Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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KAIAKO WORKSHOP APPLICANT PACK ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS PROJECT
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ABOUT SIMON STEPHENS
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KAIAKO WORKSHOP
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WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
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WHAT WE OFFER:
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APPLICATION PROCESS
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ABOUT AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY
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ABOUT WHAKAARI AOTEAROA
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ABOUT THE BRITISH COUNCIL
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Simon Stephens. Photo: Kevin Cummins
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS PROJECT A customised professional development residency for artists with Auckland Theatre Company.
Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) is launching a new masterclass series in 2026, designed to support New Zealand theatre artists, kaiako and emerging theatre talent. The Masterclass Project kicks off in February 2026 with a visit by one of the UK’s most influential contemporary playwrights, Simon Stephens. In February 2026, the project welcomes acclaimed British playwright Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Sea Wall, Blindness) to Aotearoa. Alongside his work with playwrights, Simon will lead a professional development workshop for kaiako teaching drama. This half-day workshop is designed in partnership with Whakaari Aotearoa Drama New Zealand with tools for your kete to initiate ideas, activities for developing scripts and tips specifically for teachers in the classroom. Stephens will also lead a Playwrights’ Masterclass, and a youth workshop for ATC Youth Arts and Emerging Writers Table participants and practitioners. Kaiako may be at any stage of their teaching career, working with years 7–13 students. Expressions of Interest close on Fri 30 Jan. The Kaiako workshop is fully subsidised and is offered free of charge.
ABOUT SIMON STEPHENS Simon Stephens is one of the UK’s most influential contemporary playwrights. His works have been staged worldwide, including Sea Wall, Blindness, Pornography, Birdland, and the Olivier and Tony Award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He is an Associate Artist at the Royal Court Theatre and Lyric Hammersmith and is widely recognised for his distinctive craft, pedagogical clarity and dramaturgical innovation. “I think we are living and working in a cultural moment when travel will act as a life source for the arts and creativity. In coming decades creativity, imagination and collaboration will be more urgent than ever before. I think the arts can be at the heart of such a collaboration and to be a part of that excites and moves me. I haven't been to New Zealand for twenty years. I remember my last visit with real clarity. It was one of the happiest times of my life and remains one of the most beautiful places I have visited. I can’t wait to return to work with New Zealand theatre makers next year.” -
Simon Stephens
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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KAIAKO WORKSHOP 10am–1pm FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2026 | ATC Balmoral Rehearsal Studios A workshop designed for Aotearoa kaiako. Led by acclaimed UK playwright Simon Stephens as part of The Masterclass Project 2026, Auckland Theatre Company and Whakaari Aotearoa will host a halfday professional development workshop for kaiako teaching drama in schools and kura across Aotearoa. This half-day workshop is designed in partnership with Whakaari Aotearoa Drama New Zealand with tools for your kete to initiate ideas, activities for developing scripts and tips specifically for teachers in the classroom. A primary outcome of the workshop will be a resource for all kaiako to use in schools and kura, available through Auckland Theatre Company and Whakaari Aotearoa Drama NZ, courtesy of the Networks of Expertise.
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR? This workshop is designed for a cohort of up to 15 kaiako teaching drama in schools and kura across Aotearoa. This workshop is for kaiako who are interested in strengthening their approach to writing for performance in the classroom — whether that is within junior drama programmes, senior NCEA playwriting standards, or integrated drama/literacy contexts. Kaiako may be at any stage of their teaching career. Applications are welcomed from beginning teachers as well as more experienced kaiako who are seeking to deepen, refresh, or reframe their practice — for example, those responding to assessment feedback, redesigning junior programmes, or exploring new approaches to drama and literacy learning. ATC invites applications from kaiako who: •
Are currently teaching drama, theatre, performance and/or literacy in a school or kura setting
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Are interested in developing tools for scriptwriting, and in supporting student writing for the stage
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Work with years 7–13
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Are available to attend the full workshop (10am–1pm, Friday 20 February 2026)
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Are based in Aotearoa, and can travel to Tāmaki Makaurau for the workshop.
Selection Process: All expressions of interest received by the deadline will be reviewed together by Auckland Theatre Company and Whakaari Aotearoa. If the
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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workshop is oversubscribed, selection will focus on balancing a range of teaching contexts, experience levels and geographical representation.
WHAT WE OFFER: •
A half-day professional development workshop with Simon Stephens, designed for Aotearoa kaiako, and developed in partnership with Whakaari Aotearoa. The session shares tools for your kete to initiate ideas, activities for developing scripts and tips specifically for teachers in the classroom.
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Complimentary tickets to the public performance of Sea Wall by Simon Stephens at 2:00PM on Saturday 21 February 2026.
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Connection to peers and writers, creating space for kōrero, shared learning, and networks that extend beyond the workshop.
Participants will also be invited to provide a short written or video reflection following the workshop, to help document and share learnings with the wider kaiako community.
APPLICATION PROCESS Expression of Interest close 12pm, Friday 30 January 2026. The Workshop application process starts with an Expression of Interest, designed to be accessible with a view to respecting the time of all interested kaiako. If you’d like to submit an Expression of Interest in another way, or if you’d like further details about The Masterclass Project, please contact Head of Learning & Participation, Sam Phillips, sam@atc.co.nz. Places will be confirmed on Tuesday 3 February 2026.
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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ABOUT AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) introduced itself to the world in 1993 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. The company was led by Artistic Director Colin McColl ONZM from mid-2003 to 2021 who created an unprecedented 18 seasons during a highly productive period in which ATC established a permanent rehearsal base at Balmoral and set the scene for a theatre to call home. In 2016, after a decade of dreaming, planning and fundraising, the company opened the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Wynyard Quarter, creating a new platform where theatre makers could work at scale. Now with an annual subscription season of 6-8 works, a thriving Youth Company, digital classroom and education programmes, new work in development, a suite of arts industry partnerships, rehearsal studios on Dominion Road and a 675-seat theatre to call home, ATC looks ahead to the next 30 years ready to embrace the new challenges of creating and presenting theatre for an ever changing audience in the context of Aotearoa’s largest multicultural city. Our purpose of ’powerful storytelling that connects communities and enriches lives’ is manifested in five programme strands. We: • •
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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.
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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ABOUT WHAKAARI AOTEAROA Whakaari Aotearoa Drama New Zealand is the subject association that supports drama in education in Aotearoa. Our kaupapa is Auaha | Create, Whakaari | Communicate, Whakaako | Educate. We empower drama educators by creating resources, advocating, providing workshops, conferences, and research opportunities, and developing connections through the education pathway.
ABOUT NETWORKS OF EXPERTISE Networks of Expertise supports subject associations and other peer-to-peer networks to deliver support for teachers and kaiako.
ABOUT THE BRITISH COUNCIL’S CONNECTIONS THROUGH CULTURE PROGRAMME Connections Through Culture supports international collaboration between artists and organisations across the UK and the Asia-Pacific. It fosters idea exchange, co-creation and new approaches to global challenges. Simon Stephens’ visit to Aotearoa is supported through this programme.
Made possible by Peter Macky and Cynthia Braithwaite, and the British Council Connections Through Culture Programme.
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