Consider Yourself at Home - 70 Years on the Stage with Musical Theatre Ōamaru

Musical Theatre Ōamaru has been staging productions at the Ōamaru Opera House for seven decades, bringing Broadway and West End musicals, light opera, and theatre restaurant experiences to the Waitaki District. Their 2025 major production of Oliver! was another chapter in that long story, and a memorable one at that.

Based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist and packed with some of the most recognisable songs in musical theatre, the show drew together a large cast, orchestra, and backstage crew for months of shared rehearsal and problem-solving, ending in a run of public performances. For many involved, that process is as meaningful as the nights on stage: the friendships formed and the confidence built along the way.

Musical Theatre Ōamaru has always opened its doors to anyone with a passion for the art form. Its strong junior division means that for many young people in the district, this is where a lifelong love of performance begins. And for audiences, there's something particularly special about watching people you know take the stage, transformed under the lights of a beautiful historic theatre.