About the Globe

The Globe Theatre was opened in November 1982, getting its name from the unique circular design of the building, the inspiration of which came from Shakespeare’s original famous open air circular theatre in London. It was built as a partnership between the City Council and the Manawatu Theatre Society: both parties contributed substantial capital funds to enable the building to be constructed. The building was designed by local architect, Brian Elliot, who returned to design the Theatre’s major redevelopments in 2014, with the addition of a second auditorium and an extension to the foyer and cafe/bar area. The redevelopment won a well-deserved New Zealand Architecture Award for Brian's work.

The Globe Theatre Trust was established in 2002 to ensure the theatre remains available as a community theatre and, particularly, as the home of Manawatu Theatre Society Incorporated.  The City Council appoints five Trustees to manage the complex on its behalf with up to a further two Trustees co-opted by these appointed Trustees. The City Council also maintains the fabric of the building and provides an operational grant to the Trust Board to manage the complex as a venue for hire. The Trust Board is responsible for maintaining the fixtures and fittings and theatre equipment and relies largely upon philanthropic grants to enable this. As a Council-controlled organisation, the Globe Theatre Trust is required to produce a three year business plan and annual reports and accounts and to make both of these available to the public. Links to the current documents can be found at the bottom of this page.

So, for over thirty years the Globe has been home to many local performance groups, notably the Manawatu Theatre Society Inc, local dance and drama studios and schools and tertiary institutions. The Theatre hosts a number of musical events, notably the Manawatu Jazz Festival and the Globe Sunday Matinee series of concerts. It is one of the best community theatres in New Zealand,  fulfilling its original purpose to cater for a variety of local and touring arts and cultural events such as drama, comedy, musical theatre, dance and musical recitals and competitions. The Globe is also set up to accommodate private hires including networking meetings, award ceremonies, private functions, conferences and seminars. There are excellent parking facilities surrounding the Theatre, which is located central to the city and only a minute walk from The Square.

To enquire about hiring the theatre, please contact us directly on 06 351 4409 or email to info@globetheatre.co.nz. Alternatively, you can complete the contact request form on this website. Our hire process is easy. Simply complete the Event Enquiry form below (making sure you have read our Terms and Conditions) and send it in to us. Once the dates are confirmed, we will send you a quote for the booking. If you accept our quote, your booking is confirmed. It is our intention to provide an easy and convenient hire service and we are always looking for feedback to improve our service to the performing arts community of Palmerston North, the Manawatu and the wider region.

Subscribe to the Globe Theatre email newsletter HERE. 

> Globe Theatre Trust Board 2018-19 Audited Accounts
> Globe Theatre Trust’s Statement of Intent
> Hirer information and promotion
> Terms and Conditions 2019