Culture

Dunedin seems to have this great ability to hide wee treasures all throughout the city, with only the locals being in the know. From beaches to shops, you all know a nice secluded spot concealed from the world. On London Street, tucked up in a beautiful garden, is the Globe Theatre, one of these very gems. After being a home to many families since it was built, in 1961 it was transformed by Patric and Rosalie Carey, who converted their living room in to a stage and auditorium accompanied by thirty seats for audiences. The theatre stayed with the Carey’s until their retirement in 1973, and has been looked after by Friends of the Globe Theatre ever since.

As you enter along the garden path its charm is ever present, making you feel like you’re in some sort of novel, The Secret Garden perhaps, as statues decorate the lawn by the roses. It’s all very quaint, the idea of a home turned in to a theatre. It makes things such as bathroom access an outside trip to where the toilets were originally built, leaving cast and crew to prepare in a dining room and costumes kept in upstairs bedrooms. It’s gives the now eighty seat playhouse, a very strong character which aids every performance and gives the audience something you can’t find elsewhere. Particularly in Dunedin, it’s a unique experience that adds to a great sweet night out.

The Globe has had a rich history since it’s opening, including being the first theatre in Australasia to put on Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. For a small theatre in a small town, that’s a grand and prestigious achievement! In recent years the Globe has slowed down in its productions, focusing more on creating amateur theatre to a high standard. Though it’s known predominantly for its period drama and Shakespearean classics, the Globe this year has taken on a few more modern pieces including the last production, Lovepuke, directed by Emma Feather Shaw which went down a storm starring young talent fresh to the stage. The latest production Winkie is a tale of a “man-child”, forty years old, but due to his learning disabilities, has a mind of a four year old. Written by the director of the recent Carluccio and the Queen of Hearts, Nigel Ensor also directs this piece with a five-man cast, some familiar Globe faces and some not so familiar, including Millie Lovelock, a first time performer at the theatre. Having opened on the 12th July to good reviews it is still open until 22nd July, for only $15 per student. Take a night off and waltz on up London Street to have a watch, that’ll keep you warm. Hooray!