For Daphne and Lewis Campbell, last night's performance of The Phantom of the Opera evoked special memories.
The pair were shouted tickets to the opening night by Mr Campbell's brother, Charles, for their 80th birthdays.
Mr and Mrs Campbell met in the 1958 Musical Theatre Dunedin production Wedding in Paris, performed at the former His Majesty's Theatre.
''She was the first girl I asked out.''
Yesterday, Mr Campbell recalled the somewhat raised eyebrows from his parents at the idea of him joining the group.
It is just as well their reaction did not perturb him, as he met Daphne (nee Wooleridge) when they happened to join the group on the same night.
And the group needed him - at the time, women outnumbered men by seven to one.
''We had a lot of fun, and met a lot of nice people.
''We got to know quite a few of them.''
They performed in a few more productions, including The Maid of the Mountains and Zip Goes a Million, until family life intervened and they drifted away from the group.
Mrs Campbell turned 80 this month, and Mr Campbell will be 80 on January 2.eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
