Legacy Lives On: Next Generation Bring Children’s Theatre Back To Pumphouse

A team of accomplished young creatives are bringing a new children’s theatre show to the Pumphouse Theatre this September. It’s Alive! is a dynamic and original show combining theatre, improvisation, puppetry and real science experiments into an hour-long show for kids that’s different every time.

It’s Alive! was created by writer/director Frankie Browne (Tim Bray Theatre Company, Ugly Shakespeare Company) whose passion for children’s theatre was sparked by working with Tim Bray, QSM. “I am forever grateful to have been shown just how intelligent and brilliant children are as audience members. My time with Tim Bray as a mentor and boss, inspired me to want to make theatre that was not only magical but precise and intentional by nature.”. The entire core team bringing It’s Alive! to life are all Tim Bray Theatre Company alumni including actor Dylan Underwood (The Great Piratical Rumbustification, Badjelly The Witch), producers Matilda Chua (The Twits, The Santa Claus Show) Rebecca Mary Gwendolon (The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate), and technical team Zara Ridley and Sofia Miernik.

Children and families deserve access to high quality, professional theatre shows. That’s why It’s Alive! are launching a Boosted campaign to cover rehearsal costs, accessibility features, and science experiment consumables for the upcoming season. The team’s previous season (Can I Get an Underground Location and a Mythical Creature? at Basement Theatre in 2024) was celebrated for its pioneering accessible performances, and they intend to continue on this path. Making theatre accessible to as many different children and families as possible is a priority the team inherited from working with Tim Bray Theatre Company which was also celebrated for its work creating accessible theatre. “Making shows accessible is so important! Listening to the needs and responses of our audiences is vital for enjoyable children’s and improvised theatre, so creating a space where our audience can feel free to be who they are will make the show better for everyone!,” says actor Dylan Underwood.

The arts have never been in greater need of support than in the current political climate of extensive funding cuts. Private giving is now a direct and necessary way for ordinary kiwis to back the things they care about. The emerging artists behind It’s Alive! have learned from the best and are now ready to make their own way in the world, all it will take is a little bit of support from the community.

With real science experiments designed in collaboration with scientists, and a heartfelt and hilarious story brought to life by a professional cast of actors; It’s Alive! is the perfect STEAM-powered theatre show for the whole whānau.

Boosted campaign will be live from July 16 - Aug 19 here: thearts.co.nz/boosted/projects/its-alive Tickets are available now from pumphousetheatre.co.nz

It’s Alive!

Dates: September 23-27th 2025

Location: Pumphouse Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand

Tickets & Info: https://pumphouse.co.nz/whats-on/show/its-alive/

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