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History |
Origins (1973–1978)
The Fortune Theatre was founded in 1973 by David Carnegie, Huntly Eliott, Murray Hutchinson, and Alex Gilchrist. At the time, Dunedin lacked a permanent professional theatre company, despite having a vibrant amateur theatre scene. The founders believed the city could support year-round professional productions.The company's first home was a modest 105-seat theatre at the back of the Athenaeum building in the Octagon. Early productions were staged on a shoestring, but audience support quickly demonstrated there was demand for professional theatre in Dunedin.
Move to Trinity
Methodist Church
By 1978, the original venue had become too small, particularly after the company began employing a full-time acting company. The Fortune moved into the former Trinity Methodist Church on the corner of upper Stuart Street and Moray Place, where it would remain for the rest of its life.
The building has an impressive history:
● Opened in 1870 as Trinity Methodist (originally Wesleyan) Church.
● Designed by the renowned architect, Robert Lawson
● Built from local trachyandesite and Amaru stone in the Gothic Revival style.
● Today it is recognised as a Category 1 historic place for its outstanding heritage value.
The conversion from church to theatre retained much of the building's Gothic character while creating a main auditorium and, later, a smaller studio theatre.
Growth and national importance
During the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, the Fortune became widely regarded as one of New Zealand's leading regional theatres. It often described itself as the world's southernmost professional theatre company.It presented classic drama, Shakespeare, contemporary international plays, musicals ,children's theatre, numerous New Zealand works, including world premieres. Many well-known New Zealand actors, directors, playwrights, and designers worked at the Fortune early in their careers, making it an important training ground for the country's performing arts community.
Financial challenges
Like many regional theatres, the Fortune faced recurring financial pressures. A major crisis in 2000 forced the theatre trust to sell the building to the Dunedin City Council, which then leased it back so performances could continue. Although the company survived, funding remained a constant challenge in the years that followed.Closure in 2018
On 1 May 2018, the Fortune Theatre announced its immediate closure after determining that continuing operations was no longer financially viable. The Trustees cited changing audience patterns and an unsustainable business model. Its closure ended forty four years of continuous professional theatre in Dunedin.Since the closure
The theatre building remains owned by the Dunedin City Council. It has been maintained as a heritage building while various proposals have been explored for its future use as a performance and community venue. Preservation has focused on protecting both its architectural significance and its cultural legacy.Earlier this year, the Council voted to take the heritage property to market after determining that leaving it vacant was not financially sustainable. Rather than a conventional real estate listing, the Council is inviting proposals from buyers with plans to restore and reuse the building.
Read more about the Fortune Trust's campaign to breath new life into this beloved Dunedin institution.