Company Theatre, began in 1980 with a group of nine performers under the name of "Company Players." Those initial nine are reflected in our logo.
John Dylan, the first President, initiated a programme of experimental or “avant garde” productions. In 1982, a new committee changed direction to more box office, more popular, shows including Music Halls. The theatre grew quickly in the period 1982 – 1990, based at St Michael's Church Hall, in Bayswater. A larger performance space and possible permanent Home was dreamed about.
In 1990, a new community centre was proposed for the Belmont area, and The Rose Centre, was officially opened in 1992 with Company Theatre as the resident Theatre Group. Now, within The Rose Centre, Company Theatre has its own Home and Rehearsal Room. There is a fully equipped, very comfortable, air-conditioned theatre that seats 110. This vibrant centre is for the celebration of all the performaing arts.
Thank you to Scott Thomas for his work on preserving the history of Company Theatre from 1980 until today. With assistance from Sherry Ede.
Sheila's Island by Tim Firth. Directed by Kathy Gent
Home Land by Gary Henderson. Directed by Sian Davis.
The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time by Simon Stephens. Directed by Suzy Sampson
The History Boys by Alan Bennett. Directed by Suzy Sampson
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Directed by Sian Davis
Rumours by Neil Simon. Directed by Kate Birch
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. Directed by Kate Birch
The Thrill of Love by Amanda Whittington. Directed by Kathy Gent
Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. Directed by Kristof Haines
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Willians. Directed by Sian Davis
Peninsula by Gary Henderson. Directed by Kristof Haines
Lockdown in Little Grimley by David Tristram. Directed by Kathy Gent
Stones In His Pockets by Marie Jones. Directed by Kristof Haines
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Directed by Kathy Gent
Arms and The Man by George Bernard Shaw Directed by Reg Williams
Popcorn by Ben Elton. Directed by Suzy Sampson
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Anne Rimmer
Last Legs by Roger Hall. Directed by Sian Davis
Weed by Anthony McCarten. Directed by Mark Jensen
Ladies' Day by Amanda Whittington. Directed by Kathy Gent
Deathtrap by Ira Levin. Directed by Kate Birch
When Dad Married Fury by David Williamson. Directed by Max Golding
Hautu & Charlie Bloom by Kathleen Gallagher. Directed by Steven Arnold
Hayfever by Noel Coward. Directed by Julian Harrison
Don't Dress for Dinner by Marc Camoletti. Directed by Elena Stejco
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Steven Arnold
A Shortcut to Happiness by Roger Hall. Directed by Sian Davis
MORE Fawlty Towers by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Directed by Kathy Gent
Calendar Girls by Tim Firth. Directed by Kathy Gent
It's Just Sex by Jeff Gould. Directed by Richard Parmee
Little Gem by Elaine Murphy. Directed by Des Smith
Fawlty Towers by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Directed by Kathy Gent
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. Directed by Sian Davis
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Kendall. Directed by Karl Buckley
Four Flat Whites in Italy by Roger Hall. Directed by Richard Parmee
Improbable Fiction by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Lynne Davis
Who Wants to be 100? (Anyone who's 99) by Roger Hall. Directed by Sian Davis
Brassed Off by Paul Allen. Directed by Kathy Gent
Music Hall 2010. Devised and Directed by Ruth Chapman & Sherry Ede
Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Lynne Davis
Tom, Dick and Harry by Ray and Michael Cooney. Directed by David Adkins
Murdered To Death by Peter Gordon. Directed by Sherry Ede
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness. Directed by Steve Wright
'Allo 'Allo by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd. Directed by Kathy Gent
Boeing Boeing by Marc Carnoletti. Directed by Richard Parmee
The Bach by Stephen Sinclair, Directed by Sian Davis
Daughters of Heaven by Michelanne Forster, Directed by Mary Cavanagh
Funny Money by Ray Cooney, Directed by Sherry Ede
Spreading Out by Roger Hall. Directed by Kathy Gent.
Gym & Tonic by John Godber. Directed by Lesley Locke
Noises Off by Michael Frayn. Directed by Richard Parmee.
Caught In The Net by Ray Cooney. Directed by Sherry Ede
Trick of The Light by Ken Duncam. Directed by Sian Davis
The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley. Directed by Graham Wagstaff
Take A Chance On Me by Roger Hall. Directed by Kathy Gent
Kindertransport by Diane Samuels. Directed by Graham Wagstaff
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. Directed by Helen Cooper
Up For Grabs by David Williamson. Directed by Richard Parmee
Tons of Money adapted by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Sherry Ede
The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson. Directed by Steve Wright
Run For Your Wife by Ray Cooney. Directed by Sherry Ede
Richard Pearse - The Pain & The Passion. Directed By Sherry Ede
Brilliant Lies by David Williamson. Directed by Richard Parmee
Curtain Up On Murder by Bettine Manktelow. Directed by Steve Wright
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Sian Davis
The Sex Fiend by Sinclair & Mulheron. Directed by Anthony Whitehouse
Darkness Falls, The Monkey’s Paw &The Dark. One Act Plays. Directed by Lynne Davis
King Arthur. A Pantomime by Paul Reakes. Directed by Anne Rimmer
Arsenic & Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring. Directed by Sian Davis
How The Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Anthony Whitehouse
Richard Pearse - The Pain & The Passion. Written & Directed by Sherry Ede
Eugenia by Lorae Parry. Directed by Sian Davis
Outside Edge by Richard Harris. Directed by Steve Wright
Chapter Two by Neil Simon. Directed by Perry Cameron
See How They Run by Philip King. Directed by Kathy Gent
Straight & Narrow by Jimmy Chin. Directed by Kathy Gent
Social Climbers by Roger Hall. Directed by Steve Wright
One Act …Times Two. (2 One Acts as follows)
A Kind of Alaska by Harold Pinter. Directed by Perry Cameron.
White Liars by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Graham Wagstaff
Money & Friends by David Williamson. Directed by Sherry Ede
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. Directed by Sian Davis
Cinderella - Junior Theatre
1997
The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon. Directed by Maggie Maxwell
The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard directed by Graham Wagstaff & Cup Final by Charles Mander directed by Steve Wright
Palladium Devised & Directed by Ruth Segrove & Moira Coote
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. Directed by Kathy Gent
Sleeping Beauty - Junior Theatre
1996
Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Anthony Whitehouse
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Peter Millar.
Snow White - Junior Theatre
1995
Natural Causes by Eric Chappell. Directed by Neil Burgham
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Directed by Robert Letcher
Aladdin - Junior Theatre
1994
Mothers and Fathers by Joe Musaphia. Directed by Gordon Currie
The Mad, Mad World of Theatre. Devised & Directed by Sherry Ede
Situation Comedy by Mortimer & Cooke. Directed by Robert Letcher
Pardon Me, Is My Music Disturbing You. Devised & Directed by Bruce Murray
Jack and The Beanstalk - Junior Theatre
1993
Beside The Sea by Brian Jefferies. Directed by John Palmer
Cowardy Custard by Noel Coward. Directed by Bruce Murray
Map Of The Heart by William Nicholson. Directed by Neil Burgham
A Christmas Wish - Junior Theatre
Starblaze - Junior Theatre
Why Me? by Stanley Price. Directed by Mark Oswin.
Murder In Company by Philip King. Directed by Ruth Segrove
COMPANY THEATRE MOVES TO THE ROSE CENTRE, School Road, Belmont.
Our premiere production in our new home was...
Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett. Directed by Peter Segrove
The Littlest Star - Junior Theatre
Princess & The Pea - Junior Theatre
Middle Age Spread by Roger Hall. Directed by Gordon Currie
ThreeFold (Three One Act Plays) -
Music Hall ’91. Devised and Directed by Peter Segrove.
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott. Directed by Neil Burgham.
Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney & John Chapman. Directed by Peter Segrove
Babes In The Wood by Tony Currie. Directed by Alistair Bibby
1989
Murder On The Nile by Agatha Christie. Directed by Anne Potter
Who's Life Is it, Anyway? By Brian Clarke. Directed by Neil Burgham
Music Hall ’89. Devised and Directed by Peter Segrove
Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas. Directed by Peter Segrove
Fify/Fifty by Roger Hall. Directed by Neil Burgham
The Pohutakawa Tree by Bruce Mason. Directed by Anne Potter
Move Over, Mrs Markham by Ray Cooney/John Chapman. Directed by Ruth Mathieson
Mr Pim Passes By. A comedy by A.A. Milne. Directed by Ruth Mathieson
Bonaventure by Charlotte Hastings. Directed by Anne Potter
Music Hall ’87 Devised and Directed by John Dylan
1986
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton. Directed by Jean Naismith
Dear Delinquent by Jack Popplewell. Directed by Anne Potter
Mother Goose. A Pantomime. Directed by Peter Segrove
1985
Tomb With A View by Norman Robbins. Directed by John Antony
Music Hall ’85. Devised and Directed by June Luscombe
1984
Love In Idleness by Terrence Rattigan. Directed by Jean Naismith
Dangerous Corner by J.B. Priestley. Directed by Anne Potter
Who’s Who by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. Directed by John Dylan
Members of The Jury Directed by Ruth Mathieson
D.A.F.T.A Awards
1983
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. Directed by Jocelyn McQuaid
A Company Christmas. Directed by...
1982
In mid 1982 a new committee takes over with a new direction:
Thank you Mr Holliday
The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie. Directed by Jean Naismith
Not Now Darling by Cooney & Chapman. Directed by John Dylan
With All My Love I Hate You by Lynda Marchal ( 1973) Directed by John Dylan.
The Stone Cage written by Nicholas Stuart Grey. Directed by John Dylan.
Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Beckett. Directed by John Dylan.
Blue Comedy - a double bill written by Paul Abelman. Directed by John Dylan
Balls by Paul Foster (American author, 1960's) Directed by John Dylan.
Imported From Canada - Written, directed and mostly performed by Cliff Wenham
They Came to A City by J.B. Priestley. Directed by Rosemary Gailer
Christmas With Company - Directed by John Dylan
The Storytellers - a home-grown production, directed by John Dylan, at the Pumphouse, Takapuna.
Also two Harold Pinter plays - The Lover, with John Dylan and Patricia Scott, and The Dumb Waiter, with Keith Sexton and Norm Isherwood. (John Dylan says: We didn't actually have a director for that - the Production Adviser was Yvonne Saunders!)
Christmas with Company
1980
During the first two years of Company Theatre a variety of alternative Short Plays & Sketches were presented. We do not have complete details but John Dylan has been able to provide some early programmes.
Plastic in Aspic. Written and Directed by Keith Passmore
Neuroses In Bloom, a Sketch from “Living For Pleasure” - Performed and Directed by Sylvia Ronayne
Lend Us Your Ears Written and Performed by Cliff Wenham
Simultaneous Broadcast written by Dennis Norden. Directed by Keith Passmore.
Oh by N.F. Simpson. DIrected by Keith Passmore
One Blast and Have Done by N.F. Simpson. Directed by Keith Passmore.
Imperfectly Serious. Written and Directed by Keith Passmore.
Strawberry Jam - Directed by Keith Passmore
Lunch Hour by John Mortimer. Directed by John Dylan.
