Calico Young People's Theatre specialises in professional theatre for young audiences and hands-on production experiences for young people aged from 5 to 15.

Since 1991, Calico has spellbound thousands of young people in theatres, festivals and schools throughout New Zealand with funny, enchanting, thought-provoking shows developed in close consultation with children and teachers. Innovations in audience participation techniques and partnerships between young people and professional theatre artists are hallmarks of Calico productions.

In 1996, Calico began running theatre workshops for children. Their creativity and hunger to perform led to the development of large-cast shows for young actors. Calico is strongly committed to providing opportunities for children to participate in theatre productions – as performers, behind the scenes and creating their own shows.

Formerly Wellington-based, Calico relocated to Napier in 2000 and continues to produce theatre for young audiences and performers. Fundamental to Calico productions is the belief that theatre can enrich children’s lives and stimulate their development as creative, compassionate, responsible young New Zealanders.

About Calico’s Director:

Jenny Wake, founder and artistic director of Calico Young People’s Theatre, is a writer, director, producer and

teacher with more than 20 years’ experience in children’s theatre and television.

Jenny produced Play School, one of Television New Zealand’s most enduringly popular children’s series. She was a series writer for Bumble and directed perennial children’s TV favourite What Now. Recently, she wrote a behind-the-scenes book: The Making of King Kong.

In 1991, Jenny founded Calico Young People’s Theatre. Under her guidance, Calico has created, commissioned and produced world-class theatre for young New Zealanders. Hundreds of children have attended Jenny’s theatre skills workshops, and thousands have acted in plays she has written especially for young performers.

Jenny trained to be a secondary school teacher and has a Master of Arts degree in Children’s Theatre from California State University Humboldt.

About Calico People:
Calico Young People’s Theatre owes its continuing success to dozens of professional theatre practitioners who have contributed immeasurably to Calico productions: actors such as Kate Harcourt, John Hui, Robert Tripe, Simon Vincent, Curtis Vowell, Heto Ah Hi, Craig Muller, Jackie Van Beek, Jessica Sutherland, Narelle Ahrens, Karl Kite-Rangi, Geoff Dolan, Kerryn Palmer and Kristen Gillespie; playwrights Angie Farrow, Michelanne Forster, Karen Miller and Jo Randerson; designers such as Debz Ruffell, Mario Mazzorana, Jill of Aotearoa and Christine Heaney; puppet maestros Annie Forbes and Tim Denton; composer Janet Holborow; tutors such as Jane Cherry and Tony Wolf; choreographers Jamie Bull and Paul Jenden; production managers Barbara Hardy and Carol Stevenson… to name just a very few.