Hannah is the General Manager and Producer for Cubbin Theatre Company. Trained at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, she began her career as a professional actor and has worked with The Court Theatre, Christchurch. Hannah developed the role of Shadow Thief for LATT Children’s Theatre, based in Seoul, South Korea. Whilst based in London, Hannah sang with the Fourth Choir performing in Europe and the UK. As a performer for Cubbin, Hannah has created Up and Away, Play Play, Me and My Nana and Cubbin’s album ‘Cubbin Music – Songs for children under 5’. Hannah lives in Christchurch and is a mother to Winnie (4 years) and Lilian (2 years) and is passionate about telling stories for the very young. Hannah is a board member of PAYPA – Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa, the New Zealand arm of ASSITEJ.
Hannah is the General Manager and Producer for Cubbin Theatre Company. Trained at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, she began her career as a professional actor and has worked with The Court Theatre, Christchurch. Hannah developed the role of Shadow Thief for LATT Children’s Theatre, based in Seoul, South Korea. Whilst based in London, Hannah sang with the Fourth Choir performing in Europe and the UK. As a performer for Cubbin, Hannah has created Up and Away, Play Play, Me and My Nana and Cubbin’s album ‘Cubbin Music – Songs for children under 5’. Hannah lives in Christchurch and is a mother to Winnie (4 years) and Lilian (2 years) and is passionate about telling stories for the very young. Hannah is a board member of PAYPA – Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa, the New Zealand arm of ASSITEJ.
Organisation/Company
Name: Cubbin Theatre
My Role: General Manager and Producer
Cubbin Theatre, based in Christchurch, New Zealand, is dedicated to creating high-quality, playful theatre experiences for very young children. Our vision is of a world where high quality art is as integral to early childhood as the playground, and as accessible. In 2024 and 2025 we presented an annual programme of our theatre shows at our home at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, where Cubbin is the current Company in Residence.
Our Mission
We aim to delight and intrigue very young audiences through exceptional, creative theatre experiences.
Our History
Cubbin Theatre Company was founded in 2018 by Melanie Luckman, Hannah Wheeler and Amy Straker. Our first show was Up and Away which is still going strong many years later. In 2023 we became a registered Charitable Trust and continue to make work for the very young in Ōtautahi Christchurch, that also tours around the country and the globe.
Bundle Baby
Artform: Theatre for the very young
Development Status: Tour Ready
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Cubbin Theatre presents their brand new show, Bundle Baby.
A playful show made for babies and toddlers aged 1 to 2 years and their grown-ups, exploring the magic of the laundry basket.
What’s at the bottom of the laundry basket? Puppets and peek a boo! A show of softness, simplicity and surprises.
Babies and laundry go hand in hand, and our own children have inspired this show. Something so simple can become a vehicle for magic and play: the socks, the pegs, the many, many tiny cloths and even the basket itself. There are so many things to hold and handle, throw, flap, hang and arrange.
For what to expect when you come to the show, please visit our FAQs on our website.
This show has been created for children aged 1 to 2 years, however older siblings can attend.
The vision: Children take over PANNZ, thanks to Cubbin!
We envision working with Auckland Live to host the showcase and inviting children and their whānau to the show as well as the delegates. Having children attend the showcase is essential to the presentation of Bundle Baby, as it is the audience relationship and engagement that makes Cubbin's work so unique.
We will have a relationship with the Auckland families who will have attended our show Up and Away as part of We The Young Festival in September 2025.
Bundle Baby is 35 minutes in length plus 15 minutes playtime at the end. This play time is part of the show, where the children and their families interact with the performers and each other, and explore the set and props.
Audience numbers are roughly 40 but we could accommodate more observers/delegates at the back of the space, as long as we have 20 seats for children and caregivers. We could also do 2 or 3 performances over a day to accommodate more delegates, if that were an option. This show will fit in one of the conference rooms of the Aotea Centre.5
We will already have a relationship with the Auckland families who will have attended our show Up and Away as part of We The Young Festival in September 2025, so we could easily invite them to this free showing.
Creative Team and Crew
Director: Melanie Luckman
Designer: Rosie Gilmore
Sound Designer: Amy Straker
Performer: Trubie-Dylan Smith
Performer: Jorja Baylee
Number of People in the Touring Party
3
Previous Seasons
5-8 June - Cloisters Studio, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre - Christchurch, New Zealand
Reviews and Quotes
"..an intelligent, relevant, gentle and imaginative play for young people that adds another strong (yet soft) string to the Cubbin Theatre bow." - Flat City Field Notes
"For those looking for uplifting experiences for their little humans, in an inclusive and embracing social setting, I recommend getting along to Bundle Baby." - Flat City Field Notes
Full review here: https://flatcityfieldnotes.com/2025/06/07/review-bundle-baby-gentle-imaginative-and-uplifting-play-for-the-youngest-of-audiences/
"So calm and engaging and beautiful." - Audience member
"Perfect. Just what we needed." - Audience member
"Engaging, enchanting. Magical." - Audience member
"Brilliant. So age focused and super fun." - Audience member
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.