Court Cues - August 2026

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that we hear of Philip Aldridge’s illness. I served on the Trust Board with Philip as our CEO, a position he held for 13 years. His leadership, his roles as an actor on the stage and his great sense of humour are things I look back on with great admiration.

Our thoughts are with you Philip and your family during this difficult time.

We have only one more month of winter to endure and then we are on the upward swing. So stay warm and entertained with great theatre.

Ngā mihi

Annie Bonifant

Chair - Friends of The Court Theatre

Pickleball Fundraiser at The Shed

What has become of our Shed?

The post-earthquake transformation of what was a large empty warehouse space into a fully operating theatre has now been repeated, becoming home to New Zealand’s largest pickleball and padel centre. It’s truly remarkable to witness. For those unfamiliar with this growing sport, pickleball blends elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton and is played with solid paddles on a compact court, while padel is a fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed glass-walled court. The eleven courts are accompanied by a licensed bar and pizzeria. 

While the building has taken on a new purpose, traces of The Court Theatre are deliberately retained throughout. Beams once used in the theatre have been repurposed as dividers between the courts, while two containers that served theatregoers for 14 years will now provide refreshments to players and spectators.

As one of the partners in this enterprise has said: “It was very deliberate when we took the building over to keep that post earthquake story alive and keep all of the theatrical elements. We’ve kept as much of the story as we can, and we’ve built it into the brand of the business.”

Friends of The Court Theatre responded to an invitation to act as hosts for a recent open weekend, and the result was approximately $2000 raised for us. As our chair Annie reflected, this was absolutely wonderful and so generous of the Picklepadel organisation to allow us to have this opportunity. The Shed is looking amazing in its new role.

Don't miss the next Director's Circle!

Step into the chaotic world of Teenage Dick, where Shakespeare meets high school, ambition meets revenge, and Richard III is reimagined as a teenager determined to become senior class president.

Tickets are only $15, including a complimentary gin and tonic (or orange juice) on arrival thanks to our friends at Little Biddy. All proceeds go to the Friends of The Court Theatre.

City Lights & Winter Nights

Some of the auction prizes up for grabs...

Can’t join us on the night?

You can still get involved. Absentee bids are welcome — simply email Hannah Aualiitia at Hannah.Aualiitia@courttheatre.org.nz with the item you’d like to bid on and your maximum bid, and we’ll take care of the rest.

And don’t miss the City Lights & Winter Nights raffle, with four prizes up for grabs:

• Let Us Entertain You! — two premium Lounge tickets to see Robbie Williams at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha

• TranzAlpine Adventure — two return Scenic Class seats between Christchurch and Greymouth

• A Hamper of Indulgent Treats — valued at over $700

• A Magnum of Giesen Uncharted Sauvignon Blanc

Raffle tickets are $50 each or three for $120. You can enter ahead of the evening by emailing Hannah, or join in on the night.

There’s also a little more room at the table. We have a couple of tickets still available for Thursday 20 August, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time.

Our Artistic Director introduces some upcoming productions

As a lover of both Shakespeare and inventive contemporary drama, I was intrigued by Mike Lew’s 2018 adaptation of Richard III, Teenage Dick. The title is deliberately provocative, and Lew gives the classic a contemporary twist, setting the play in a U.S. high school and transforming it into a (very) dark comedy. 

We’re also warming up (pun intended) for a sports-centric double bill from the Court Youth Company. Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves is a 2017 Pulitzer finalist about a girls’ soccer team. It remains one of the memorable works I experienced during my time in New York. With its focus on late teens, it fits the Youth Company perfectly, but the all-female cast meant finding a complementary show with flexible casting. Then Associate AD, Tim Bain, thought of John Breen’s gloriously chaotic Alone It Stands, which memorialises the legendary 1978 Munster defeat of the All Blacks. Alone It Stands was last produced at The Court Theatre in 2005, directed by David McPhail. The two shows contrast in tone and genre but equally capture the intensity, passion, and connection that can be found in sport.

Trust Board AGM & Annual Report

The Court Theatre Trust Board held its Annual General Meeting on Monday 27 July 2026. 

You can read the full 2025 Annual Report here, including highlights from the year, our financial results, and an update on the work of The Court Theatre.

Take Your Seat in the Wakefield Family Front Room

Every seat tells a story. And now, one of ours can tell yours.

The Court Theatre
129 Gloucester Street
Christchurch Central
8011
New Zealand
Box Office: +64 3 963 0870
Email: friends@courttheatre.org.nz
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