Associate Artistic Director

The Court Theatre has been creating and sharing live theatre with audiences from across Ōtautahi and Waitaha for more than 54 years. Each season typically features 15 – 20 productions including commissioned works, New Zealand and Australasian premieres, contemporary through to classic drama as well as comedies, improvised comedy and musicals and a recent addition, the Rainbow Theatre Weekend. This year more than 80,000 patrons are expected to attend a Court Theatre performance. As a producing Theatre Company, Court Theatre is supported by a team of 40 permanent staff plus many artists and artisans dedicated to creating and staging theatre experiences of the highest quality. It is the proud home of The Jesters as well as the Youth Company and Jesters Youth Company. The Court delivers an annual Education, Learning and Engagement programme which offers training and performance opportunities to people of all ages. The Court is committed to theatre as a platform to enhance wider social outcomes and for providing opportunities for voices to be celebrated and uplifted that otherwise may be overlooked. In 2025 The Court Theatre moved into our permanent new home in the heart of the city. This brand-new, purpose-built facility is opening up new possibilities for The Court Theatre both in the way it works and the way it engages with the communities of Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Vision

Building community together with the people of Waitaha/Canterbury through the creation, discovery and experience of live theatre. 

Goals

• Building Community through Theatre 

• Growing Knowledge, Skills and Capacity 

• Creating and Sharing Live Theatre Experiences 

• Building a Strong and Sustainable Organisation 

This is a rare opportunity to play an active role within the artistic leadership of one of Aotearoa's largest and leading professional theatre companies. 

The Associate Artistic Director is an integral part of the Artistic Team and works to support the vision and direction of the Artistic Director and organisation. In this fixed-term, part-time role, your expertise and experience will contribute to setting the highest standards in artistic vision and innovation, in pursuing the company’s vision, and in enacting its programme.  

As a core collaborator within the Artistic Team, the Associate Artistic Director promotes and maintains the organisational culture, reflecting and enhancing The Court Theatre’s position as the leading contributor to the New Zealand arts and theatre sector. 
 

This is your chance to bring all your creativity, skill, collaborative spirit and knowledge of the professional theatre landscape to the Artistic Team of the Court Theatre.

Currently, the Associate Artistic Director curates and delivers the Rainbow Theatre Festival.

As part of the Court Theatre company, you will receive complimentary tickets to all our shows and staff discounts at our bar.

Specific responsibilities 

• In collaboration with the Artistic Director, select the repertoire for all artistic programmes including productions, research and development projects, and other programming. 

• Suggest and champion appropriate directors, artists and technicians in the realisation of The Court Theatre’s repertoire and diverse community. 

• Identify and nurture approved collaborative partnerships with other arts organisations and artists. 

• Work collaboratively with the artistic team, and across other teams within the organisation, assisting the Artistic Director when required. 

• In collaboration with the Artistic Director, monitor and evaluate all The Court Theatre productions to ensure the highest standard of work. 

• Provide effective and collaborative leadership as part of the artistic team and wider Court whānau. 

• Represent and promote the activities of The Court Theatre to the public, stakeholders, press, and industry. 

• Represent The Court Theatre within the creative industries, staying abreast of developments and using this knowledge to inform the programming of The Court Theatre. 

A full job description is available here: https://courttheatre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/JD-Associate-Artistic-Director_2026.pdf
 

Any questions or requests for further information can be directed to Alison Walls, alison.walls@courttheatre.org.nz