[2] A design for the replacement building was noted in the NZ Herald on 22 May 1935 as being a "modern version of a Georgian type...rectangular in shape with protruding wings at each corner...and the main auditorium, with a seating capacity of 500 and requisite kitchen and dressing rooms, a small library and municipal offices".

[3] When the new building was officially opened on 12 May 1937, it had Town Board Offices but was also "suitable to be used as a library, dance venue, for school and community events as well as Indoor Bowling tournaments".

[4] It was clear, however, that it would function primarily as a cinema and after the town offices and library moved, the building became known as the Star Theatre, a name it retained until 1972 when it officially closed due to "declining financial viability".

In February 1971, there was a discussion at the Council that questioned its viability and relevance to the local community, with the Mayor expressing concern at the low level of interest shown by ratepayers in the proposed upgrade.

[8] At that time, three local theatre groups – St. Thomas's Light Opera Club, Western Players and Auckland Children's Light Opera Society - successfully applied to the Glen Eden Borough Council and obtained the lease of the hall, allowing them to change its name to the Playhouse Theatre and operate independently as Playhouse Productions which became an incorporated society in 1973.

Ian Wood and Jack Lawrence recalled that after the lease was acquired, a lot of work needed to be done to bring it up to standard, and "truckloads of rubbish, junk, general bric-a-brac dating back to the Second World War were carried away and dumped, an enthusiastic game of members scrubbed and cleaned, ironed the new curtains, nailed down carpet and got the building to a basic working state".

[19][20][21] In the Titirangi Tatler in February 2008, Watson noted that, following the nomination of the Theatre by a member to a competition for a "deserving community organisation", the Playhouse won a grand piano and funding of $5000 to run training workshops.

[26] Schedule 2 - Local Board Plan Outcome 4, noted that while the Glen Eden Playhouse had some maintenance and management issues, the 'Annual Poetry Grand Slam' and the production 'Sightings' were both presented to good audiences.

[27] In February 2019, Greg Presland, Chair of the Local Board, posted a draft charter for Glen Eden based on a report commissioned by Unitec to inform the implications of change for the suburb.