Remembering Tim Bray
Tim Bray, QSM
1964-2025
In early July, the PAYPA team were devastated to learn that Tim Bray, our dear friend and colleague, had passed away.
Tim was a founding member of PAYPA and one of our founding trustees. His wisdom and positivity guided and strengthened us as we grew from a loose network of practitioners into a charitable trust, dedicated to supporting Aotearoa's Performing Arts & Young People sector. Our PAYPA whānau has lost a much-loved friend, leader and champion.
As the founder and artistic director of Tim Bray Theatre Company (TBTC), Tim produced over 100 professional theatre productions for children. Founded in Tāmaki Makaurau in 1991, the company became known for Tim’s vibrant adaptations of literary works by favourite children’s authors such Margaret Mahy, Lynley Dodd, Joy Cowley and Witi Ihimaera.
Tim led the way in accessible theatre for young audiences in Aotearoa. In 2004, TBTC was the first theatre company in the country to offer NZ Sign Language interpreted shows; in 2015, TBTC began offering touch tours and audio described shows for children with vision impairment and, from 2019, sensory relaxed performances for neurodiverse audiences. For many years, with the support of donors and funders, the company provided free tickets to disadvantaged children through its Gift a Seat programme. The company also ran drama programmes for young people aged 5-19 years, including ‘Extraordinarily Creative’ drama classes for autistic and neurodivergent 5-16 year olds.
Tim was a family man, actor, writer, director, entrepreneur, visionary and clown. As his alter ego, Ronald McDonald, he was beloved by children throughout New Zealand. He was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to children and theatre.
Tim Bray Theatre Company closed in December 2024, after Tim was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Throughout his illness, he never lost his optimism, sense of humour and generous spirit.
Although Tim himself is no longer with us, his legacy continues - through PAYPA and through the many thousands of children whose hearts and imaginations were stirred by his special blend of theatre magic.
In 2023, he commissioned a guidebook for our sector, 'Sensory Relaxed Performances for Children - Learnings from Tim Bray Theatre Company’, and made it freely available to read online or download, to encourage other production companies to make their shows accessible for neurodivergent children.
Playmarket credits Tim with being Aotearoa’s most successful playwright for children, “with over thirty joyous and beloved adaptations of children's books.” Many of Tim’s plays are available for production through Playmarket.
Read more about Tim’s impact and legacy on Tim Bray Theatre Company’s website
Check out some of Tim’s scripts via Playmarket
Read 'Sensory Relaxed Performances for Children - Learnings from Tim Bray Theatre Company’
Read a tribute to Tim and TBTC on Arts Access Aotearoa’s website
Read a tribute to Tim from The Pumphouse Theatre
Tributes to Tim
If you’d like to add your own tribute to Tim here, please send it to Jenny Wake or write a few words in the Comments section below.
Lynne Cardy, PAYPA Chair / Founding PAYPA Trustee / Theatre in Schools Aotearoa:
I first worked with Tim twenty-one years ago when he invited me to create a show based on three Margaret Mahy stories. Tim had written a scripted version before, but he wanted to try something different and was completely open to the team I assembled to devise it - Jackie van Beek, Trygve Wakenshawe, Yvette Parsons (our witch in the cherry tree!), designer Jude Bishop, and the wonderful composer, Ro Bright.
We had three weeks, and we went for it! In the spirit of Mahy, rehearsals were zany and messy. I remember Tim popping his head into the studio as the cake-baking scene turned into an explosion of flour. I was worried about his reaction...but he just roared with laughter. He loved the chaos, and he loved us! And when we asked for a real swing from the rafters for our witch, he said YES!
Tim with Lynne (in blue scarf) and the Mahy Magic team
That was Tim. He was wonderful in all the ways that matter. He held people up, and he let them fly. He was a leader, a totara, the epitome of kindness, and generous to a fault. He was the king of bear hugs, and he threw the best closing night parties.
A few years later, for her 70th birthday, Tim re-staged an excerpt from the show for Margaret Mahy. He was so proud of this achievement. Tim orchestrated the event with the same passion and dedication that he brought to his many brilliant children's shows. He believed deeply in the power of great stories and the importance of sharing them with children.
Catching up with Tim was always fun. He listened, he cared, and he gave great advice as much as he gossiped and giggled. I will miss him very much.
Jenny Wake, Founding PAYPA Trustee / Calico Young People’s Theatre:
I loved Tim, and I loved going to see his shows. For many years, they were staged at The Pumphouse Theatre in Takapuna. It's the perfect venue for theatre for young audiences, set idyllically in a park beside a lake. There's plenty of parking, a cafe and a little jetty, perfect for greeting the lake’s resident ducks and swans. The theatre itself is welcoming to children in its intimacy and, come the school holidays, there at the door would be Tim, beaming his personal welcome to all. Tim's shows were typically based on well-known children’s books, and audiences were encouraged to come along dressed up as their favourite characters. Before each performance, anyone in a costume was invited to line up onstage and take a bow. Every show was a riot of colour, music and warm-hearted humour. And afterwards, when the cast headed outside to chat with families before they left, Tim would be in the thick of them, delighting in the happy buzz.
Tim’s shows were child-centred in every detail. He turned each school holiday theatre visit into a joyously memorable family day out.
Sensory Relaxed Performance of TBTC's The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch at The PumpHouse Theatre April 2023 (Photo by David Rowland / One-Image.com)
Kerryn Palmer, PAYPA Director:
Darling Tim, so much has been said about your amazing mahi. You were a true shining light and champion of work for children. I want to thank you for your wonderful generosity of spirit and kindness. You were always positive and generous, despite the many frustrations of working in this undervalued sector. You were a gentle guiding hand, I learnt so much from you and I appreciate you SO much. I have much aroha for you, you leave an incredible legacy that we will do our best to uphold. Rest easy my friend.
Images from Tim Bray Theatre Company
