Apart from the obligatory school productions, David Blair had never considered performing or even been that interested in it when he was growing up.
At Waitaki Boys' High School, his main interest was rugby and ''it wasn't the norm for someone to be interested in rugby and in theatre''.
But when he walks into the Musical Theatre Oamaru rooms now, aged 55, he feels at home.
Mr Blair fell into the performing arts by accident in 1981 when his flatmate Ewan Rusbatch auditioned for the Oamaru Operatic Society's production of Hello Dolly.
Accompanying his flatmate to auditions, he was noticed by Lynette Budge and asked why he was not giving it a go too.
When he told her musical theatre did not interest him because he did not like to sing, she suggested he audition for the role of a waiter who had a small dance routine in the show but did not sing.
''I thought `why not', I'd give it a crack,'' he says.
His talent was recognised, he was cast in the show and by the time it went on stage, he had a number of speaking and singing lines.
''I got conned into it really, by Lynette,'' he says.
''[But] I loved it, and I kept coming back.''
After Hello Dolly, he went on to perform in every Operatic Society production until 1995 - Oliver (1982), The King and I (1984), The Great Waltz (1985), Can Can (1986), Paint Your Wagon (1987), Annie (1988), Camelot (1989), Jesus Christ Superstar (1990), Guys and Dolls (1991), Me and My Girl (1992), Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance (1993), Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat (1994) and Chess (1995).
He then had a five-year break - returning for Showtime 2000, Oliver in 2002 and Show Boat in 2003.
Since 2006, he has not missed a major production - with roles in Broadway, Oklahoma!, Cats, Les Miserables, Chicago and now The Addams Family.
He landed his ''dream role'' in 2013, as Amos Hart in Musical Theatre Oamaru's production of Chicago.
''Sometimes [a role] grabs you and you don't know why; it just does,'' he said.
Mr Blair is a lot more confident acting than singing, and that was what then drew him to join the Oamaru Repertory Society.
It was while performing in his play there - My Three Angels - that he met his future wife, Jude.
Mrs Blair has taken a break from performing recently, though she can usually be found helping out behind the scenes. Over the years they have performed in a number of shows together.
''The weirdest one was a repertory play ... called The Waiting Room,'' he says.
''I played the gay lover of [Jude's] dead husband.''
Their children, Georgia and Ryan, have inherited their parents' passion for performance.
For Mr Blair, performing is not ego-driven.
''I'm not specifically going out to entertain people. It's just the fact that the activity which I take part in people come to see,'' he said.
''It's part of the child still being alive - it's an acceptable way to go out and play.''
Friendship led him to the theatre and the friendships formed had kept him coming back.
Every show brings a diverse group of people together for a common purpose - it is a lot of fun and the friendships formed became very real friendships, he says.
The 34-year veteran of musical theatre has also been an extra in movies and commercials shot locally, including Starlight Hotel and Bride Flight.
Between repertory plays and musicals, Mr Blair has at times been in three local productions a year.
''Either rehearsing lines or on stage doing something,'' he says.
Already this year he has performed in Journey's End with the Oamaru Repertory Society and since June he has been rehearsing for the role of Fester in The Addams Family musical.
''I'd watched The Addams Family as a child and the [musical] story was quite intriguing - Wednesday growing up and finding a normal boyfriend.''
Uncle Fester has a ''larger-than-life, energetic, joyous, child-like presence'' and finding that energy level and maintaining it has been a challenge.
Developing the role has been fun, he says.
''Despite his menacing look and bizarre behaviour, he is gentle and caring to everyone and is very loving to his family,'' he says.
Mr Blair has lived in the Waitaki district all his life, growing up in Tokarahi.
When he left Waitaki Boys' High School in 1978, he got a job as an office junior at what was then the Waitaki County Council.
He still works for the Waitaki District Council in information services.
See it, hear it
The Addams Family musical is being staged at the Oamaru Opera House from September 11 to 19. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketdirect.co.nz or at the Oamaru Opera House.
