It’s a Street party HERE’S TO THE NEXT 30 YEARS!
It has been 30 years since New Zealand’s first-ever soap opera Shortland Street aired its debut episode. Through all the romantic love stories, serial killers and harrowing disasters, there is one person who has survived it all – Dr Chris Warner, played by the charming Michael Galvin.
As Michael thinks back to the very first episode that aired on May 25, 1992, he admits he is shocked the show is celebrating this momentous milestone.
“It had very bad ratings when it started and even worse reviews,” he laughs. “Possibly because it wasn’t very good. But also, people just weren’t used to seeing and hearing Kiwi stories being told on their TV screens every night.”
Michael was 25 and a recent graduate of Toi Whakaari drama school when he landed a spot on the ground-breaking series, alongside a cast of actors that would go on to become some of Aotearoa’s biggest overseas stars – including Temuera Morrison and Martin Henderson. He says his first day on set was filled with nerves.
“There was a lot of hype around the show, and nobody really knew anyone else, so I think we were
