Christchurch Drama Centre

The Christchurch Drama Centre was formed under the leadership of Rosie Belton in 1982 and ceased operating in 2005. It aimed to develop dramatic, creative and communication skills for those interested in, or intending to work in, the fields of education, health or performing arts and was generally funded through grants and payments for professional casting services. Its performances used both paid professional adult actors and unpaid children, with some 18,000 Cantabrians involved in the Centre’s activities over the course of its existence. The Centre staged a least one major production a year aimed at young theatre goers, also offered a number of weekly and summer courses for children and adults. The collection includes administrative files, correspondence, scripts, photographs, ephemera, stage props and costumes.