The Massive Story

We create new theatre with emerging and professional actors.

Founded by Samantha Scott MNZM in 1991, the Maidment Youth Theatre was later renamed Massive Theatre Company.

We are a professional contemporary physical ensemble company, creating new theatre with emerging and professional actors, directors and writers.  Our work comes from real stories, reflecting the rich diversity of Aotearoa.  

We are also a leading company in developing young artists. Through access to free workshops and ongoing mentoring, emerging artists are able to become a part of the company from age fourteen and stay with us throughout their professional career.   

Massive is a pathway, a whānau and a way to create excellent theatre.

Significant supporters, including family trusts, philanthropists and anonymous donors, enable our programme of events to be accessible. Every koha has been gratefully received.

We are proud to be supported by:

PHILANTHROPISTS: Giselle Glasman & Lennie James, Kim & Hamish Kennedy, Fledgling Trust

Become part of massive company

Starting off

Come to one of our workshops, which run throughout the year.

further Training

You can join Massive Nui Ensemble or become part of The Directors Lab.

Working with massive

There are many opportunities to work with us as a director, performer or tutor.

Massive way | OUR KAUPAPA

What is important to us

A Desire for excellence

We create work of excellence as a company and as individuals. When the work gets tough and we are tired, we will strive for excellence and never settle for mediocrity. It takes bloody hard work to make theatre, and we love that.

Bravery

We’ll try anything and everything to find the gold and give it 100% commitment. We will dive into the work even when the outcome is unclear or unknown.

Sense of Belonging

This company is about everyone involved owning the work and their place within it. Massive is all the people who make it up, it is your company, we care deeply about you and we walk alongside you. The Massive whānau embraces and welcomes our wider community.

REAL

We work to be vital and present in all we do. We work with a no bullshit attitude. We love to work with real stories. We make theatre that tells our stories and makes sense of our life, our world. We voice truths and perspectives that need to be said out loud and shared. We want to be deeply seen.

Playful Spirit & Spirited Play

We love people who love to play. We love to be competitive and irreverent. Playing is at the heart of everything we do.

Passion

We have big energy, excitement and hunger for the work. We love to play, love to pretend and love to perform. We love to work collaboratively and as an ensemble.

Open

You can join any Massive Company workshop for free. You can observe any aspect of Massive Company working at any time. You can see any Massive show for koha or at an affordable ticket price. If you love what we do, you can be a part of Massive Theatre Company.

Curiosity

We ask questions and seek out answers about what theatre can be. We are always questioning – “Is this theatrical?” “Why?” “Who do we want to watch?” and “What is the best way to tell the story here?” We are a curious company, ever seeking knowledge and understanding of all we do.

ready to receive, ready to give

Massive trains dynamic and vital performers to be able to receive whatever is coming at you and ready to give back, so the work continues to grow. We value respect between us all.

COMPLICITÉ Connection

We believe that great theatre needs good complicité between performers. With good complicité there is a spark, warmth and connection that we love to watch. It can be naughty, loving and weird - it can be many things, but it is real, and we love to watch this.

We value complicité between all company members on and off stage; also with our partners and collaborators. We love to be with them, work for them and create with them.

Massive productions

Massive pathways

Contact US