One of New Zealand's most beloved theatre figures, Tim Bray passed away on Saturday (5 July), after battling a rare form of cancer.

A tireless advocate and champion for children's theatre in this country, Bray poured his heart and soul into a kaupapa that have sparked imaginations and brought the power of creativity to countless young New Zealanders. 

Bray's illness was made public in November last year when the Tim Bray Theatre Company he founded in 1991 announced its closure, leaving a huge hole in the children's theatre space. Bray was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer more commonly seen in children and young adults but occasionally seen in older adults - an incurable condition.

The Artistic Director of his eponymously named company, Bray maintained a commitment to professional standards and nurtured the careers of many actors and theatre practitioners within Aotearoa New Zealand’s performing arts sector. He wrote and staged original works inspired by well-known children’s books, establishing a legacy of quality and creativity that impacted generations.

Bray was also an early advocate for accessible theatre, introducing New Zealand Sign Language-interpreted performances for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, audio-described shows for blind and low-vision children, and sensory-relaxed performances designed for neurodiverse audiences. His commitment contributed significantly to greater inclusivity in the theatre sector.

“Tim Bray’s work has been instrumental in shaping children’s theatre in Aotearoa New Zealand over more than three decades,” said Peter Winder, Chair of Tim Bray Theatre Company (TBTC). “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Tim’s family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable work.” 

Bray was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to children and theatre in 2017 and was a founding board member of PAYPA (Performing Arts and Young People in Aotearoa). 

Since its inception, TBTC has delivered 113 productions, reaching three generations of New Zealanders. In 2023 alone - 36,420 children and teachers, parents, grandparents and caregivers attended TBTC performances. 

As well as putting on shows, TBTC has been encouraging their audience to get involved in performance. For over 15 years, the Tim Bray Youth Theatre drama classes and holiday programmes  have been attended by over 10,000 young people  - including tailored classes for autistic, neurodiverse, Deaf, and blind/low-vision children and teens. 

In a previous interview, Bray was also proud of his involvement with the legacy of Auckland’s Big Gay Out. “Big Gay Out was an idea I came up with – both the event and name –  that I presented to my fellow Hero Trustees who loved it and set it up. I’m thrilled to see the Big Gay Out continue a quarter of a century on, often providing young LGBTQI+ people their first safe place to venture and find their tribe in their journey.”