About Us

Celebrating Theatremaking in Auckland

Auckland Theatre Company introduced itself 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 venues across the city. The company was led by Artistic Director Colin McColl ONZM from mid-2003 to 2021. He created an unprecedented 18 seasons during a highly productive period in which Auckland Theatre Company established a permanent base at Balmoral, and set the scene for a theatre to call home.

The Home of Theatre

In 2016, after a decade of dreaming, planning and fundraising, the company opened its own theatre, the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Wynyard Quarter, creating a new platform where theatre-makers could work at scale. 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 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. • 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 Theatre Foundation 30th Anniversary Fund

Support the next 30 years of professional theatre in Auckland with a donation to our Theatre Foundation 30th Anniversary Fund. From our very first production Lovelock’s Dream Run by David Geary through to our 200th production The Made by Emily Perkins, The Theatre Foundation has supported Auckland Theatre Company achieve the ambition of permanent professional theatre in Auckland, fostering and nurturing talented New Zealanders to make their mark along the way. We invite you to be part of the next 30 years of Auckland theatre history and make a donation to The Theatre Foundation 30th Anniversary Fund.

Ways to Save

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 2024 shows without breaking the bank.

Participation

Our commitment to contemporary New Zealand theatre is reflected in our Participation programme.

Acts of Imagination is our education programme for schools and kura featuring dedicated performances especially for young people, alongside workshops, Q&A forums with the artists, education packs and digital resources.

Youth Associates are passionate young people from Tāmaki Makaurau aged 16 and up who join Auckland Theatre Company for a year-long programme: a smorgasbord of workshops, masterclasses and the chance to meet other young creatives.

Youth Company is our training company for actors aged 18 to 25. The Youth Company is a free programme for young performing artists. We connect Youth Company members to the productions we make and the wider creative industry, cultivating craft and creating new work.

New Work

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).

Celebrating our Artists

To ensure the arts thrive in our city and beyond we are committed to nurturing both theatre-makers and theatre-lovers. To invest in our talent we run artists workshops and programmes including the Engine Room Director’s paid internship, playwrighting workshops, play readings, dramaturg support for developing playwrights and summer school workshops for secondary school students.

Archive

View production photos, programmes and cast and creatives credits from all of our shows - right back to 1993!

Period Costumes

Around the world, theatre designers and directors have grappled with how much period is too much when they stage productions set in historic times. Auckland Theatre Company’s veteran designer, Elizabeth Whiting, has designed costumes for numerous ATC productions since the company's very first show in 1993. A master of her craft, Elizabeth is very clear on what works for audiences.