November 14, 2009

DOWNSTAGE CELEBRATES 45 YEARS ON 20 NOV 

New Zealand’s longest running professional theatre reaches another milestone. 

On November 20, 1964, Downstage Theatre opened its Cambridge Terrace doors for the first time with Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story starring Peter Bland and Martyn Sanderson. The original Walkabout Café building is long gone and the Company has resided in the award-winning Hannah Playhouse on the same site since 1973.

To celebrate the birthday, the Downstage Theatre Society is hosting a fundraising gala event on Friday 20 Nov at 7pm. Tickets are by $75 donation to the Society and include a pre-show reception of "bubbles’, cocktail food and surprise pre-show entertainment hosted by the stars of Biography of My Skin, Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie, with invited guests. The main feature of the night will be a Birthday performance of Collapsing Creation, followed by post-show supper and birthday cake with the cast and crew.

This year’s celebration is tinged with sadness after the passing of Downstage co-founder Martyn Sanderson on 14 October. His original vision for the theatre will be remembered as part of the celebration.

Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at (04) 801 6946 or in person at Downstage’s box office. For up-to-date information visit www.downstage.co.nz   

Downstage is proudly sponsored by BNZ.