About Auckland Theatre Company

We introduced ourselves to the world under the leadership of Simon Prast with the world premiere of David Geary’s Lovelock’s Dream Run, directed by Raymond Hawthorne ONZM at the Watershed Theatre. During Simon’s tenure, the Company established itself as a
successful artistic force, performing at theatres across the city.

From mid-2003 to 2021, the Company was led by Artistic Director Colin McColl ONZM, who created an unprecedented 18 seasons during a highly productive period in which the Company established a permanent base at Balmoral and set the scene for a theatre to call home.

Across its history, Auckland Theatre Company has nurtured new writing by New Zealand playwrights, investing in commissions and world premieres every year. This commitment to the New Zealand theatre vernacular remains the backbone of the Company’s artistic work. Our purpose of ’Powerful storytelling that connects communities and enriches lives’ is manifested in five programme strands.
We: 

• Produce theatre of scale and ambition,  presenting outstanding New Zealand and international work that thrills audiences and builds community.

• Develop new work by New Zealand theatre artists, reflecting
the community of which we are a part and nurturing the next generation of New Zealand storytellers.

• Inspire and engage young people, through initiatives in which young people can participate, through school and independently, as audience and as artists.

• Provide leadership for the performing arts sector, offering professional development and resources that nurture theatre workers.

• Programme ASB Waterfront Theatre to fulfil its potential as a cultural asset for the benefit of Aucklanders.

The result of our work is: ’Inspired and enriched communities, where storytelling uplifts, educates, unifies and enhances well-being’.

From $30 tickets for 30 and under, to a Pay What You Wish performance where you can literally pay what you want, there are ways to see our 2025 shows without breaking the bank.

The backbone of our programme is new work by New Zealand playwrights. In 2023, we are delighted to be collaborating with SquareSums&Co to commission Basmati Bitch by Ankita Singh, and to present the world premiere of Things That Matter by Gary Henderson.

Recent new work we have developed includes The Made by Emily Perkins (2022), The Haka Party Incident by Katie Wolfe (2021), Yang/Young/ by Sherry Zhang and Nuanzhi Zheng (2021), Black Lover by Stanley Makuwe (2020), Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee, adapted by Pip Hall (2018), Rendered by Stuart Hoar (2018), Shortland Street – The Musical (2018) and Still Life with Chickens by D.F. Mamea (2017).