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A 50th birthday is a milestone. It gives pause, prompts reflection, sparks a stocktake of five decades of achievements, as well as plans for the next five.

So, naturally, when Centrepoint Theatre turned 50 last year, there was plenty of celebrating, reminiscing and planning. For many, walking through the doors at Centrepoint is like coming home – a hug from your favourite aunty that knows all your secrets and loves you anyway. A place of fun, play, silliness; an opportunity to gather, connect, share. A home that has seen tears (happy and sad), laughter, outrage and respect as strangers bond over a shared story, transported to other worlds and times together. Centrepoint and her stories are woven deep into the fabric of Palmy, a pulse felt throughout Manawatū since 1974. Locals may take for granted she will always be there, a shoulder at the ready when you need a good cry or laugh. But the truth is, it is the last of its kind, a unicorn in the arts industry, the only professional regional theatre in New Zealand. And while, sadly, theatres all over Aotearoa are closing their doors, Centrepoint is thriving.

This is largely thanks to the brilliant women who have been at the helm. Current General Manager and Artistic Director Kate Louise Elliott initially joined the Centrepoint family as an actor around 26 years ago. Before Kate, Alison Quigan ran the show for 18 years.

A calibre cast

Thousands of people have fond memories of their times with Centrepoint, including some familiar Kiwi faces. From Rachel House to Cliff Curtis, Mark Hadlow to Jennifer Ward-Leland and many more, the Centrepoint stage has provided a safe space for exploration, a major stepping-stone on their way to international acclaim. But it’s more than that. Built on three pillars – touring, education and performance – the theatre is just one part of several programmes that engage between 30,000 and 40,000 people across the country each year.

From Basement – a programme targeted at 14 to 18-year-olds – right up to Attic – designed for those aged 65+ – the whole household is welcome. The Outreach programme also delivers immersive multi-day workshops, such as Improv for Everybody and Pasifika on Stage, all run by industry experts champing at the bit to be part of the Centrepoint legacy.   

There are countless stories of the bonds forged within Centrepoint’s walls. There have been students who have gone from not speaking at the start of a day to bursting into song by lunchtime, marriages and even lives saved after finding a reason to laugh again after enduring personal heartbreaks. As Kate Louise describes: “Life, inherently uncertain, can find a way of feeling more manageable with the skills practised in the performing arts. They allow us to approach challenges with a sense of playfulness, confidence and curiosity.”

With this mindset, it’s no wonder that Centrepoint Theatre’s 50 years have seen more than 400 main bill productions, more than 3,000 actors, directors and designers employed, and over $6 million injected into the Palmerston North economy. The theatre team has produced more New Zealand plays than any other theatre in the country … and they’re not stopping here.

Setting the stage

As they prepare for the next 50 years, they are committed to playing their part in seeding, nurturing and growing the New Zealand creative ecosystem, sharing their knowledge and experience to magnify the potential of regional theatre right across the country.
In Palmy, the team is gearing up for the next act – a welldeserved theatre renovation. The vision of a larger venue has the team hopeful the future will bring fewer leaks, more loos and as always, the raw and honest stories Centrepoint is known for.

We’ve come a long way from performers changing costumes in an outdoor alleyway around the corner. While the future looks bright, the coming changes at Centrepoint will be as you would expect – humble and in keeping with the Kiwi nature the theatre embodies. The plan isn’t a total reconstruction, but a much-needed facelift. In other words, she’ll still be recognisable, but with fewer wrinkles!

A well-deserved Happy Birthday to our old girl Centrepoint. Here’s to many more!

“Life, inherently uncertain, can find a way of feeling more manageable with the skills practised in the performing arts. They allow us to approach challenges with a sense of playfulness, confidence and curiosity.” – Kate Louise Elliott