About us - Cubbin Theatre Company About Cubbin | Theatre for Babies & Young Children NZ

Cubbin Theatre Company creates playful, respectful theatre experiences for babies, young children and their grownups.

Founded in Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2018, Cubbin believes babies and young children are whole people right now, with their own ways of experiencing the world. Our work is created especially for them: thoughtful, creative theatre that delights, intrigues and invites connection.

From our home at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, where we are Company-in-Residence, Cubbin creates and tours original productions across Aotearoa and internationally, sharing the joy of live performance with the very youngest audiences and the grownups who love them.

Our vision

Our vision is of a world where high quality art is as integral to early childhood as the playground, and as accessible.

Our Mission

We aim to delight and intrigue very young audiences through exceptional, creative theatre experiences.

Our History

Cubbin Theatre Company was founded in 2018 by Melanie Luckman, Hannah Wheeler and Amy Straker. Our first show was Up and Away which is still going strong many years later. In 2023 we became a registered Charitable Trust and continue to make work for the very young in Ōtautahi Christchurch which tours around the country and the globe.

Our Resources

We offer a range of resources to extend the theatre experience beyond the stage:

Music: Explore our soundtracks, including the ‘Up and Away’ soundtrack and ‘Cubbin Music,’ featuring a mix of familiar tunes and original songs.
Articles: Read insights into the importance of theatre for young audiences, such as ‘Why we need more theatre for babies.’

Join Our Community

Stay updated on our latest shows, resources, and news by joining our newsletter.

Contact Us

For inquiries or more information:

Email: hello@cubbin.co.nz
Phone: +64 22 092 2635

Melanie Luckman Artistic Director

Mel is a theatre director based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cubbin Theatre Company is her brainchild, coming from a desire for specific theatrical experiences for her own young children. Mel wanted to create Cubbin because children deserve beautiful creative experiences to feed their souls and their imaginations just as much as grown ups do. Some of her inspirations in creating this work include Magda Gerber and Janet Lansbury, Anna Newell, Julie Wylie, and her own children Milo and Fox.

Mel has a Masters in Theatre Arts (Directing) from Te Kura Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School and Victoria University Wellington. She is a previous Associate Director of the Court Theatre and is still freelancing as a theatre director for grownups, most recently of the acclaimed productions of In The Next Room or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Once- The Musical and A Doll’s House for The Court Theatre, That Bloody Woman for Showbiz Christchurch and Andy Manning’s award-winning solo performance False Idol. Mel is a previous board member of PAYPA – Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa – the New Zealand arm of ASSITEJ.

Hannah Wheeler General Manager

Hannah is the General Manager and Producer for Cubbin Theatre Company. Trained at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, she began her career as a professional actor and singer working in Christchurch, Seoul and London. She then moved into project management working with construction and tech companies and pivoted back to the arts in 2018 founding Cubbin. Hannah is now marrying her love of organisation and strategy with storytelling and connection, and is passionate about the work Cubbin is making for very young audiences. As a performer for Cubbin, Hannah has created Up and Away, Play Play, Me and My Nana and Cubbin Concert. Hannah lives in Christchurch and is a mother to 2 young children which certainly helps ground her in Cubbin’s audience. Hannah is a board member of PAYPA – Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa, the New Zealand arm of ASSITEJ, championing quality work for children on a national level.

Want to discover more about our team?

See our collaborators