THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MISSION
For the last 33 Years
For over 15 years, we have also run Tim Bray Youth Theatre, offering weekly drama classes that have inspired nearly 10,000 young people to explore their imaginations and express their creativity.
In 2024 alone, 31,374 children and their teachers, parents, grandparents and caregivers attended 172 performances in three venues across Tāmaki Makaurau. 6,985 children enjoyed a life-enriching experience at our productions, thanks to Gift a Seat®.
Find out more about the contribution that we have made to our community: https://timbray.org.nz/our-impact/
As we take our final bow, we would like to acknowledge all of you for supporting our work – we could not have done this without you!
Take a look at what we have achieved over the past three decades.
OUR FINAL SHOW
Not only was The Santa Claus Show ‘24 the last show for Tim Bray Theatre Company, it was also the 20th Anniversary production of this well-loved play. Kea Kids came along to capture some special moments.
TIM’S WORK LIVES ON
As New Zealand’s current (2024) biggest selling playwright for children, the work of Tim Bray, QSM has delighted audiences for three decades.
Bray and his company’s impact on the local arts scene is profound, with their work resonating in the careers of many artists and technicians, and inspiring future generations. Chairperson, Peter Winder, says:
“Tim Bray’s work to entertain, delight, and ignite the imagination of children over 30 years is legendary. He has an amazing ability to take simple children’s stories and bring them to life. Generations of children have seen Santa fly, pirates go to a rumbustification, Mahy’s dragon grow to fill the stage, and dogs steal sausages. Tim’s shows have brought New Zealand children’s literature to life and helped us all to laugh out loud.”
Bray and his work continue to live on. To find out how to stage one of his successful plays, which includes plays for adults, head to: https://www.playmarket.org.nz/playwrights/tim-bray/
A TRIBUTE FROM ARTS ACCESS AOTEAROA
Richard Benge, Executive Director Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Arts Access Aotearoa wrote:
“It’s impossible to describe in words alone the impact of Tim and his company. They are pioneers in accessibility in New Zealand and a beacon for other organisations to follow. We are also deeply sad that Tim is undergoing chemotherapy treatment and we wish him the absolute best outcome as he travels this challenging road.”
Read the full lovely tribute from Arts Access Aotearoa.
A MESSAGE TO OUR DONORS, FUNDERS AND SPONSORS
Thank you to all our wonderful funders, donors, and sponsors that supported the theatre company and Gift a Seat® over the last three decades.
Your support saw us through two financial crises, the covid crisis and enabled us to continue delivering joy to so many children throughout some certainly challenging times.
Thank you for coming on this journey with us, we are so very proud of what we have achieved together.
Over the last couple of weeks as we began to deliver the news of our inevitable closedown, we have had an influx of wonderful messages showing us so much aroha and support for our leader Tim and the team.
This has meant the world to us all. Arohanui
A MESSAGE TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF TIM BRAY YOUTH THEATRE
Our staff and tutors have loved the creativity and imaginations of all the tamariki and rangatahi who have come through our Youth Theatre programmes over the many years.
Developing their love of the arts, fostering friendships and confidence in themselves as performers has been such a joy, and we thank all the families for entrusting and supporting us to do this, especially our students and families with accessible needs, who have taught us so much. It has been constantly rewarding and heart-warming.
A huge huge thanks to all our young actors in the weekly classes, holiday programmes and school workshops who have entertained us with their amazing ideas, blossoming talents, and the sheer delight with which they have told their stories on stage.
May you all continue on your creative pathways for years to come!
A MESSAGE TO ALL THE ACTORS, SHOW CREW, PRODUCTION CREW, AGENTS, AUDITIONEES AND SUPPLIERS
A huge thank you to all the actors, show crew, production crew, agents, auditionees and suppliers.
We have enjoyed working with all of you, and the fact that so many came back time and time again shows us how much you enjoyed working with us.
Your support, your joy, your kindness and your hard work has been very much appreciated, and we hope our paths will cross again in the future.
A MESSAGE TO SCHOOLS, ECES AND HOME SCHOOL GROUPS
Thank you for your support of Tim Bray Theatre Company.
We are grateful to you for bringing your ākonga to our shows and giving them the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre – inspiring them through the power of imagination. Our education seasons have been integral to our success, including those attending through our Gift a Seat® outreach programme that allowed tamariki who would not otherwise get to experience our shows attend with sponsored/free tickets.
We would also like to specifically thank schools who attended our accessible performances – it was our ambition to make theatre accessible to all children, a journey we started on in 2004 and continued through to the present by offering NZSL interpreted performances with a post-show Deaf Stage Experience, Audio Described performances with a pre-show Touch Tour, and Sensory Relaxed performances with a pre-show introduction.
Thank you also for the emails, cards, artwork, letters and survey responses you sent in endorsing our work and helping us to secure continued funding for more children to attend our shows for free – we couldn’t have done this without your appreciation and recommendations.
We wish you well in your continuing journey supporting our tamariki to learn, grow and thrive – we know that they are in the best hands. Ngā mihi maioha ❤️
A MESSAGE TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS
A heartfelt thank you to everyone that volunteered their time over the years to help us deliver our mahi.
From our wonderful volunteer ushers, supporting the shows and guiding our audiences safely to their seats, to those who offered their expertise with database entry so we could communicate effectively to our audiences, and the interns that came from all over the world and worked on various projects – and everyone in between.
We are very proud of the impact that Tim and the Theatre Company has had over the past three decades – made possible by the dedication and contribution of all of our volunteers. Nga mihi nui.
FINALLY, A MESSAGE TO YOU
Thank you for coming to our shows.
Thank you for supporting us over the years.
Thank you for cheering us on.
We loved every second.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Have a question about our closure: Read the FAQs
For all other enquiries: Email info@timbray.org.nz