Mark Hadlow ONZM — whose roles include Dori the dwarf in Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy — told the Otago Daily Times venues in Dunedin were "very few and far between".
"And I’m sorry to have to say it, but Fortune [Theatre] is no longer viable unless you spend about $3 million or $4m in doing it up.
"Honestly, walking in there, you'll catch Legionnaire's disease.
"I loved playing in the Fortune Theatre ... but it’s just one of those things, they fall behind the wayside."
Hadlow is set to bring his new one-man show, Gomil (Grumpy Old Man in Lycra), to Dunedin’s Regent Theatre next week.
He was "delighted" to bring the show to the city because "we don’t have a professional theatre company in Dunedin anymore", he said.
"Dunedin needs its own professional theatre company — there’s no doubt about it."
It was used for professional theatre from 1978 until 2018, when its immediate closure was announced as the operation was financially unsustainable.
Since then, there has been debate about whether to upgrade an existing theatre venue or to fund the development of a new one.
Hadlow said there were locals who would love to see a professional theatre company back in Dunedin.
The city also had "warehouses coming out its ears", particularly by the waterfront.
"Wouldn’t it be great if the council said, ‘Here’s a warehouse, and go and do that’."
Professional theatre practitioner Jeremy Anderson said, while there were professional theatre companies in the city, they were not established in their own building.
A new theatre building would need to be prominent in the city, he said.
"Hiding it down on the waterfront in some shed where nobody can find it isn't ideal."
Council property services group manager Anna Nilsen said the council agreed with Hadlow the building at 231 Stuart St would require investment to bring it up to "a suitable standard for modern, professional theatre".
"But council is yet to decide on the future of the building.
"Staff are planning to bring a report to council before the end of the year, and it will be for councillors to decide next steps."
Council creative partnerships team leader Lisa Wilkie said the council did not own a vacant warehouse building on the waterfront, but it was working hard in a range of ways to support the city’s performing arts communities.
A total of $17.1 million was committed by council in its 2025-34 long-term plan for a three-venue proposal developed by local performing arts communities.
