We are a Community Theatre based in Onehunga, Auckland, with almost a thousand members. As we have our own premises, we are able to put on six shows a year, each of which runs for a 3 week season.

The Dolphin Theatre offers free parking and free programmes, with complimentary coffee and tea offered during the interval. We also have a licensed bar. The regular door price is $22.00, though gala bookings are available.

The Dolphin Theatre started in 1966 and was originally called "The Little Dolphin Theatre". Over the years with the help of community funding and fund-raising from our members we were able to build our own theatre in Spring Street, Onehunga, and have a separate rehearsal hall, which enables us to be rehearsing one show while performing another. See more information on our History below.

Each of our shows has about 20 performances, which includes at least one matinee on the second Saturday, and two Sunday performances at 6:30pm. There is no performance on Mondays, and on the other nights the show starts at 8pm. The seasons always start and finish on a Saturday. We generally make each season a mix of comedy and drama, both to entertain our audiences and extend our actors and crew.

Please click on the other links to find out more information on booking tickets or on joining our Theatre - new members are always welcome, especially in the technical area!
 

The Dolphin Theatre began as The Onehunga Repertory Players in 1961 when Mrs Veronica Dow, an actress and producer who had been active in English repertory theatre, was invited by the Mayor and Mayoress of that time, Mr and Mrs Leo Manning, to form a drama group in Onehunga. Initially their plays were presented at the Onehunga High School.

The Onehunga Borough Council then provided the land in Spring Street, two old buildings and a generous $3000 loan. Mrs Dow approached many firms for help with materials and labour. The players themselves and their families wielded saws and hammers, laid carpets, fixed seating, installed lighting and sound systems.

When the new theatre opened in May 1966 the group renamed themselves The Little Dolphin Theatre, named with an affectionate nod towards The Mermaid Theatre in London, and with the opening of the first play Worms Eye View a little Dolphin was seen in the Manukau Harbour, remaining there for the duration of the two week season before swimming away. This was considered a wonderful omen for the new theatre.

Ticket prices in those days were 4/- per adult, 3/- for senior citizens, 2/- per child and the performance fee was £21 0s 0d.

By the end of the first year, with the indomitable spirit and sound business sense of its founder Veronica Dow and the enthusiastic community support, the Little Dolphin Theatre was debt free with a membership of 500.

Mrs Veronica Dow retired from the presidency in 1970 and handed over the reins to Aileen Henderson, who presided for the next twelve years, instigating many improvements.

In 1981 the theatre was extensively modernised and renovated giving the facilities at the theatre parity with any professional theatre. Audience seating was increased from 94 to 121 and the word "Little" was dropped from the name - the "Dolphin Theatre" emerged. In 1983 the Young Dolphins was started to encourage young actors to develop their skills, although in recent years we have been unable to provide this.

The next renovations were in the summer of 1995/1996 when the theatre auditorium and stage areas were vastly improved by raising the entire roof and increasing the auditorium raking. Upgrading and recladding completed the external walls.  In 2006 the audience seating was replaced, reducing our audience size by two but ensuring that comfort was primary!

In 2000 the theatre announced the arrival of its very own web site, designed and implemented by Syd Mannion.

To date over 250 full length productions have been staged. The longest running show was "Nunsense" (1992) which extended its season from 3 to 4 weeks. The largest cast was a pantomime "The Golden Rattle" (1972) with a cast of 43. "Aunty Mame" (1986), which was the 100th production, boasts the largest wardrobe with 118 costumes.

The theatre produces six full productions per year, each with a three week run. It has a very loyal and enthusiastic audience and also a strong and talented core of cast and crew that ensure that The Dolphin Theatre is, and will remain, one of the most successful amateur theatres in Australasia.

We like to think that back in 1966, the little dolphin in the harbour knew why it had come.