Hagley Theatre Company

In 2020 Hagley Theatre Company will mainly be operating from a satellite campus in St Albans while the rebuild gets underway. Students will still spend time at Hagley’s main site on Hagley Avenue and will therefore have access to the library, cafe, Nurse and other facilities.

We offer students practical and theoretical study in a wide range of subjects through classes, practical workshop and a number of performance opportunities throughout the year.

The course of study is one or two years in length and has been designed for those looking at further professional study and a career in the performing arts. We have a reputation for providing excellent training and have achieved remarkable success with placing students into studies with…

• Toi Whakaari:NZ Drama School
• UNITEC School of Performing Arts

Over the course of our 30-year history over 200 students have gone on to further professional study with many more securing ongoing employment in theatre, radio, television and teaching.

Our home base for the past 30 years, The Open Stage will soon be deconstructed to make way for a new, purpose-built facility that will incorporate a theatre with attached studios to house our course alongside the College Dance and Drama programmes.

In 2020 Hagley Theatre Company will mainly be operating from a satellite campus in St Albans while the rebuild gets underway. Students will still spend time at Hagley’s main site on Hagley Avenue and will therefore have access to the library, cafe, Nurse and other facilities.

Free, onsite parking is provided though the campus is easily accessible by public transport.

Students have regular classes timetabled and are also involved in a number of contemporary performance experiences. Our performance timetable is widely regarded as innovative and challenging with many of our seasons often never before seen in New Zealand. In addition to four major seasons annually the Company also delivers Christchurch audiences a number of other opportunities including Dance and our unique Scene+ seasons.

Unlike many training institutions all of our students are eligible for onstage roles through auditions that are held for all major seasons.

Entry to our programme is by application, interview and audition.

As a post-secondary, pre-tertiary course of study all applicants must be aged 18+ with positions in our first year intake dependent on the number of students returning for a second year of study. Usually there are 18-22 positions available.