Company Theatre
The Rose Centre, Belmont
Auckland
New Zealand
The Rose Centre, Belmont
Auckland
New Zealand
In this section on the web is the History of Company Theatre, and further down you will find a list of all our productions since 1980.
The North Shore Company Theatre and Dramatic Society Inc., now known as Company Theatre, began in 1980.
Company Theatre was the brainchild of Keith Passmore and John Dylan. In 1980, it consisted of a group of perfomers who performed at various venues on the North Shore under the name of "Company Players." John eventually took the reins singularly and created COMPANY THEATRE and gave it a base in St Michael's Hall, King Edward Ave, Bayswater. The small group of nine people who started it, wished to stage theatre of an experimental or “avant-garde” nature. John Dylan was the first President of the society and the initial nine are remembered in our Logo. (If you look you can see nine people sitting in a theatre!)
In 1982, a new committee was formed, with a view to producing more box office shows.
During the consolidation period 1982 - 1987, a number of very dedicated theatrical people joined the society and the most influential members of this group were Geoff Clews, Peter Segrove and Neil Burgham. All served as Presidents for the society but most importantly, they were all involved in the idea to find Company a permanent home on the Shore.
If anyone can help us fill in the missing details associated with the authors or the directors of some of our early shows, please contact Sherry Ede on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 445.2386.
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. Wirtten and Directed by Keith Passmore.
Strawberry Jam - Directed by Keith Passmore
Lunch Hour by John Mortimer. 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 wirtten by Paul Abelman. Directed by John Dylan
Balls by Paul Foster (American author, 1960's) Directed by John Dylan. This was a very alternative peice of theatre,described here by John Dylan : " This production used a sound-tape only and we used just two white balls - of the ping pong variety - floating around seemingly by themselves in a blacked out environment. Sort of like Samuel Beckett's The Mouth / Not I. John Middleton - also of TV2 then - created the mechanics and electrics of the illusion. We toured it, (took it to Devonport once) and it almost started a fist fight in the audience afterwards between those who thought it was "an amazing experience" and those who were furious because they didn't get to see any actors and felt it was a load of utter rubbish - and said so very loudly!
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. With Janine Hurtubise, David Kemp, Wayne Elliott, Cliff Wenham, Joan Hunt an John Dylan. The stories they told were Wolf by Michael Morcock; Robinson Crusoe in the Bush by Rod Ansell, Peaches by Dylan Thomas, The Peasmobile by Wayne Elliott, Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timparly and The Elephan's Child by Rudyard Kipling.
Also two 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!)
In mid 1982: a new committee takes over with a new direction:
Not Now Darling by Cooney & Chapman. Directed by John Dylan
The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie. Directed by…
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. Directed by Jocelyn McQuaid
Music Hall ’83 Devised and Directed by John Dylan with Mr Geoffrey Clewes as Your Illustrious Chairman.
Mixed Moods. Directed by….
A Company Christmas. Directed by…..
Love In Idleness by Terrence Ratigan. Directed by Jean Naismith
Dangerous Corner by J.B. Priestley. Directed by......
One Act Plays ’84. There were several, bur only one known is .... Who’s Who by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. Directed by John Dylan
(Note from John Dylan that this above play had eleven characters, some doubled up, - and there were 183 entrances and exits during the play!)
Trilogy ( Three One Act Plays)
Tomb With A View by Norman Robbins. Directed by John Antony
Music Hall ’85. Directed and Devised by June Luscombe
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton. Directed by…..
Dear Delinquent by Jack Popplewell. Directed by Anne Potter
Mother Goose. A Pantomime. Directed by Peter Segrove
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 Directed and Devised by John Dylan
Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas. Directed by Peter Segrove.
Fifth Dimension (One Act Plays)
50/50 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
Murder On The Nile by Agatha Christie. Directed by Anne Potter
Whose Life Is it, Anyway? By Brian Clarke. Directed by Neil Burgham
Music Hall ’89. Directed and Devised 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
Middle Age Spread by Roger Hall. Directed by Gordon Currie
Music Hall ’91. Directed and Devised by Peter Segrove.
Murder In Company by Philip King. Directed by Ruth Segrove
During this period we made the move to THE ROSE CENTRE, School Road, Belmont.
Our premiere production in our new home was...
Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett. Directed by Peter Segrove
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
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
An Edwardian Evening. Devised & Directed by Bruce Murray
Natural Causes by Eric Chappell. Directed by Neil Burgham
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Directed by Robert Letcher
Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Anthony Whitehouse
Three of a Funny Kind. (One Acts) Titles: Hidden Meanings, Thermal Underwear & Visiting Hours. Directed by Kathy Gent
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Peter Millar.
The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon. Directed by Maggie Maxwell
Two Play (One Acts)
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
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
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
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
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
Brilliant Lies by David Williamson. Directed by Richard Parmee
Curtain Up On Murder by Bettine Maktelow. Directed by Steve Wright
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Sian Davis
The Sex Fiend by Sinclair & Mulheron. Directed by Anthony Whitehouse
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
