25 Years of Creative Learning
25 Years of Creative Learning at Auckland Theatre Company
Youth Company 2025
In 2026, Auckland Theatre Company celebrates 25 years of sustained commitment to theatre education in New Zealand.
The Wynyard Quarter is frequently beset by queues of buses of drama and English students disembarking down Madden Street to see daytime matinees of Auckland Theatre Company’s plays. Under Artistic Director Jonathan Bielski, Auckland Theatre Company serve between 6,000-8,000 students annually, and in 2026, thanks to Tindall Next Gen, will reach 10,000 ākonga from schools across the country.
In 2001, Auckland Theatre Company launched the 2econd Unit, initiated by Oliver Driver, to act as a resource for theatre development in New Zealand. Its directives were clear: strengthen the theatre community, train new arts practitioners and produce exciting new theatre aimed at the next generation.
James Jennings and Scotty Cotter in the early 2000's, ATC 2econd Unit
From this initiative emerged both the ATC Literary Unit and the ATC Education Unit, providing script development, playreadings, workshops and educational programmes, encouraging teaching and participation in the arts.
Established by Sarah Peters and Oliver Driver, the ATC Education Unit was designed to be a comprehensive programme that nurtured young theatre practitioners and future audiences, while also acting as a resource for secondary and tertiary educators. The inaugural season included Haruru Mai by Briar Grace-Smith, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
School matinées formed the cornerstone of Auckland Theatre Company’s work with schools and more than 100,000 students have seen Auckland Theatre Company productions over the last 25 years. These performances continue and are supported by comprehensive resource packs, which are distributed to schools. They contain history and behind-the-scenes information, interviews with creatives and design activities.
Key to this success was the ATC Ambassador programme, which gave the company a fantastic opportunity to meet and learn from keen young theatre-goers and artists.
In 2001, there were 15 ATC Ambassadors. By 2002, 70 schools across Auckland were participating. Ambassadors attended each Auckland Theatre Company production without charge, participated in forums with cast and crew, then returned to their schools as peer advocates for theatre attendance.
In 2004, Lynne Cardy joined ATC and was the driving force behind developing the Education Unit into a Creative Learning and Youth Arts programme from 2004 through to 2021, by which time she was the company's Associate Director, having inspired many young theatre-makers.
The connections created by the Ambassadors, and the platform that the programme gave to the voices of young people, led the way for more than a decade of youth arts festivals curated by Cardy, featuring performances written, devised, directed, designed and crewed by young people from all over Auckland.
As the audiences saw themselves on stage, Auckland Theatre Company’s relocation to the ASB Waterfront Theatre in 2016 provided a purpose-built venue for school matinées and spaces for workshops for schools who travel from afar.
Auckland Theatre Company’s education programmes have provided first theatre experiences for many participants while supporting curriculum objectives for educators. As NCEA continues to evolve, and digital technology breaks down barriers, Auckland Theatre Company looks forward to strengthening its relationship with kaiako and young people from across the country.
From the ATC Education Unit in 2001 to comprehensive Creative Learning programmes serving thousands annually, ATC's commitment to theatre education continues as we look to the next 25 years.
The development of Creative Learning at ATC reflects the dedication of numerous individuals and organisations including Oliver Driver, Sarah Peters, Lynne Cardy, the late Amber McWilliams, Whetu Silver, Tanya Muagututi'a MNZM, Nicole Arrow, Mile Fane, Billie Staples, the commitment of former Artistic Directors, Simon Prast and Colin McColl ONZM, donations and sponsorships particularly the long-term support of Foundation North, the Education Advisory Panel members, and kaiako and ākonga across the country.
For a look behind the scenes at Auckland Theatre Company, including interviews with some of the personalities who shaped the making of a cultural institution, purchase a copy of Backstage Pass by Frances Walsh at atc.co.nz
Education Pack Archive
Auckland Theatre Company's Education Pack Archive is home to curriculum-linked resources from our past productions, including behind-the-scenes content, interviews with creatives, design activities, and teaching notes.
These packs are designed to support kaiako in exploring theatre with their ākonga across all levels—from Drama and English to Social Studies, History, Te Reo Māori and more. All resources are free to use in your classroom.