DISNEY'S FINDING NEMO JR
2023-09-27 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-09-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-09-29 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | The Playhouse, 198 Church Street, Timaru, 7910, New Zealand
Don’t miss the amazing opportunity to dive into the enchanting underwater world of Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. at The Playhouse, Timaru.
From September 22nd to September 30th, 2023, the South Canterbury Drama League presents this captivating stage adaptation of the 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo.
Join Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, as he resides in the vibrant Great Barrier Reef with his spirited kid Nemo, who yearns to explore beyond their anemone home. However, when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin must overcome his fears and embark on an epic oceanic adventure to find his cherished son. Along the way, he encounters a host of lovable characters, including the optimistic and very forgetful Dory, the laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, all of whom play a pivotal role in shaping their unforgettable journey.
With new music composed by the award-winning songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. brings a captivating 60-minute spectacle to life on stage. Relive the heartwarming moments with memorable songs like “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow.” This theatrical masterpiece is a celebration of family, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit.
You will be enchanted by our talented young cast as they transport you to the mesmerising realm of the Great Barrier Reef. With captivating storytelling, foot-tapping tunes, and spectacular costumes, Finding Nemo will leave you spellbound.
Gather your friends and family for this not to be missed experience that combines laughter, adventure, and heartfelt moments. Book your tickets now to secure your seat on board an unforgettable big blue world of at Disney’s Finding Nemo JR.
Production Team: Director – Ella Thomas, Musical Director – Catherine Anderson, Choreography – Georgia Carnegie
Team Coral: Nemo – Sophie Dunn, Marlin – Ethan Payne, Dory – Ruby Kenner
Team Anemone: Nemo – Saku Ehlers, Marlin – Zepplyn Anisy Oudemans, Dory – Emily Jones

Freaky Friday
2024-07-26 19:30 - 2024-08-10 21:30
An adaptation of the classic novel and beloved films, Freaky Friday follows teenager Ellie Blake and her mother, Katherine, on the weirdest, strangest, craziest, freakiest day of their whole lives. Try as they might, Katherine and Ellie just can’t seem to understand each other: Ellie wants her mom to stop trying to change her, while Katherine wants her daughter to be the best version of herself that she can be.
On a fateful Friday, the day before Katherine’s wedding, something magical occurs when mother and daughter swap bodies. Now, both will have to一literally一spend a day walking in each other’s shoes, learning about each other and the struggles each goes through and forging a new mother-daughter relationship in this hilarious, energetic, and moving musical comedy.

AUDITIONS - Frankie Builds Androids
2025-06-09 18:00 - 2025-06-14 20:00
FRANKIE BUILDS ANDROIDS is presented through special arrangement with Beat by Beat Press (bbbpress.com)
Workshops – Monday 9th June & Wednesday 11th June – 6pm
Auditons – Saturday 14th June (times to be confirmed)
Audition packs available – scdljuniorsprimary@gmail.com
Jess Diamond, Director; Emily Rentoul, Musical Director; and Kat Thompson, Choreographer.

Varied cast roles available.
Ages 8 – 12
Come along to one of our workshops to see if this is for you. We welcome new and experienced performers.

Meet Frankie, a brilliant but socially awkward student who can’t seem to connect with her classmates. When a group project goes awry, Frankie devises an unconventional solution: she replaces all her classmates with android replicas, each programmed to correct their flaws. What follows is a hilarious and unexpected string of events that challenges Frankie’s ideas of belonging and perfection.

Featuring a modern synth-pop score, this sci-fi musical comedy explores the ways we build narratives around one another and how a community where everyone is exactly the same is not a community at all.
CHARACTERS

FRANKIE: A socially awkward genius. Struggles to make friends, except for the friends that she literally makes.
AVERY: Frankie’s best friend. Very smart, more socially confident than Frankie. Wants to explore new interests.
“The Pointers”: The robots Frankie built when she was younger. Her sidekicks.
1.0: Very excitable.
2.0: Very nervous.
3.0: Very wise.
Student Council:
SAWYER: Running for Student Council President. Very precise and punctual.
EMERSON: Running for Student Council President. Willing to do whatever he needs to in order to succeed.
ASHER: Running for Student Council Vice President as Emerson’s running-mate. Rarely gets a word in.
Improv Club:
FINN: Captain of the improv club. Happy to point out that improv takes a LOT of hard work.
POLLY: Firmly believes improv is NOT a contact sport.
KAI: As an android, she sings about how her “dancing is shoddy.”
CAM: Extremely agreeable (“Yeah, yeah, yeah!”).
ASPEN: As an android, he sings about auditioning for a role, but “lacking soul.”
BRYN: More than happy to explain the #1 rule of improv club (“yes, and”). IMPROV ENSEMBLE: Additional members of the improv club.
Ultimate Frisbee Club (UFC):
TURBINE: Captain. Also one of the leaders of the android revolution. Always down to teach others a thing or two about ultimate frisbee.
CYCLONE: UFC Teammate. One of the leaders of the android revolution. His favorite word is “word.”
STORM: UFC Teammate. One of the leaders of the android revolution. Believes any issue can be solved by “tossing it out.”
GALE: UFC Teammate. Offended that anyone would consider ultimate frisbee “silly.”
ZEPHYR: UFC Teammate. Offended that anyone would call ultimate frisbee “a game.”
TEMPEST: UFC Teammate. Offended that anyone would confuse ultimate frisbee with disc golf.
UFC ENSEMBLE: Additional members of the ultimate frisbee club.
Students:
DEVON: A student who hasn’t chosen a particular club. Anxious about participating in school dances.
TREY: A student who hasn’t chosen a particular club. Mistakes Devon for Frankie.
STUDENT ENSEMBLE: Members of the student ensemble in school. Also play COLLEGE STUDENTS in Frankie’s imagination.

Tom, Dick & Harry
2025-11-28 19:00 - 2025-12-06 21:30
Tom and his wife are about to adopt a baby — it’s the happiest day of their lives… or at least it would have been if Tom’s well-meaning brothers, Dick and Harry, hadn’t decided to “help.”
Their efforts quickly spiral out of control, resulting in two illegal immigrants, a van full of contraband cigarettes, and one very inconvenient dead body!
With the arrival of the Supervisor from the Adoption Agency and the local Police Constable, Tom’s quick thinking is pushed to the limit. But surely things can’t get any worse… can they?
Oh yes, they can!
Dick and Harry’s ever-helpful plans go from bad to utterly disastrous, adding a Russian Mafia mobster and a reality TV crew into the mix. Then it really starts to get complicated!
We’re thrilled to present this Amateur Community Theatre Production, by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd and Play Bureau Ltd.

Petite Plays
2026-06-11 19:00 - 2026-06-12 21:30
🎭 Petite Plays
11th & 12th June 2026
Funny. Whimsical. Farcical. Anarchic.
Get ready for a wild, theatrical ride.
Petite Plays are small but perfectly formed, some only a few minutes long, bringing together a vibrant collection of short works written by local playwrights. Expect an evening of infinite variety, where no two pieces are the same.
From a cheeky Chaucerian rewrite, “The Miller’s Tale”, to the sci-fi horror “Fingers and Thumbs”, these bite-sized plays cover the full gamut of theatre. Fast-paced, surprising, and full of character, there’s something here for everyone.

✨ The Plays & Playwrights

Welcome to Existence – Joe Smith
Kiwiana – Elizabeth Contreras
8 or 12 Weeks? – Cate Bauer
Fingers and Thumbs – Wayne Doyle
Bible Basher – Esther Ashby-Coventry
The Miller’s Tale – Harry Kirkwood
Best Mate – Suze Smith
A Most Useful Instinct – Suze Smith
The Final Draft – Suze Smith

🎟️ Performance Details
ONLY TWO PERFORMANCES📅 Thursday 11th & Friday 12th June 2026
💲 Adults: $20🎓 Students: $15

School Holiday Theatre Programme - This programme is now FULL!
2026-07-06 09:00 - 2026-07-09 18:00
This programme is FULL!!! You can still sign up though to go on our wait list. If a spot becomes available we’ll be in touch.

The South Canterbury Drama League invites registrations for the School Holiday Theatre Programme on at the Playhouse from the 6th – 9th July 2026.

Your tutors Ben Donaldson, Leah Simmons and Emily Rentoul are looking forward to taking students through this fun, jam packed, four day programme of theatre.

Open to children aged 7+ this programme will provide an opportunity for learning in a fit for purpose theatre. A fantastic, fun programme for newcomers and experienced performers alike, will help children learn, polish and develop skills in theatre. At the end of the four days, the participants will put on a performance of their learnings from through the week. This is always a highlight.
Acting techniques/dance/singing/and much more..
DATES: Mon 6th – Thurs 9th July.
TIMES: 9-3pm Thurs 9-finish
PERFORMANCES: Thurs 9th July 3pm and 4.45pm
(your child must be available for these performances to take part in the programme)

NON MEMBER – $220 (INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP)
MEMBER – $195
*FAMILY DISC. take 10% off participation fee *discount not included in membership portion.

Please wait for an invoice to be sent.
REGISTER HERE
