Beth Allen

 is a New Zealand  drama television series that was first broadcast on Monday, 25 May 1992. The show is set in a modern metropolitan hospital in the fictional suburb of Ferndale in Auckland City, and is produced by South Pacific Pictures. In New Zealand, the show screens on Television New Zealand's TV2 weeknights.

Today, most of the filming for Shortland Street occurs at South Pacific Pictures Waitakere City studios.

There is a real Shortland Street in Auckland City, but the series is set in an outlying, imaginary suburb. There are several other locations, including The IV, a bar and restaurant, located opposite the hospital; Sugar, a cafe located somewhere in Ferndale; and Ferndale High School, the local state secondary school.

The producers of Shortland Street have tried to make the show reflect the current trends in New Zealand health services. As a result, the hospital featured on the show was originally under private ownership, which reflected the increasing privatisation of the New Zealand health services in the early 1990s under the National Government. After the Labour government was elected into office in 1999, there was a renewed focus on public health services. As a result, in 2001 the producers of the show decided to have the hospital come under government ownership in order to reflect the renewed focus on public health.Shortland Street celebrated its 15th birthday in May 2007. As a result there were many changes that have occurred such as a refurbished hospital, new uniforms, and a new logo. A television special celebrating 15 years was screened on 13 May 2007, and on Shortland Street's actual 15th birthday (25 May 2007), the episode featured photos of previous characters and settings, which "were found in the renovations".

Storylines are planned five months before they are due to be screened.

Beth Allen plays Dr. Brooke Freeman,a G.P in Primary Care Clinic.

Official Website

dreamers since January 2009