People are the heart and soul of theatres.

It's this belief that's guided Detour Theatre founders Kim and Devon Williamson for some 20 odd years now, and one they embrace dearly.

Detour Theatre founders Devon and Kim Williamson. Photo: David Tauranga.

'In a little theatre you especially feel connected,” says Devon. 'Not only with the people on stage but even those sitting around you.”

'What's cool is someone coming to the theatre for the first time. Maybe they've been dragged along or trying something new, but when they're blown away by the experience that's what I love.”

Established in 1996 as a touring theatre company, the couple quit the road for the sake of their children's schooling and based Detour in Tauranga permanently four years later.

Detour was by-and-large homeless for some seven years. Kim and Devon were staging productions at Otumoetai Baptist Church, running classes at a studio on Dive Crescent, all the while rehearsing and building sets for shows at their family home.

This would all change when the couple established the Detour Theatre Trust and took over the lease for the old Baptist Church in the Historic Village towards at the end of 2007.

Seeing the potential, they knew transforming the church into a 72-seat theatre would require a bit of work, but dived in headfirst with a 'hey, how hard can it be?' attitude.

”Fools,” Kim deadpans. 'We realised how hard it would be a year later. We were fortunate to have an army of volunteers and friends who helped us get it up to shape, we couldn't have done it without them.”

In 2009, they staged Detour's first production at its new home, and since the couple have produced four shows a year – 28 productions in total, 28 different casts and crews.

Kim and Devon say they've been fortunate with the mix of people who've wander in through the front door wanting to get involved – from first timers to experienced thespians, car wreckers to laboratory managers, schoolkids to...Bob.

Kim and Devon.

'Bob's a great example,” says Devon. 'He's a retired minister who took up theatre at 80. He hobbles in one day saying he needs a new hobby and now Bob's done four shows with us.

'One of our big things is we want everyone to feel welcomed and respected. We work hard to put together teams who'll enjoy each other's company, while putting in performances worthy of the price of admission.”

When you've been around for 20-odd years, memories are sure to abound.

For Kim, her favourites aren't focussed on shows or milestones – it's the people who've crossed their path which's left an indelible impression on her.

'It's especially highlighted in our special needs classes,” she says. 'There's been people who've come in and won't go near the stage because they're shy, unsure of themselves.

'Then by the end of term they're up there saying lines, strutting and dancing confidently. You, in a very small way, have affected a bigger part of their life and I love that.”

For more information, and to see Detour Theatre's upcoming shows, visit: www.detour.co.nz