Events and Programming
There are no current events, performances or tickets at 231 Stuart Street. The building formerly housed Fortune Theatre, which closed suddenly on 1 May 2018 after 44 years of professional theatre. Dunedin City Council records confirm that the property has remained unused since the closure, and the council’s 2026 Request for Proposal process was for a potential sale and future reuse rather than a programme of shows.
That means there were no confirmed performances at 231 Stuart Street during 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026, and no announced performance season for 2026 or beyond. The latest public development is that proposals for the property closed on 17 August 2026. No public announcement reviewed for this guide confirms a successful purchaser, reopening date, operator or future event programme.
When it operated as Fortune Theatre, the venue was primarily a repertory theatre rather than a concert hall or nightclub. Its programme included New Zealand drama, international plays, comedies, musicals, Shakespeare, children’s theatre, experimental work, touring productions and studio performances. Fortune’s historic booking pattern generally involved several mainstage productions each year, with evening performances through the week and weekend matinees.
The company’s artistic record was substantial. Playmarket’s account of the theatre’s history records 405 main-bill productions, 120 New Zealand plays and 46 world premieres across its lifetime. Fortune also developed local writers and performers through initiatives such as the 4x4 Young Playwrights programme, education work, collaborations with the University of Otago and experimental projects including an 86-hour Shakespeare marathon.
Notable Fortune programming included works by Roger Hall, Dave Armstrong, Gary Henderson and John Broughton, as well as productions such as The 39 Steps , The Pitmen Painters , Red , Time Stands Still , Grounded and The Hound of the Baskervilles . Reviews regularly highlighted the venue’s close relationship between performers and audience, its strong local identity and the company’s role in presenting New Zealand writing.
Historical ticket prices varied by season and concession. Examples from the later operating period show adult tickets in roughly the NZ$34–$45 range, with lower prices for early-booking offers, seniors, Community Services Card holders, tertiary students, school students, members and groups. These figures are historical only and should not be treated as current prices for 231 Stuart Street.
Tickets and Booking
There is currently nothing to book at 231 Stuart Street. No box office or regular ticketing operation is advertised for the property, and the former Fortune Theatre booking arrangements ended with the company’s closure in 2018.
Historically, Fortune sold reserved tickets through its box office and advance booking services. The theatre published regular performance times of 6pm on Tuesdays, 7.30pm from Wednesday to Saturday and 4pm on Sundays, although individual productions could vary. Season-ticket holders could select a package of at least three shows, secure seats in advance and receive discounted pricing.
If the building is restored and reopened by a future owner, ticketing, seating, pricing, presales, concessions and door sales will depend on the new operator. The 2026 property proposal process required prospective purchasers to explain their intended use, business plan, restoration funding and wider benefit to Dunedin, but it did not announce a future event operator or ticketing partner.
About 231 Stuart St
231 Stuart Street is a Category 1 historic place at the southwest corner of Upper Stuart Street and Moray Place, close to the Octagon. It is the former Trinity Methodist Church, a Gothic Revival building designed by architect R. A. Lawson and opened in 1870. The church was converted for theatre use in the late 1970s and became the long-term home of Fortune Theatre.
The site covers approximately 468 square metres and the building comprises a basement, ground floor and mezzanine area. The property is owned by Dunedin City Council, which purchased it in 2000 when Fortune Theatre was experiencing financial difficulty. Fortune continued operating from the building under a lease until the company surrendered its lease in July 2018.
Its importance is architectural as well as theatrical. Heritage New Zealand describes the former church as an important landmark and recognises the conversion from worship space to playhouse as an innovative example of adaptive reuse. The heritage listing protects the building’s historic values, while the Dunedin District Plan protects the entire external building envelope. Demolition is a non-complying activity, and substantial alterations require heritage and planning consideration.
Seating and Layout
During the Fortune Theatre era, the venue had two performance spaces: a mainstage seating approximately 227 people and a smaller studio seating approximately 104. The two rooms allowed the company to present a conventional repertory production and a more intimate or experimental work within the same building. The combined historic seating figure was therefore about 331 seats, although the spaces were operated separately rather than as one large auditorium.
The historic plans show the main theatre auditorium on the ground-floor level, with a foyer and booking office at the Stuart Street entrance, lounge and bar areas along Moray Place, backstage rooms and stage-left and stage-right access. The basement plan shows the studio theatre, seating area, stage, lighting booth, dressing rooms, green room, offices and additional toilets.
There were no verified VIP boxes or separate premium sections. The experience was that of a compact repertory theatre, where even the rear of the main auditorium remained relatively close to the stage. For a future theatre configuration, central seats in the middle portion of the main auditorium would traditionally offer the best balance of sightline and sound, while the studio would suit audiences wanting a closer, more informal performance.
Because the building is no longer operating, there is no current seating map, accessible seating allocation or confirmed configuration for future events. Any restored layout could change substantially, particularly because council studies found that the building was too small for the desired 350–450-seat flexible theatre and would require major reconfiguration to support a new performing arts use.
Getting There and Parking
The address is 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin, on the corner of Upper Stuart Street and Moray Place, approximately one block above the Octagon. The building’s main entrance historically faced Stuart Street, while the basement had access from Moray Place. There is no allocated on-site parking associated with the property.
For drivers, Dunedin City Council’s 2026/27 parking schedule lists nearby options including Lower Moray Place, Great King Street, Filleul Street, Railway Station, St Andrew Street, Thomas Burns Street and Mataukareao. Current council rates vary by location and time: central car-park buildings generally range from about $1.50 to $6 per hour, while nearby off-street facilities include hourly and daily options. On-street central-zone parking is charged during the stated daytime periods, with Sunday charges applying in selected inner-city areas.
The central Dunedin Bus Hub is on Great King Street and is the main interchange for Orbus services. From the hub, walk towards the Octagon, then continue to the Upper Stuart Street and Moray Place intersection. From Dunedin Railway Station, follow Stuart Street uphill towards the Octagon; 231 Stuart Street is on the corner before reaching the central plaza.
Taxis and rideshare vehicles can use the surrounding central-city streets, but there is no current event-specific drop-off arrangement published for the property. Because the building is vacant and not open to the public, visitors should not travel there expecting an accessible entrance, box office or staffed reception.
Inside the Venue
There is no current public visitor experience inside 231 Stuart Street. The building has remained unused since 2018 and is not suitable for occupation in its present condition. Dunedin City Council reports that the property has a current Building Warrant of Fitness for its vacant status, but repairs and upgrades are needed before it can be used again.
Historic plans and condition reports identify a foyer, booking office, lounge and bar, kitchen areas, public toilets, dressing rooms, a green room, technical rooms, offices, storage spaces and backstage circulation. The 2024 condition report found that much of the theatre layout remained in place, including timber audience terracing and the custom wood stage floor, although some finishes, stairs, linings and services were aged or damaged.
The building’s technical infrastructure was designed for theatre rather than amplified music. The condition report records three-phase electrical supply, theatre spotlights, lighting booms and stage rigging. It also notes that some technical-room wiring and distribution equipment is old or haphazard and would require checking, upgrading or removal depending on future use. No current sound-system brand, PA inventory, lighting-console specification or production rider is publicly confirmed.
Historically, audiences could use the bar and lounge before performances or during an interval. There is no current confirmation of food, drink, merchandise, coat check, public Wi-Fi, security screening or front-of-house services. Those features would need to be established by any future operator.
Nearby Amenities
The location sits within central Dunedin’s main dining and nightlife area. The Octagon and surrounding Moray Place, Princes Street and Stuart Street blocks contain restaurants, cafés, pubs, cocktail bars and late-night venues. Central options include Bacchus in the Octagon, Prohibition Smokehouse, Vault 21, CBK, The Craic, Woof! and other nearby hospitality businesses, although opening hours and trading status can change.
Nearby accommodation includes central-city hotels around the Octagon, Moray Place and Princes Street. The area is compact enough for many guests to dine before a performance and walk back to accommodation afterwards. If 231 Stuart Street ever reopens, allowing at least 30 minutes before a show would be sensible because the building’s former entrance, foyer and stairs were designed for a small theatre rather than a high-volume modern event venue.
For late-night travel, the central city is served by taxis, rideshare services and night-time hospitality transport options, but public-transport frequency varies by route and day. The safest practical approach is to confirm the last suitable bus before attending an event and arrange a pickup point on a well-lit central street.
What Makes This Venue Special
231 Stuart Street is unusual because its theatre identity exists within a nineteenth-century church that retains much of its architectural character. The building uses local trachyandesite and pale Oamaru stone, with a steep slate roof, copper roofing to secondary sections, Gothic detailing, buttresses, quatrefoil balustrades, oversized pinnacles and an octagonal bell turret. Its cruciform plan reflects the original church design.
The conversion was an important example of adaptive reuse in Dunedin. Rather than erasing the church, the Fortune Theatre made the building function as an intimate professional theatre while preserving its prominent streetscape and many defining forms. Heritage New Zealand specifically recognises this transformation as part of the site’s significance.
Fortune Theatre also mattered because it gave Dunedin a permanent professional company and a home for local theatre workers. Across its 44 years it sold more than 750,000 tickets according to historical accounts, supported actors and technicians, presented new writing and helped maintain a professional theatre culture in Otago and Southland. Its closure left a recognised gap in the city’s performing-arts infrastructure.
Community discussion since 2018 has shown the building’s mixed legacy. Some submissions favoured a new theatre, community space or arts hub, while others accepted that its size, condition and accessibility limitations made it unsuitable as the city’s desired mid-sized venue. In the 2025 consultation, 65% favoured removing it from the council’s strategic-asset list, while 35% wanted it retained; people on both sides expressed concern about protecting the heritage building from demolition.
Visitor Tips and Information
The most important visitor tip is not to buy a ticket or arrive expecting a show: 231 Stuart Street is not currently an operating venue. There is no confirmed public access, event calendar, box office, future seating plan or reopening date. The building is being considered for potential sale and reuse, and proposals submitted in 2026 were assessed in the context of restoration, safe occupancy and long-term benefit to Dunedin.
Accessibility should be treated as an unresolved issue for any future reopening. Earlier assessments identified steep approaches, limited accessibility and difficulties for some older patrons. Council feasibility work said that installing a lift would be necessary to make the building more accessible, while the 2024 public-consultation report listed toilets, final exits, fire separation, ventilation and accessibility among the upgrades required for occupation. There is no current confirmation of step-free entry, accessible seating, an accessible toilet, hearing assistance or mobility parking directly at the property.
The former theatre did not operate under an American ADA system; New Zealand building and accessibility requirements apply instead. A future operator would need to confirm compliance under the New Zealand Building Code, fire and evacuation requirements, resource-consent conditions and heritage controls before announcing public performances.
Archived visitor reviews describe Fortune Theatre as intimate, welcoming and well suited to a local night out, while theatre criticism praised its acting, technical work, education programmes and support for New Zealand writing. Those comments describe the former operating venue rather than present-day conditions. There are no meaningful recent visitor testimonials for 2021–2026 because the building has not been open for regular events during that period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 231 Stuart Street currently open for events?
No. The building has been unused since Fortune Theatre closed in 2018. It is not currently operating as a theatre, concert venue, arts centre or public event space. The council’s 2026 activity concerned a Request for Proposal for possible sale and reuse, not a reopening programme. Visitors should not expect public entry, performances, ticket sales or staffed facilities at the address.
Are there any 231 Stuart Street events in 2026?
No confirmed 2026 performances were identified. The property was vacant throughout the period covered by current council records, and the publicised 2026 process invited proposals from prospective purchasers. No future season, concert series, theatre company, festival or reopening event has been announced for 231 Stuart Street.
Can I buy tickets for the former Fortune Theatre?
No current tickets are available because the former Fortune Theatre is not presenting shows. Historical Fortune tickets were sold for reserved theatrical performances, but those arrangements ended when the company closed in May 2018. If the building reopens, a future operator would need to establish a new box office, ticketing system, pricing structure and event calendar.
What was the capacity of 231 Stuart Street?
The former theatre contained two separate performance spaces. The mainstage seated about 227 people, while the studio held approximately 104. These figures should not be treated as a current legal capacity because the building is vacant, requires remedial work and may be redesigned before any future public use.
Was 231 Stuart Street a music venue?
Its principal identity was professional repertory theatre, not a dedicated music venue. The building had theatre lighting, stage rigging, technical rooms and performance infrastructure, so occasional music or mixed-arts use may have been possible historically. However, there is no verified current concert specification, sound-system inventory or announcement that a future owner intends to operate it primarily for live music.
What was Fortune Theatre known for?
Fortune Theatre was known for professional repertory productions, New Zealand plays, comedies, musicals, Shakespeare, children’s theatre, touring work and experimental studio performances. It also supported emerging writers, actors, directors and technicians. Historical accounts credit the company with hundreds of mainstage productions, numerous New Zealand premieres and a major contribution to Dunedin’s theatre culture.
When did the building become a theatre?
The building opened as Trinity Methodist Church in 1870. It was remodelled for Fortune Theatre use in the late 1970s, with the company moving there in 1978 after outgrowing its earlier premises in the Athenaeum building. The church conversion is now recognised as an important example of adaptive reuse within Dunedin’s heritage landscape.
Who owns 231 Stuart Street?
Dunedin City Council owns the property. The council purchased it in 2000 after Fortune Theatre experienced financial difficulty with building ownership, then leased it back to the Fortune Theatre Trust. Following the theatre company’s closure and lease surrender in 2018, the council retained the vacant property while considering future performing-arts and redevelopment options.
Is 231 Stuart Street a heritage building?
Yes. The former Trinity Methodist Church is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic place, recognising its special or outstanding historical and cultural value. The Dunedin District Plan also protects the entire external building envelope. Future work will therefore need to address heritage requirements as well as building, fire, accessibility and resource-consent obligations.
Does the venue have on-site parking?
No allocated parking is associated with the property. Visitors historically relied on central Dunedin street parking and nearby public car parks. Current council options include Lower Moray Place, Great King Street, Railway Station, Filleul Street, St Andrew Street, Thomas Burns Street and Mataukareao, with fees varying by location, time and day.
Which bus stop is closest?
The central Dunedin Bus Hub on Great King Street is the main public-transport interchange. From there, walk towards the Octagon and continue to the Upper Stuart Street and Moray Place corner. Route numbers and departure times change, so passengers should check the current Orbus timetable for their travel date rather than relying on historical Fortune Theatre information.
Is the building wheelchair accessible?
Current public accessibility cannot be confirmed because the building is vacant and closed. Earlier assessments identified accessibility difficulties and indicated that a lift would be needed for a more accessible configuration. Council documents also list accessibility, toilets, exits and other compliance matters among the upgrades required before occupation. A future operator would need to publish definitive access information.
Does 231 Stuart Street have an accessible toilet?
No current accessible-toilet provision has been confirmed for public visitors. Historic plans and condition reports identify male and female toilet facilities, but the council has stated that toilet and accessibility upgrades are required before the property can be occupied. Visitors requiring an accessible toilet should wait for a future operator to confirm the facilities in writing.
Was there a bar inside Fortune Theatre?
Yes, historic plans show lounge and bar areas, with a bar kitchen on the ground-floor level. Historical audiences could use the venue’s hospitality areas around performances and intervals. There is no current food or drink service, and no future bar, café or licensed-premises arrangement has been announced for the vacant property.
What are the best seats at the former Fortune Theatre?
For the historic mainstage, central seats in the middle portion of the auditorium would generally have offered the most balanced view and sound. The compact scale meant that rear seats remained relatively close to the action. The studio was smaller and more intimate. Any future seating advice may change if the interior is redesigned.
What should visitors bring to an event at 231 Stuart Street?
There is currently no event to attend, so no active bag, photography, dress or age policy applies. Historically, rules would have varied by production, with ticket conditions and age guidance sometimes depending on content. If the venue reopens, check the future operator’s event-specific instructions for entry times, accessibility, photography, bags and age restrictions.
What condition is the building in?
Council reports describe the property as being in a holding state and unsuitable for occupation without repairs. Issues include historic moisture ingress, mould damage, aged heating and ventilation, electrical upgrades, compliance work, toilets, accessibility, fire egress and internal deterioration. Roof repairs and moisture controls have been undertaken, but substantial work would be needed for renewed public use.
Will 231 Stuart Street reopen as a theatre?
There is no confirmed reopening plan. Council studies found that the building was too small for the city’s preferred flexible mid-sized theatre, although it could potentially be redeveloped as a smaller performing-arts venue. In 2026, the council sought proposals for purchase and future use. Until a proposal is selected and funded, the building’s eventual purpose remains undecided.
Why is 231 Stuart Street important to Dunedin?
The site combines a Category 1 Gothic Revival building with the legacy of Fortune Theatre, one of Dunedin’s most important professional arts organisations. It supported local employment, touring theatre, New Zealand playwriting, youth education and emerging performers for four decades. Its future matters because any reuse must balance heritage protection, public access, cultural value and financial sustainability.
