July 8, 2025

Moe mai rā Tim Bray QSM

By Richard Hills > Birkenhead and Northcote Community

Even though we knew he was unwell it is still such shocking news that Tim Bray QSM has died, far too young, at the age of 61. The North Shore community, the arts community and the wider Auckland community mourn the loss of a true creative hero, someone who dedicated most of his life to others and was so successful at it too.

Huge condolences and thoughts to his partner Bryce, his whānau, friends and everyone who knew him.

Founder and Artistic Director of the Tim Bray Theatre Company, Tim dedicated over three decades to fostering children’s theatre in Aotearoa.

Since its inception in 1991, Tim Bray Theatre Company has proudly championed accessibility and inclusivity in the arts. Notably, it became the first performing arts company in New Zealand to offer NZSL-interpreted performances in 2004.

Tim’s company has provided employment opportunities for countless creatives and technicians, playing a significant role in nurturing New Zealand’s artistic talent. Tim’s vision and constantly held philosophy was always that children’s theatre required the same professionalism as adult professional theatre – actors and technicians were always paid at adult theatre rates; and young audiences were always treated with the same creative respect as adult audiences. Tim and the company’s impact on the local arts scene is profound, with their work resonating in the careers of many artists and technicians, and inspiring future generations.

TBTC has delivered over 100 productions (The Santa Claus Show ’24 was final and the 113th production. He’s even had shows performed to then The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (now King and Queen) in 2012 and reached hundreds of thousands of children spanning three generations across Aotearoa.

Interesting facts from the Pumphouse.

The impressive Tim Bray Theatre Company stats (and this is just for The PumpHouse Theatre ):

* Total PumpHouse tickets sold: 337,302

* Total productions: 76

Production History of Tim Bray Theatre Company

113 professional theatre productions

109 original New Zealand scripts or NZ adaptations

100 productions for children.

In 2023 alone the company saw 36,420 children and teachers, parents, grandparents and caregivers attend performances, including 7,398 attending free thanks to the company’s highly successful “Gift a Seat” programme, and wonderful community of donors and funders.

For over 15 years, TBTC also ran the Tim Bray Youth Theatre, offering weekly drama classes for 10,000 young people to explore their imaginations and express their creativity. With enrolments averaging 200 students per term, even during COVID, the programme was a space for young people to thrive. It also championed inclusivity, providing tailored classes for autistic, neurodiverse, deaf, and blind/low-vision children and teens.

In 2016, the Youth Theatre introduced the Hit the Stage! school holiday programme, which delivered 36 sessions to over 1,200 participants. Additionally, the Youth Theatre has extended its reach by conducting drama workshops in numerous Auckland schools. Sadly, the Youth Theatre closed at the end of 2024, coinciding with the closure of Tim Bray Theatre Company.

In 2017 Bray rightly received the Queen’s Service Medal for his services to children and theatre, and is currently the biggest selling playwright for children in the country.

Outside of children’s theatre, Tim is also proud of his involvement with his advocacy and work for Auckland’s Rainbow community and more famously his role in creating the Big Gay Out.

Last year Tim said of his involvement “Big Gay Out was an idea I came up with – both the event and name – that I presented to my fellow Hero Trustees who loved it and they set it up. I’m thrilled to see the Big Gay Out continue a quarter of a century on, often providing young LGBTQI+ people their first safe place to venture and find their tribe in their journey,”

Marking its 20th anniversary, The Santa Claus Show ’24 was the company’s final theatre production, due to Tim’s ill health, this served as a heartfelt farewell to its loyal supporters and the broader arts community.

Thanks Tim. Moe mai rā e hoa – rest easy.