Community Contributed
Levin Little Theatre
Levin Little Theatre is located on Weraroa Rd, Levin, next door to Horowhenua College.
| Contact phone number | (06) 367 9129 or Joyce 368 3392 |
Costume hire is available from the theatre Saturday mornings from 10 am - noon. For information call Joyce 368 3392 or the theatre 367 9129.
Upcoming productions are advertised on the banner on the front of the theatre.
History In 1935, at a meeting held on 28 February, a resolution was passed that a play-reading and play producing circle be formed under the name of Levin repertory and Playreading Society. The activities of the Society in those early years was limited to reading and production of one act plays which were performed in the Horowhenua College Hall. The first major production took place in 1938.
During WWII it became increasingly difficult to carry on the affairs of the Society and towards the end of 1940 it went into recess. In April 1943 it was revived and there were evenings of one act plays and at least one three act play was produced each year and performed at the local Regent Cinema.
In May 1949, the name of the Society was changed to The Levin Little Theatre Society and the main objective of the Executive of that time was to make the dream of a home for the Society a reality. In November 1955 they achieved their goal with the opening of the present theatre in Weraroa Road.
Numerous improvements have been made over the intervening years: a new workshop was built enabling the old one to be turned into a foyer, a wardrobe area was created in the workshop, new kitchen and toilets, more comfortable seating, better heating, new lighting box, more modern sound equipment and many more assets, plus alterations to the frontage of the building to make it more aesthetically pleasing and incorporating an extension to the main dressing room. More recently a much larger extension was added above the workshop to house the ever expanding wardrobe. The theatre seats 115 but also has the facility to 150 for
dancing groups who hire the theatre. The latest addition is a motorized revolve for the stage.
For many years the Society has presented three major productions a year endeavouring to provide a variety of entertainment with comedy, drama, musical plays and pantomimes and giving the opportunity to many people to take part and also learn the craft of theatre. Over the years many other theatre companies have also performed at the Theatre. Downstage's travelling company, Centrepoint Theatre when first establishing itself, Mime International, The Ugly Shakespeare Company, Wellington Repertory,
Stagecraft, Limbs Dance Company and many others.
The Society has an active wardrobe hire service which is utilised by the public and also by many other societies and organizations, and we assist in many community activities with scenery, props and costumes.
In 2002, the President of the Society, Joyce Corrin was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to theatre. The New Zealand Theatre Federation has awarded Meritorious Certificates for services to Theatre to Joyce Corrin, Jocelyn Whitehouse, Tom Corrin, Wally Hanson and Rosemary Robertson.