With a keen interest in film and projection himself, he took note of the display of old equipment as well as the many old posters and other memorabilia the theatre is full of.
He told the audience he first came across the theatre manager, Barry Milner, when Barry appeared on film in a documentary about old theatres and projectionists.
Before performing on Thursday night, Dobbyn had gone to visit the pupils at Normanby School after they had written him a letter.
The letter was to ask him some questions about his hit song Welcome Home which they were planning to perform as Nau Mai Ra, the te reo version for an end-of-year production.
Dobbyn decided to pay the youngsters a visit as he was in the area, and told the audience on Thursday night he had really enjoyed meeting them and hearing them sing.
With barely any empty seats in the house on Thursday, the audience was loudly enthusiastic throughout the concert, with some getting up to dance to some of the songs in the second half.
The Thursday night concert had been added after tickets to the original Friday night concert sold out so quickly.
Dobbyn said it was a pleasure to have been invited to perform in the theatre, with praise for Rick Coplestone who had initiated the idea.
