NEXT STEPS: Badjelly the Witch

StageAntics presents Badjelly the Witch at The Pumphouse this April school holidays.  A bold step forward for our youth theatre here in Tamaki Makaurau as this is more than just a production.  This project creates NEXT STEPS with real pathways for our rangatahi to move from youth theatre into the professional performing arts world, with artists and creatives paid for their work. Our crowdfunding campaign will help bring this iconic story to life while supporting emerging talent, fair pay, and high-quality theatre made for young audiences.

About StageAntics

Founded in 2017, StageAntics has grown from a start-up programme with no students into a thriving youth theatre organisation supporting rangatahi across Aotearoa. Over the past eight years, StageAntics has expanded to multipe Auckland locations including Howick, Pukekohe, Takapuna, and Onehunga — while also engaging students nationwide through online training.

Beyond weekly classes, StageAntics delivers holiday programmes, productions, and pilot initiatives throughout the motu, including Invercargill, Queenstown, Christchurch, Nelson, and Wellington. 

The organisation is committed to developing young performers through high-quality training, mentorship, and performance opportunities that bridge the gap between youth theatre and professional practice.

Emma Bishop — Artistic Director & Producer

Emma Bishop is a respected performer, director, theatre maker, and arts educator with a strong presence in both the national and international arts landscape. Dedicated to youth development and arts education, Emma combines extensive industry experience with a deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of performers and creative leaders.

A trained teacher with 17 years of classroom experience as a secondary performing arts educator and middle leader, Emma has produced more than 25 school productions. Emma also directed the national tour for the Ugly Shakespeare Company for two years
She currently serves the arts sector in multiple leadership roles, including Life Member and past President of Drama NZ (the national subject association for drama educators) and is the current President of Musical Theatre NZ.

Since founding StageAntics in 2017, Emma has focused on fostering performing arts through training, productions, mentoring, and innovative pathways for young artists. She has also served for ten years as National Coordinator and Producer of Junior Theatre Festival NZ, delivering an annual festival that connects students and teachers from across the country with leading industry professionals. This work has also seen her presenting and teaching internationally at Junior Theatre Festivals in the United States, Birmingham, and Australia.

Emma is widely regarded as a trusted advisor within the sector She has presented at major education conferences including IDEA Paris, Drama Australia, Drama NSW, and Drama NZ, and has been a guest lecturer at MIT and Auckland University.
 

Your support helps us bring Badjelly the Witch to life while supporting emerging artists and creating professional pathways. Funds will be used to:

• Pay the creatives — directors, designers, and choreographers
• Pay the performers — our emerging and professional actors
• Pay the technical team — lighting, sound, and stage management
• Cover venue costs — The Pumphouse hire for production and Kete 
                                                Aronui for rehearsals
• Pay to have accessible performances including a relaxed performance and a sign interepted performance
• Market the show — reaching young audiences across Tāmaki Makaurau

Every contribution helps ensure fair pay for artists, a high-quality production, and accessible theatre for tamariki and rangatahi.

StageAntics is producing a theatre-for-young-audiences production that delivers high-quality, accessible live theatre while creating real professional pathways for emerging artists.

This project has three key aims:
• Present a professional theatre production designed specifically for young audiences.
• Provide paid opportunities for performers and creatives who are ready to take the next step in their artistic journey.
• Offer engaging, accessible, high-quality theatre experiences for tamariki and rangatahi.

StageAntics has been a youth theatre and arts provider for nine years, building a strong community and a growing network of alumni. Our ethos has always centred on pathways — supporting young people to grow into leaders, creatives, and emerging arts practitioners. While we have successfully created opportunities in training, mentorship, and creative leadership, this is the first time we are extending that pathway into the NEXT STEPS as paid professional performers.

We are excited to launch this new programme, giving emerging artists the chance to step into a professional environment while remaining within the supportive whānau culture they already know. This creates a safe and empowering bridge between youth theatre and the wider professional industry, helping artists gain experience, confidence, and momentum for their future careers.
 

Badjelly the Witch is more than a theatre production — it’s an opportunity for young audiences to engage with high-quality, imaginative, and culturally resonant storytelling. Tamariki and rangatahi benefit from seeing stories brought to life in a professional, inclusive environment that sparks creativity, curiosity, and a love for the performing arts.

At the same time, this work provides vital pathways for emerging artists to step into professional practice, gain experience, and be fairly compensated for their skills and creativity. Many of our performers, creatives, and technical team are StageAntics alumni — by supporting this production, you are investing in the next generation of New Zealand theatre-makers.

Backing this project means helping us raise the standard for young artists and audiences in theatre in Aotearoa. Your contribution ensures that performances are accessible, engaging, and inspiring, while also nurturing professional opportunities within a safe and supportive whānau environment. Every donation directly helps artists, enriches the community, and gives young audiences a theatre experience they will remember and carry forward.