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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a8f4a11-d107-473f-9c6e-18aacc9534de/9a8f4a11-d33d-4456-9785-56433566f560/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a8f4a64-988d-4b6e-a5dd-7b4ef6493118/9a8f4a64-9c95-4020-9587-7d6e10085202/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a8f4a98-a456-48c6-8a2c-938e9fabb2b1/9a8f4a98-a74e-4ba0-9053-0b4148c03e31/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a8f4ad0-e51b-4577-9702-0a7dbd7abc48/9a8f4ad0-e778-4fee-8a55-9fcc2cae9b68/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a8f4b0b-0732-469c-b422-89481b77a552/9a8f4b0b-091a-4fe8-ad92-bbced3b2fa32/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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:
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a9adb2c-ec5d-489e-af22-f9e8ec5a4d90/9a9adb2c-f239-4ea8-b6fa-04a8dad7c4e9/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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
![](https://dzpdbgwih7u1r.cloudfront.net/9a83334b-3814-4dbf-95dd-5b641902fb7c/9a9adb7a-f503-4537-b53e-b0b5a464f292/9a9adb7a-f7b5-40c2-a660-5c263fa377ba/w400h400-theta-ico.jpg)
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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