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Story: Actors and acting

Harry Plimmer and Reynolds Denniston

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Harry Plimmer and Reynolds Denniston

These framed portraits show two of the great leading men of New Zealand theatre in the early 20th century. Wellingtonian Harry Plimmer (left) began his career in Bland Holt's company and later worked in the US. Reynolds Denniston, of Dunedin, began acting in South Africa while serving in the South African War. He and Plimmer joined forces around 1908 and toured many successful productions around New Zealand and overseas. 

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 31-64036 (left); 31-6380 (right)

by Herman John Schmidt

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Laurie Atkinson, Actors and acting – Early acting, 1840s to 1920, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42181/harry-plimmer-and-reynolds-denniston (accessed 26 June 2026).

Story by Laurie Atkinson, published 9 July 2013.