Tim Bray Theatre Company's Santa Claus Show at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna has become a fixture on the Christmas school holiday calendar. In fact it just may be New Zealand’s longest running stage show. The Santa Claus Show 2019 marks the company's 99th professional production in more than 28 years.

The Santa Claus Show was written 28 years ago by Tim Bray in the first year that the theatre company (then called The Central Theatre) was established by him. The show was performed on Christmas Day 1991 and 1992 at the Pan Pacific Hotel (now Rendezvous Hotel).
The NZ Herald review of that original 1991 production said, “Too busy shopping to get into the Christmas spirit? Catching ‘The Santa Claus Show’, a magical story of how a little girl learns the pleasure of giving, could be the answer.” Tim Bray was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 2017 for services to children and theatre.
The show has been performed at The PumpHouse Theatre every year from 2004. The songs in the show were composed by Christine White in 2004, and 2019 sees its 17th season. Audience members return every year as part of their own Christmas traditions, with the show usually attracting an audience of more than 4000 people to Takapuna from all over Auckland.
The Santa Claus Show tells the story of young girl Kelly, who has written the longest Christmas wish list that Santa has ever seen. Santa flies Kelly to the North Pole so she can learn for herself the true meaning of Christmas.
The play has a special place in director Tim Bray’s heart. When Tim wrote the show 28 years ago, he named the two girls (Kelly and her neighbour Alana) in the play after his nieces Alana and Kelly Tisdall, then aged 6 and 3. Alana (Hawkes) and Kelly (Bleakley) now bring their own children to the show. Alana is now the Company and Front of House Manager of Tim Bray Theatre Company, looking after the casts, crews and front of house personnel.
The show stars Tim Raby as Santa Claus and his surname is not a spelling mistake. Tim Bray and Tim Raby share similar surnames despite some audience members believing it’s a pseudonym and that Tim Bray actually appears in the show. Raby is a professional actor who appeared in our very first production in 1991, and this year sees his 14th time in the role. He recently starred in Tim Bray Theatre Company's 'The Little Yelliow Digger'.
The 2019 season sees children from low decile schools; BLENNZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network of NZ) for Audio Described performances; Kelston Deaf Education Centre for NZ Sign Language interpreted performances; and Make-A-Wish (NZ) attend The Santa Claus Show 2019 for free, thanks to the 'Gift a Seat' programme. The season also sees the theatre company’s first sensory relaxed performance, which is for anyone who would benefit from a casual, supportive theatre atmosphere which softens some technical elements and offers resource materials to create an inclusive theatre experience.
The wee elves Twitty and Twiddly and some of the minor roles will be played by students from Tim Bray Youth Theatre to give them an opportunity to perform alongside professional actors.
The show makes a great festive treat for families, schools, early childhood centres and Home School groups. Plus the show has attracted many group bookings over the years, from corporates wanting to do something different for their staff and their families at the end of the year.
The season starts at The PumpHouse on Saturday 30 November 2019 with a Gala Opening at 5pm and then runs Monday 2 December to Saturday 21 December with two shows daily (except Sundays) at 10.30am and 1pm at The PumpHouse Theatre...a total of 37 shows.
NZSL Interpreted Performances: Gala Opening Saturday 30 November 5pm; Thursday 5 December 10.30am. Audio Described Performances: Tuesday 3 December 1pm (with Touch Tour at 12 noon); Saturday 14 December 10.30am (with Touch Tour at 9.30am).
Sensory Relaxed performance: Saturday 14 December 1pm (with meet the actors and see the set at 12.50pm).

For more information visit: www.timbray.org.nz