01 Sep 2025
Christchurch-based Cubbin Theatre is leading the way in creating theatrical experiences for the very young. The company presented ‘Up and Away’, its show for infants, at the Bright Generations Artistic Gathering in Marseille in 2025. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has validated the company’s research-based approach to its innovative work.
The Bright Generations Artistic Gathering was organised by the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ). It is a global network that promotes theatre for young audiences, fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and advocacy for the importance of arts in children's lives. Over 800 delegates attended.
Melanie Luckman, Artistic Director of Cubbin Theatre, says she and her colleagues Amy Straker and Hannah Wheeler were struck by the similarities in the challenges their fellow practitioners face around accessibility, diversity, and simply being valued. But they also saw some significant differences in policy, funding and attitudes.
Speakers from France, Ireland and Finland gave inspiring talks on their cultural policies, which in Ireland include specific funding streams for early years.
“And we were blown away by ‘Culture Kids’ model from Helsinki in Finland, with midwives signing up babies to this programme where children and their families receive free tickets to children’s theatre experiences,” Melanie says.
“We attended a compelling talk by two Brazilian presenters from Nucleoquanta exploring friendship in early childhood through performance and installation spaces. We were struck by the idea that ‘the artist's job is to change the value of things’, specifically, changing how children are valued through artistic experiences.”
Amy went to a workshop on creative introspection for arts professionals and came away with a three-part approach: be compassionate, be curious, be generous. She also picked up insights on embracing the inner child, which will help her work with teenage audiences who are often reluctant to abandon ‘cool’.
But the biggest learning came from the response to their own show, ‘Up and Away’, a 30-minute performance for ‘babies and their grown ups’. The show holds a special place for the company because it is the first they created together in 2018 and is now the first to be presented to an international audience of their peers.
‘Up and Away’ happens inside a custom-designed open-sided tent with a few simple props – a ukulele and some toys, a bee, a butterfly and a glowing moon. Each show is unique because it encourages engagement and exploration from the babies, who are different every time. Caregivers and pre-walking babies are alongside the performers, Hannah and Amy. Despite having 30 adult observers present, everything went smoothly.
“We noticed how accepting and non-judgmental the European parents are. Sometimes in New Zealand we see parents uncomfortable to sit close together or feeling the need to justify their baby’s presence,” Hannah says.
The language barrier in the demonstration performance meant the performers leant into the neuroscientific research that underpins it.
“We found ourselves engaging in silent togetherness alongside each other, giving more energy directly to the babies and creating a space no one wanted to leave,” Amy says.
Oriane Boutet from Theatre Massalia in Marseille was one of the observers. She has written about the performance for the culture journal Spirale and for her blog, recognising the richness of the non-verbal communication.
“The actresses have mastered it perfectly. I’ve read that ‘mirror neurons’ enable babies to absorb the emotions of others by observing facial expressions or postures. The actresses were in tune with the babies’ emotions, and it’s this emotional resonance that is so powerful.”
Oriane speaks directly to those perplexed by the idea of creating theatre for such young people, who ask ‘what is the point of taking a baby to the theatre?’
“Nothing. But this ‘nothing’ is full of everything: it’s a chance to experience a suspended interlude in a perpetually accelerating daily routine. It’s cultivating wonder. Enjoying an artistic experience together reinforces the notion of ‘shared presence’, which is crucial to the emotional development of toddlers.”
That idea of ‘nothing’ is pleasing to Melanie, Amy and Hannah. They see the simplicity of their work as its strength. Like many things that appear simple, much of the work has already happened in the research and preparation that allows them to tune in to their infant audiences in each performance.
Cubbin Theatre left Bright Generations buoyed by the response to their work and by the sense of being part of an international network.
“We are connecting with people who truly get it and genuinely understand how special this work is. We’re discovering a network of baby theatre makers who share our ethos, which is incredibly exciting,” Mel says.
Hannah Wheeler was supported to attend ASSITEJ with a grant from Creative New Zealand.
‘Up and Away’ will be performed in Auckland as part of the We The Young Festival from 16-21 September.
Share this
