place, Rotorua in Rotorua*Courtenay Place, Wellington, one of the main streets in Wellington-In the United Kingdom:...
in central Wellington. The present building opened in 1973, and replaced earlier premises upstairs on the same site. Downstage temporarily occupied the Star Boating Club
Star Boating Club
Star Boating Club is a rowing club based in Wellington on the waterfront adjacent to Frank Kitts Lagoon. It is the oldest rowing club in Wellington having existed since the mid 1860's and is one of New Zealand's oldest active rowing clubs and sporting organisations.Founded in 1866, Star has its...
during construction.