Recovery In The Spotlight: Rehab Returns To The Stage

August 21, 2025

Based on lived experience, REHAB is a pressure cooker of chaos, quick wit, and raw humanity, offering audiences a slice of life experience in the high-stakes world of a residential rehabilitation centre. The show follows an eclectic mix of characters – from a professional basketball coach to a lawyer, a commercial real estate agent to a primary school teacher – as they navigate group therapy, strict rules, and the challenging, funny, and vulnerable realities of early recovery.

Since debuting in 2021, REHAB has become one of Auckland’s most transformative shows, praised for breaking addiction stigma through laughter, unfiltered honesty, and dynamic performances. More than just entertainment, it’s a phenomenon that has already inspired audience members to seek help and rethink what addiction and early recovery really looks like.

Unlike the statistics that reduce people to “addicts” or “alcoholics”, REHAB invites audiences to connect and laugh with its characters rather than look at them. The result? A deeply human, often hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking portrayal that has inspired some audience members to seek help themselves. Every show offers post show kōrero to provide clear pathways of support if needed.

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“Addiction doesn’t discriminate – it can affect anyone,” says creator and producer Elizabeth Cracroft, a criminal defence lawyer who has been sober for 16 years, since the age of 24. “This show is about connection, not judgement. We’re taking the shame of addiction out of isolation and replacing it with honesty, compassion – and a lot of laughs. We hope to help de-stigmatise addiction and normalise recovery.”

Cracroft’s work in the courtroom has given her a unique perspective on the scale of the issue.

“Anecdotally, a large amount of my clients are battling some form of substance abuse and/or mental health challenges," she says. I often meet clients when they are most motivated to change, especially those remanded in custody, but the lack of timely access to public rehab within the community means they may be sentenced before having the opportunity to engage in intensive, community-based, alcohol and drug treatment.”

The numbers speak for themselves:

• Around 50,000 people in Aotearoa receive support for alcohol and drug use each year – and that’s estimated to be only a third of those who actually need it (NZ Drug Foundation).
• 12.3% of New Zealanders will experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (AOD Provider Collaborative).

Drawing on her role as a Trustee of Te Hapori Charitable Trust, the community advisory group for the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court, Cracroft has built

REHAB

in consultation with the recovery community and addiction specialists like Tipene Pickett, who has helped run rehearsals on Tikanga māori-based health model, Te Whare Tapa Whā and Motivational Interviewing, to help shape the rehab world from a clinical perspective.

“Substance use disorder is a health condition, not a choice,” says Pickett.

“This show challenges the stigma that stops people from seeking help, and it illustrates that recovery is absolutely possible.”

With one of the show's largest cast yet, representing a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and life experiences, including Māori, Samoan, Pākehā, Indian, Persian, and South African heritage. The ensemble features

Mark Scott, Johnson Manukau, Paul Paice, Carmen Adams, Zoe Courtney, Richard Lambert, Dorsa Nassiry, Gillian Berry, Harman Singh, Steve Ciprian, Darran Lees, Joel Vinsen, Fono Mati, Danielle Taylor, and Elizabeth Cracroft

Since REHAB’s debut season, Cracroft and others with lived experience have been working hard to take the kupapa further, bringing it to both stage and screen. With long-term industry interest, a TV Pilot is in development to expand the show's success after six acclaimed theatre seasons.

“I laughed so hard I cried, and five minutes later I was moved to genuine tears. As theatre it was beautiful. As improv? Nothing short of brilliant.” – Artwork Theatre

REHAB is more than a show, it’s proof that comedy can be a powerful tool for social change.

SHOW DETAILS:
Dates:
Wed 22 – Sat 25 October, 7pm
Venue:
The PumpHouse Theatre, Auckland
Tickets:
Pay What You Like from $12
Bookings:
pumphouse.co.nz
Duration:
95 minutes including 15 minute interval

REHAB tackles themes of addiction, including excessive drug and alcohol use. May contain some discussion around sex, sexual abuse, domestic violence, OCD, ADHD, CPSTD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, eating disorders and discussion concerning racism.

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