Luminaires Theatre Camp

Luminaires brings together two different youth age groups to work together intensively over a week-long camp to create a musical theatre experience that they’ll cherish for a lifetime.

First, take our more experienced older youth who have been developing skills with our mentorship program and place them in the primary leadership roles. Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, Tech and more! Then add to the mix an enthusiastic group of tamariki aged 10-15 who will be inspired by their young leaders! All with the guided support and supervision of professionals in the performing arts industry.

Luminaires established in 2022 has continued to find ways to create growth and development opportunities for young people in the performing arts. We involve young people aged 7 to 25 in all aspects of performance from being on the stage to learning how to mix to sound desk. Through all of our major shows, workshops and showcase events we continue to find ways to encourage personal development in the world of the performing arts. We employ professionals in their field to mentor young people behind the scenes. We give our young people teaching opportunities and of course, we create a wide variety of performing opportunities within a safe and supportive environment.

We were fortunate to receive Boosted Ōtautahi support last year, which went directly into securing mentors to give our youth specialised skills. We now would like to extend these young people and take their skills to the next level!

We would like to be able to keep camp fees attainable for everyday households. The costs of accommodation and food in addition to vetted staff, stage lighting, costumes, props, scenery, makeup, script and score hire and more soon can make the cost out of reach for your average kiwi household. And so, with the support of the community and Boosted Ōtautahi we could lower the camp fees significantly.

We would also like to offer a number of “Boosted Ōtautahi Scholarships” for a selection of tamariki who could not otherwise afford to participate in a unique performing arts experience such as this. 

Luminaires Theatre Camp 2026 is an exciting new opportunity for the young people of Ōtautahi. By giving our youth the chance to step up and use their learned skills to teach others we generate the chance for exponential developmental growth. By operating in the medium of a camp environment, the children who come to be a part of the event get to have an intensive and focussed time with an end-product for audiences. The tamariki will stay at the camp venue for a week in which they will sing, dance, act, paint scenery, make props, create costumes, design makeup and more. All culminating in live performances at the camp ground to the public. 

We have had many children who would like to be involved in a show, but cannot commit to the months of rehearsals. By condensing the time, this opens up new participation opportunities to those who are time-challenged. By empowering rangatahi in their leadership, not only will their skills flourish, the relationship between tuakana (the more experienced) and teina (the learners) is closer in age and can inspire the tamariki into having a belief that they too can one day be leaders. The elders of our theatre community will be brought in to offer support and safety as required. In addition to the creative and technical teams, we will have a team of youth on site for social care and helping to oversee wellbeing while connecting individuals with others, fostering a sense of belonging. Again, there will be a group of adults who will oversee the practical, well-being and safety of all involved.

To continue societal progress our young people need to participate in their communities and find the thing that drives them. To be an accepted and applauded member of the community. To be a respected citizen who has something to offer. No matter how young. For many, the stepping stone into confidence of belonging is through the arts.  

It has been researched* that there are many benefits to young people being involved in the performing arts. Studies have shown that children who have access to the arts do better across-the-board academically and they also become more active and engaged citizens.

Whether as a participant or an audience member, the performing arts bolsters creativity and self-confidence, cultivates compassion and appreciation for others, and strengthens self-discipline. Unfortunately, it is often those who could most benefit from being involved who also face the greatest barriers to participation. 

This is your chance to help Luminaires actively break down those barriers.

*The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth – Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies, a research report prepared for the Office of Research & Analysis by James S. Catterall, University of California Los Angeles, with Susan A. Dumais, Louisiana State University, and Gillian Hampden-Thompson, University of York, U.K