Babooshka
2025-10-31 19:30 - 2025-11-08 21:30 UTC | The Playhouse, 198 Church Street, Timaru, 7910, New Zealand
BABOOSHKA – Bold, Witty, and Wonderfully Honest! Like the Russian doll ‘Babooshka’, five women peel away the layers to reveal more than you might expect. A chance encounter in a department store changing room provides the backdrop for this unexpected, frank and witty play.
Step into the spotlight and strip back the layers of five fierce, flawed, and funny women.
A fast-paced, satirical take on body image, fame, and finding yourself. Layers will be shed. Truths will be told. Laughs guaranteed.
R16 Language. Content may offend. Trigger warning: contains negative body image & eating disorder themes.

Directed by Erin Mulholland

The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People - Encore Season
2026-02-25 19:30 - 2026-03-01 16:30
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND AS THE PREVIOUS SEASON WAS SOLD OUT.
“THE SECRET LIVES OF EXTREMELY OLD PEOPLE”
ENCORE SEASON
Five fictional nonagenarians share their fascinating stories. They riff, they rant, they rebel, they remember. Tragedy hovers and death is drawing close. So why do they say they are lucky? Deeper than data about old age, their stories are startling, exhilarating and moving.
Playwright Rachel McAlpine was shocked to the core when her GP predicted she would live to 99. Like most people, she had opinions about very old age but no experience. She asked local people in their 90s about their lives and found their revelations broke all the stereotypes. She also walked the footpaths of Wellington, asking people how they see their life unfolding at 90. The play, “The Secret Lives of Extremely Old People” erupted from those conversations. Overall, the success of the play depends upon character, and mercifully, the script avoids patronising stereotypes.
Writer Rachel McAlpine said of the previous SCDL production, “The director, cast, crew, and production team are to be commended for their courage in mounting what in many ways is a difficult play, and for putting across the issues with considerable warmth and good humour. They are to be congratulated on the patent success of their undertaking. Well done all!”
Only five performances
Wednesday 25th Feb 7.30 pm.
Thursday 26th Feb 7.30 pm.
Friday 27th Feb 7.30 pm.
Saturday 28th Feb 2 pm.
Sunday 1st Mar 2 pm.
Buy tickets online at iTICKET and at the Timaru Information Centre
THE PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES WERE QUICKLY SOLD OUT SO BUY TICKETS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

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
