Rotorua Little Theatre Society president Liz Carrington and treasurer Charles Edwards at the newly refurbished bar in the Shambles Theatre. Photo / Megan Wilson
For 75 years, the Rotorua Little Theatre Society has provided connection, friendship, and “a sense of community” for generations of people. After a rebuild following November’s flood, its beloved Shambles Theatre is ready to stage the next 75.
Liz Carrington walked into the Shambles Theatre one November morning and “squelched through the sodden building”.
“You could see the tidemark of where the water had got to - a good sort of 75cm if not more tidemarks around the place, plus it was gushing through the building,” the Rotorua Little Theatre Society president told the Rotorua Daily Post.
The theatre flooded after a burst water main streamed into the Amohau St building, leaving behind a sodden foyer, kitchen, bar and toilets. An estimated 1 million litres of water escaped the pipe.
The water was deemed contaminated, meaning most items it came into contact with had to be disinfected, replaced or thrown out.
“We were four rehearsals out from opening a show, so that had to be cancelled, which was a huge thing for us to do. That’s how we exist - that’s our revenue,” Carrington said.
The theatre has since undergone a “phenomenal” rebuild, with people donating time, money, and items.
“It’s been really very humbling, the support and the love that’s been felt … ”
Carrington said interior designer Sylvia Sandford offered her services for free and did a “beautiful job” with colour scheming, while Bay Rebuild went “above and beyond” and worked through the holiday season on the renovation.
“I could not speak highly enough of our insurers, the building company, the community support that just sort of wrapped around.”
The theatre reopened in February and held an afternoon tea to celebrate the society’s 75th anniversary on February 21.
The society’s first play this year - Funny Money by Ray Cooney - opens on March 18.
“Everything” the society did this year would be a celebration of 75 years, Carrington said, “and this is the first cab off the rank”.
She said the theatre provided “a sense of community” for those involved, including her own children.
“It’s provided several generations of people connection and friendship.”
Society treasurer Charles Edwards said it was “heartbreaking” to cancel its play Much Ado About Nothing due to the flood, and he said the decision was “quite traumatic” for most members.
He was thankful for members’ clean-up efforts and financial support.
Actor Martin Hampson, 83, said he had done “about 40-odd shows” at the theatre, the first in 1961.
A society member for 65 years, he believed he was the longest-standing active member.
“Nobody else has knocked me off my perch when I’ve said that,” he said with a laugh.
Hampson said he had “about six lines” in Funny Money. He would also be stage manager for the first time.
“At 83, I’m breaking out into new jobs.
“For years and years, I was saying, ‘Oh, this is the last time you’ll see me on stage, I’m too old to do this’.
”I had a lightbulb moment about three or four years ago and I thought, ‘This is really good for old people … ‘
“It’s the socialising. You get in a play, and you have rehearsals Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, and it gets you out of the house.”
Hampson said the theatre’s significance was evident from the flood, “which I think could very easily have put it into recession”.
“It could have been just too much, because all the arts are struggling for funding and it’s quite hard to keep these societies afloat.”
He said the theatre was looking “smart and refurbished and ready to go for another 75 years”.
Jenny Hotch, director of Funny Money, said the play was about “mistaken identities several times over, and £735,000”.
Hotch said it was set in the 1970s, which had proven “a bit of a challenge” for costumes and set.
“We’ve sourced an orange velour sofa … and all sorts of other things that in the ’80s and ’90s were just discarded and are now looked on as treasures.”
The former society president and committee member had directed “more productions down there than I can remember”.
Her fondest memories included watching people with no experience gaining confidence from doing things “a bit outside their comfort zone”.
“But once they get the hang of it, away they go.”
Former Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, a “dedicated” theatre patron, attended the celebratory afternoon tea last month along with actors, backstage workers and supporters.
She said the theatre was showing “a bit of new heart”.
”You remember the floods ... well, it wasn’t much ado about nothing, it was a complete rebuild, really, that was needed.
“It’s been so well done, and I think we’ve got an even better and more beautiful space.
“I think the cultural heart of a community just has to keep throbbing.”
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.