Instead, as luck would have it, his first job straight out of university was as an actor performing at schools for children at the Auckland Youth Theatre. After that, marine biology was out and a life in the theatre had firmly taken hold.
“I just loved it and I realised that this is what I wanted to do with my life; and I’ve done that ever since.”
Six years later in 1991, he discovered that the Auckland Youth Theatre was closing due to a lack of funding. Sensing an opportunity, Tim promptly stepped in and somewhat naively (as he puts it) took over the lease and renamed it The Central Theatre.
Over the years it would go through a couple more name changes – firstly in 2004 to Tim Bray Productions, and then in 2019 to the Tim Bray Theatre Company, a name that he felt was a far more appropriate description for what he was trying to achieve.
Jump forward 29 years since taking on that lease, and Tim and co are still going strong. When I sat down and spoke to him, he and his team were in the middle of getting ready to put on their first production of the year and the companies 100th show; a live adaptation of the famous children’s book ‘Greedy Cat’ originally written by New Zealand author Joy Cowley in 1983.
While Tim admits that theatre life can be hugely rewarding, he recognizes that it’s also a difficult one, but it’s one that he loves and he wouldn’t give it up for anything. When asked why he’s stuck with it for so long, he told me: “We do it because of the passion we have for this business. We love it and we know what it’s giving to children and that’s pretty rewarding, that’s where we get our buzz from.”
It’s that passion that’s taken him on such an incredible journey, one that’s included meeting royalty in 2012, when he was chosen to host Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, for a very special production of ‘Hairy Maclary’. And then in 2017, when he was recognised with the Queen’s Service Medal for services to children and the theatre.
“For me, the draw has always been and continues to be the children’s response to what we create here. In some ways, it brings me back to what I remember when I was younger and going to see the shows that my parents took me to.”
In celebration of the 100th production of the Tim Bray Theatre Company, ‘Greedy Cat’ will play at five venues across Auckland for a seven-week tour.
PLEASE NOTE that in accordance with the ruling of 19 March 2020, all pubic gatherings of 100 or more people have been banned due to the Convid-19 pandemic. However, the Tim Bray Theatre Company is reducing seating capacity to comply and looking at the option of paid live streaming of the production of ‘Greedy Cat’. (Kerry Lee)
For more information about where you can see the ‘Greedy Cat’ play, please visit www.timbrayproductions.org.nz/greedy-cat and for more information on Tim Bray Theatre Productions, www.timbrayproductions.org.nz