Tim Bray Theatre Company

What Tim Bray Theatre Company does

Tim Bray Theatre Company is a registered charitable trust (administered by The Operating Theatre Trust CC 26517) and Auckland's leading professional children's theatre company, founded in 1991 by Tim Bray, QSM. The organization produces live theatrical adaptations of children's literature — including Joy Cowley's 'Greedy Cat', Roald Dahl's 'The Twits', and Enid Blyton's 'The Magic Faraway Tree' — alongside a recurring Christmas production, performing at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna and touring to venues including Mängere Arts Centre and the Vodafone Event Centre Manukau.

The company's service portfolio spans four product lines: (1) main-stage theatre productions of approximately 50-70 minutes designed for children aged 3-10 and families; (2) weekly after-school drama classes for ages 5-19 across three Auckland locations (TAPAC Western Springs, St George's Takapuna, East Coast Bays Browns Bay) at NZ$175-$440 per term; (3) holiday workshops (Hit the Stage!) for ages 7-12 at NZ$320 per child; and (4) accessibility services including Audio Described performances with Touch Tours, NZSL interpretation, and Sensory Relaxed shows. The Gift a Seat sponsorship programme subsidizes attendance for children from low decile schools, deaf education centres, blind/low-vision organizations, and Make-A-Wish families.

The company operates with 9 employees and reaches 20,000+ children and families annually. Revenue is generated through a mix of ticket sales, term-based drama class subscriptions, one-time workshop fees, season subscriptions (offering 20% savings on 3-4 show packages), and donations. Donations and fundraising account for 40% of the annual operating budget, with the company needing to raise an additional NZ$500,000 each year to maintain operational viability. The company holds the 2020 Arts Access Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award, and its founder holds the 2017 Queen's Service Medal.

Name

Tim Bray Theatre Company

Legal name

The Operating Theatre Trust CC 26517

Website

https://timbrayproductions.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tim Bray Theatre Company is an Auckland-based non-profit children's theatre trust founded in 1991, producing live literary adaptations, after-school drama classes, holiday workshops, and accessibility-focused performances for children aged 3-19 and their families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Children's theatre
• Live theatre productions
• Youth drama classes
• Accessible theatre
• School holiday workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Takapuna

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live theatre performances at The PumpHouse Theatre and touring venues. Includes public season tickets, education season bookings, gala performances, and group bookings.
2. Drama Classes: Weekly after-school drama classes for children aged 5-19 years across multiple Auckland locations. Term-based fees ranging from $175-$440 depending on age group.
3. Holiday Workshops: 5-day holiday theatre workshops (Hit the Stage!) at $320 per child with sibling discounts at $288. Targeted at school holiday periods.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Gift a Seat programme allowing individuals and companies to sponsor children from low decile schools and disability organizations. Monthly giving programme and one-time donations. Funding accounts for 40% of annual operating budget with need to raise additional $500,000.
5. Season Subscriptions: 2020 Theatre Season Subscription offering 20% savings on tickets for 4-show or 3-show packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tim Bray Theatre Company produces and stages live children's theatre performances at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna, Auckland, and on tour across the region. Its offerings centre on family-oriented stage adaptations of New Zealand and international children's literature (such as works by Joy Cowley, Roald Dahl, and Enid Blyton), complemented by after-school drama classes, school holiday workshops, and accessible performance formats. The company is a registered charitable trust that supplements ticket and programme revenue with donations and Gift a Seat sponsorships to subsidise access for children from low decile schools and disability organisations.

Product overview

Tim Bray Theatre Company operates as Auckland's leading theatre for children, established in 1991 and celebrating over 100 show seasons. The company offers a portfolio of children's theatre productions including main stage shows (Greedy Cat, The Twits, The Magic Faraway Tree, The Santa Claus Show), complemented by youth development programmes (Weekly Drama Classes for ages 5-19, Hit the Stage! holiday workshops), and comprehensive accessibility services (Audio Described, NZSL Interpretation, Sensory Relaxed performances). The company also runs the Gift a Seat sponsorship programme to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend theatre. The core products work together to fulfil the company's mission of inspiring children to be confident and creative through professional children's theatre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gift a Seat™: A platform where individuals and companies can sponsor children from low decile schools, Kelston Deaf Education Centre, BLENNZ, and Make-A-Wish to attend shows and workshops at no cost.

Products and services

• Greedy Cat A 55-minute stage adaptation of Joy Cowley's beloved early reader books featuring the New Zealand cat character Greedy Cat, designed for children and families and marking the company's 100th show season.
• The Twits

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 children and families attend shows and participate in workshops annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Operating Theatre TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTim Bray Theatre Company is a registered charitable trust administered by The Operating Theatre Trust CC 26517. The trust provides governance and operational support for the theatre company's programmes.
• Ruapotaka SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLow decile school partnership through Gift a Seat programme, enabling students to attend live theatre performances at no cost.
• Kelston Deaf Education CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeneficiary partner for Gift a Seat programme providing deaf children access to live theatre experiences.
• BLENNZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network of New Zealand)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeneficiary partner providing blind and low vision children access to accessible theatre through Gift a Seat programme.
• Make-A-Wish New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable partner enabling children with serious illness to experience live theatre through Gift a Seat programme.
• Fund a FutureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Kiwi company registered with IRD dedicated to filing donation tax rebates, helping donors maximize their charitable contributions to Tim Bray Theatre Company.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Imagination Stage: Maryland-based professional theatre for young audiences, producing mainstage shows, running drama classes, and offering accessibility services including sensory-friendly performances. Comparable as a children's theatre with multi-stream programming including education.
• Unicorn Theatre: London's leading theatre for children and young people, producing professional productions and education programs year-round. Directly comparable as a dedicated children's theatre company with strong education and outreach programs.
• The New Victory Theater: New York's home for performing arts for kids and families, programming theatre, dance, and circus for young audiences with strong education and access initiatives. Directly comparable as a children's performing arts venue with education programs.
• Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP): Sydney-based national youth theatre company producing professional theatre for young audiences and running education programs and workshops. Closely comparable model: productions for young audiences, drama classes, and school holiday programs.
• Nashville Children's Theatre: One of the oldest professional children's theatres in the US, producing mainstage productions, education programs, and community outreach. Comparable as a long-established dedicated children's theatre with education programming.
• Birmingham Stage Company: UK-based theatre company known for stage adaptations of children's literature (including Horrible Histories and Roald Dahl). Comparable as a children's theatre specializing in literary adaptations, mirroring Tim Bray's Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton repertoire.
• Polka Theatre: London-based dedicated children's theatre producing year-round programming for young audiences. Comparable as a children's theatre specialist with education programs and a focus on accessible performances.
• Capital E: Wellington-based national arts and education organization for children and young people, producing theatre and creative learning experiences. Directly comparable as a NZ non-profit children's performing arts company with education programming.
• Storyhouse Theatre: Chester-based theatre and library producing shows for children and families, with strong education and outreach programs. Comparable as a children's theatre with education programs and a community-focused mission.

Broad incumbents

• Auckland Theatre Company: Auckland's largest professional theatre company producing a wider range of work, with some family and education programming. Comparable as an Auckland-based performing arts company but with broader adult programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/tim_bray_productions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwBBeaCZGdheX4RXG-Kf6RA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TimBrayProductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tim-bray-productions
• Instagraminstagram.com/timbraytheatrecompany
• Pinterestnz.pinterest.com/timbrayprdn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tim Bray Theatre Company