Ghost Light Theatre

About

Ghost Light Theatre is a not-for-profit 80-seat black box theatre located in Bridge Street Studios, Nelson CBD. Ghost Light’s aim is to light up Nelson/Tasman performers and audiences by facilitating a space for bold performing arts ventures.

Story

The ghost light has long been a part of theatre.
It is a singular light left on the stage when the space is empty and dark. It is used for safety - if cast and crew need to find their way around when the theatre is unoccupied.
But also it appeals to the notion that every theatre has a history - it has its own ghosts. The light is meant to keep them at bay while the living are away.
But more recently, in the face of extremism and intolerance in our world, the ghost light has come to represent a light in that darkness. A light that values honesty, bravery and acceptance in the form of the performing arts.
Here in this space above Bridge Street, Nelson - which used to be a sewing shop, which used to be a dance hall, which is now an artist collective, we want to create a blend of all those notions. We want it to be a safe place. A hallowed place. A mysterious place. A brave place.
It is why we have named it so.
We want Ghost Light Theatre to become somewhere that anyone can venture without intimidation. It will be a space that embraces the community with performances that make us laugh, cry and question. We believe this is what Nelson needs. And we want you to be a part of it.
We want to embrace promising performers and communities who might never have had access to the benefit of performing as part of a collective. We want to be a place where we share ourselves and pass on knowledge. We want to showcase and be a testing ground for local and national works and artists who try things a little differently - who experiment or push boundaries.
We have long been touted as the “arts capital of New Zealand” and Ghost Light Theatre wants to contribute to that important part of our region's identity in a way that hasn't been currently recognised.
We believe that the enthusiasm is out there but there hasn’t been the outlet to showcase it.
So we ask you to come aboard this bold project - to create an exciting, new, welcoming and affordable space for both performers and patrons to enjoy the wonder that occurs when the ghost light is turned off and the magic of theatre begins.

ABOUT GHOST LIGHT:

Ghost Light Theatre is a not-for-profit 80-seat boutique black box theatre/workshop space (10mx10m) located in the artist collective, Bridge Street Studios in Nelson CBD. Ghost Light’s aim is to light up Nelson/Tasman performers and audiences by facilitating a space for bold performing arts ventures. The space is available to hire for performances, play readings, workshops, rehearsals, lectures or music and Ghost Light will hold their own events as well. Ghost Light Theatre was created by actress and arts manager, Laura Irish and her husband, journalist, Charles Anderson, along with the help of their amazing friends and community.