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THETA PROGRAMMES HISTORY

Follow our journey through the years and see what programmes we have run.

1990

The Say No or Joe Show

Tour: Otago and Southland
Funding: Otago and Southland Area Health Boards
Actors: Sima Urale, Sean Allen and Patrick Davies.
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot
Coordinator: Viv Graham.

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1990-91

Karen Elliot employed on a short-term contract by the Otago Area Health Board to investigate the use of theatre in health education and the viability of setting up an autonomous trust to produce theatre-based programmes.

1992

In June, Karen Elliot obtained a youth worker salary from the Lottery Grants Board to direct and administer programmes for the Trust.

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1993

Sex Matters

a two actor classroom programme based on The Say No or Joe Show
Tour: Otago and Southland
Funding: HealthCare Otago; QE2 Arts Council; Lottery Youth
Actors: Hilary Halba, (later Rachel More) and John Foreman
Writer/Director Karen Elliot
Coordinator Viv Graham

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1994

Suckers:

a smoking prevention programme aimed at 10-13 year olds, based on a game show format that involved participation from the audience.

Tour: Otago and Southland
Funding: Lottery Youth; HealthCare Otago; Southern Health; Invercargill Licensing Trust
Actors: Rachel France, John Foreman and Richard White (both programmes)
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot
Coordinator: Viv Graham

Psst..!:

promoting responsible alcohol use to senior secondary students.

Tour: Otago and Southland
Funding: Lottery Youth; HealthCare Otago; Southern Health; Invercargill Licensing Trust
Actors: Rachel France, John Foreman and Richard White (both programmes)
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot
Coordinator: Viv Graham

Sex Matters:

Tour: metropolitan Dunedin schools; also performed at the National STD Educators’ Conference in Wellington
Funding: HealthCare Otago
Actors: Rachel More and John Foreman
Director: Karen Elliot

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1995

Crunch ‘n' Munch

a nutrition programme in a storyteller format for preschool and junior primary children.
Tour: rural and provincial Otago and selected Dunedin schools and Kindergartens
Funding: Healthcare Otago
Actor: Fran Kewene
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

Sexwhys

revised three actor version of sexual health programme
Tour: South Island excluding Nelson and Marlborough
Funding: Public Health Commission.
Actors: Rachel France, Fran Kewene and Richard Bullock
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

1996

Sexwise

previously named Sexwhys
Tour: Northland; Auckland; Waikato; Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; Wellington
Funding: Regional Health Authorities. Replacing the Public Health Commission
Actors: Erina Daniels, Pip Hall and Justin Curry

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1997

Psst..!

Tour: rural and provincial South Island schools; also Otago University Halls of Residence during Orientation
Funding: Lottery Grants Board; Dunedin City Council
Actors Gemma Mathieson, Andrew Jones and Gareth McMillan
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

Sexwise

Tour: Waikato; Taranaki; Bay of Plenty; Taupo; Rotorua and the Coromandel.
Funding: Midland Regional Health Authority
Actors: Sara Connor, Erina Daniels and Justin Curry
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

1998

Sexwise

Tour: Southern and Midland Regional Health Regions
Funding: Southern and Midland Regional Health Authorities
Actors: Sara Connor, Sable Samuel and Justin Curry
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot.

Psst..!

Tour: Central and Northern Regional Health Regions
Funding: Central and Northern Regional Health Authorities
Actors: Jessica Sutherland, Stephen Laing and Rhys Latton
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

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1999

Sexwise

Tour: Midland and Southern regions
Funding: Midland and Southern RHAs
Actors: Sara Connor, Erina Daniels and Justin Curry
Writer/Director: Karen Elliot

Psst..!

Tour: Southern region
Funding: Southern RHA
Actors: Cath Colwill, Chris Horlock and Danny Still

Kickin’ Butt

revised from Suckers
Tour: Gisborne; Hawkes Bay; Wairarapa; Manawatu; Wellington; Hutt Valley
Funding: Central RHA
Actors: Cath Colwill, Chris Horlock and Adrian Wagner
Writer/Director: Simon O’Connor

The Central RHA also funded THETA to research and develop a new programme on cannabis.

2000

Sexwise

Tour: Southern and Midland regions
Actors: Serena Cotton, Keri Hunter and Maaka Pohatu
Director: Hilary Halba

Kickin’ Butt

Tour: Southern region and Auckland.
Actors: Cath Colwill, Chris Horlock and Adrian Wagner.
Writer/Director: Simon O’Connor

Ripped

new commission
Tour: Gisborne; Hawke’s Bay; Wanganui; Wellington; Hutt Valley; the Wairarapa
Funding: Health Funding Authority – Wellington Office
Actors Serena Cotton, Karlos Drinkwater and Will Henley
Writers: Simon O’Connor; Rawiri Paratene
Writer/Director: Simon O’Connor.

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2001

Ripped

Tour: Northland; Wanganui; Wellington; Porirua Basin; Hutt Valley; South Island, excluding the West Coast
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors Serena Cotton, Reihana Haronga and William Henley
Writer/Director Simon O’Connor

Kickin’ Butt

Tour: Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; Wanganui; Porirua Basin
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Wellington office
Actors: Cath Colwill, Chris Horlock and Adrian Wagner
Writer/Director Simon O’Connor

Sexwise

Tour Taranaki; Waikato; Coromandel; Rotorua; Taupo; West Coast; Christchurch
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Hamilton; Dunedin offices
Actors: Keri Hunter, Sara Georgie Johnston and Jamie McCaskill
Director: Hilary Halba

2002

Ripped

Tour: Auckland; North Shore; Rotorua; Taupo; Coromandel; part Waikato; Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; West Coast; Nelson; Marlborough; metropolitan Christchurch
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors: Serena Cotton, Reihana Haronga and David Oxenbridge (replaced by Jamie McGregor)
Writer/Director Simon O’Connor

Psst..!

Tour: North Shore; Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; Wanganui; Wairarapa; Otago
Funding Auckland; Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors Tui Divers, Karlos Drinkwater and Cameron Smith
Writer/Director Richard Huber

Sexwise

Tour Auckland; Wellington; Porirua Basin; Hutt Valley
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Wellington offices
Actors: Keri Hunter, Sara Georgie Johnston and Cooper Amai
Director: Hilary Halba

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2003

Psst..!

Tour: Whanganui; Manawatu; Kapiti Coast; Southland; South Canterbury; Mid-Canterbury
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors: Serena Cotton, Cooper Amai and Amalia Calder
Director: Richard Huber

Ripped

Tour: Auckland; North Shore; Taranaki; part Waikato; Bay of Plenty; Dunedin city; North Otago
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Hamilton; Dunedin offices
Actors: Mark Neilson, Anya Tate-Manning, Matarahi Skipper
Writer/Director: Simon O’Connor

2004

Kickin’ Butt

Tour: Northland; part Auckland; Thames; Paeroa; part Coromandel; Wellington; Porirua; Hutt Valley; Wairarapa; South Otago; Central Otago; West Coast
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors: Anatoa Tekira, Matarahi Skipper, Bengy Barsanti
Writer/Director: Simon O’Connor

Psst..!

Tour: Rotorua; Taupo; North Waikato; Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; Nelson; Marlborough; part Christchurch
Funding: Health Funding Authority - Hamilton; Wellington; Dunedin offices
Actors: Jessie Allen, Kristin O’Halloran, Paul Sullivan
Director: Richard Huber

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2005

Sexwise

Tours (2): Auckland; North Shore; Whangarei; Taranaki; Hamilton City; Bay of Plenty; Rotorua; Wanganui; Palmerston North City; Porirua; Hutt Valley; Levin; Foxton; Masterton; Tairawhiti; Hawkes Bay; Southland; Dunedin City; North Otago; West Coast; Mid- Canterbury; South Canterbury; metropolitan Christchurch

Funding: Health Funding Authority - Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington; Dunedin offices

Actors: Julia Truscott; Siale Tunoka and Jared Culling & Alannah Crowley; Richard Dey and Bengy Barsanti

Directors: Sara Georgie Johnston and Gareth McMillan (trainee directors) mentored by Karen Elliot and Hilary Halba

2006

Sexwise

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Jared Culling, Alannah Crowley, Richard Dey
Director: Gareth McMillan

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2007

Crunch and Munch

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Te Mihinga Komene,
Director: Karen Elliot

The Best Thing

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Sara Geogie Johnston, Siale Tunoka
Director: Karen Elliot

2008

Crunch and Munch

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Te Mihinga Komene,
Director: Karen Elliot

The Best Thing

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Sara Geogie Johnston, Siale Tunoka
Director: Karen Elliot

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2009

Crunch and Munch

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Te Mihinga Komene,
Director: Karen Elliot

The Best Thing

Tour:
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Sara Geogie Johnston, Siale Tunoka
Director: Karen Elliot

2010

Sexwise

Tour: South Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Hollie Sutton, Jack Matthews, George Harach
Director: Karen Elliot

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2011

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Jess Benson, Matthew Boyadjian, Jamie MacKenzie, Mallarie Hart, Josiah Samuel, Shaun Martin
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

2012

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health
Actors: Shaun Martin, Ngahiriwa Rauhina, Kelly Hocking, Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Jayde Braxton, Whakaani Rongonui, Joshua Goodare, Adam Koveskali, Hadley Taylor
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

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2013

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health,
Actors: Ngahiriwa Rauhina, Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Jayde Braxton, Adam Koveskali, Hadley Taylor, Heidi Geissler, Lauren Marshall, Bob Savea
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

2014

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health; Hawkes Bay DHB/PHO
Actors: Ngahiriwa Rauhina, Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Jayde Braxton, Adam Koveskali, Hadley Taylor, Heidi Geissler, Saufoi Fa'avale, Jocelyn Fa'alavelave,
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

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2015

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: PHG - National Health Board, Ministry of Health; Hawkes Bay DHB/PHO
Actors:Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Jayde Braxton, Adam Koveskali, Hadley Taylor, Heidi Geissler, Saufoi Fa'avale, Jocelyn Fa'alavelave,
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

2016

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Bob Savea, Nell Guy, Luke Agnew, Josiah Samuel, Natasha Richards, Maile Finau, Adam Koveskali.
Writer/Director: Evelyn Mann

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2017

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors:Lemau Jasmine Iuliano, Saufoi Fa'avale, Kasiano Mita, Nell Guy, Luke Agnew, Josiah Samuel, Natasha Richards, Brianna Smith 
Writer/Director: Gareth McMillan

2018

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors:Jasmine Iuliano, Tino Maliko, Amanaki Prescott, Samson Chan-Boon, Aisea Latu, Lakely Montagne, Laumanu Paseka, Bernadine Gladding 
Writer/Director: Siaosi Mulipola

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2019

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Amanaki Prescott, Lakely Montagne, Laumanu Paseka, Bernadine Gladding, Kima Koro, Mila Fati, Michaela Ralph-Smith, Dylan Fa'atui
Writer/Director: Amanaki Prescott, Bernadine Gladding 

2020

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Julian Chote, Dylan Fa'atui, Danielle Rackham, Mila Fati, Payge Veronka Stanley, Aspasia Tatuila, Daedae Tekorongawaka, John Ulu Va'a & Tyler Wilson-Kokiri
Writer/Director:

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2021

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Daedae Tekoronga-Waka, Darren Taniue, Isabella Olivia Robertston, Janaye Henry, John Ulu Va'a, Julian Chote, Payge Veronika Stanley & Rose Pickard
Writer/Director: Bernadine Gladding & Evan Hastings

2022

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Dan Cockerill, Hakaia Daly, Jaackie Black, Jake Toaga-Tupu, Jeremy Hunt, Nomuna Amarbat, Shay McKendrick, Sophie Craig and Talia-Rae Mavaega
Writer/Director: Bernadine Gladding 

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2023

Sexwise

Tour: National, with a focus on the North Island
Funding: Ministry of Health
Actors: Hugo Hall, Janaye Henry, Jake Toaga-Tupu, Talia-Rae Mavaega, Teherenui Kotea, Rachel Brebner, Hakaia Daly, Jaackie Black & Josiah Morgan
Director/s: Janaye Henry, Bernadine Gladding