Wellingtonian Nola Millar (standing at left) began working in amateur theatre in the 1930s. In 1946 she joined the Unity Theatre, an amateur theatre group, as a director. Millar later helped form the first post-war professional company, the New Zealand Players. In 1959 she set up the New Theatre, which also provided part-time drama classes. By 1968, when this photo of a drama workshop was taken, the New Theatre had a permanent home in Wellington's Cuba Street and gave training and performing experience to many of the era's most successful actors. Millar went on to become the first director of the New Zealand Drama School.