Kia ora! We are a New Zealand based partnership committed to creating theatre to inspire, delight and inform. Using puppetry, storytelling and live music, our stories take children on a journey into other worlds full of imagination and wonder, with liberal doses of humour! We believe in the power of wonderment to transform children’s lives, inviting them to imagine, feel, think and dream. In this high-tech, fast-paced digital world, we offer a counter to ‘screen time’, allowing space in ‘real-time’ to watch, listen and reflect. We use a ‘handmade’ aesthetic that is sophisticated yet accessible, where the 'apparent' simplicity of our craft allows space for magic to happen.
Bridget Sanders
Bridget founded Birdlife Productions Theatre Company in 1998 as a response to her desire to incorporate a lifetime of skills into a creative medium that could reflect to the world the deeper and richer qualities of life.
Bridget works full time for the company as Producer, and Creative Director as well as sharing the Performing and Touring of their children’s theatre shows around New Zealand and abroad. Bridget established a career as a Visual Artist for over 20 years while being a Library Assistant. After becoming involved in ‘The Body In Space’ Theatre Company in 2012 as a ‘maker’ and set designer, she became passionate about acting and creating theatre. Bridget won ‘Best Direction’ for ‘Birdlife’, Nelson Fringe, 2015. ‘Kōkako’s Song’, a children’s show about the magic of the New Zealand Forest, was shortlisted for Playmarket ‘Plays for the young’ and nominated for ‘Best Visiting show’ Dunedin Theatre awards, 2017. In 2018 she co-created ‘Kōtuku and the Moon Child’ which toured successfully in 2019
in New Zealand and UK and Europe, winning ‘People’s Choice’ award, Festival Valise, Poland.
Bridget recently completed further training with John Bolton in Melbourne (2019).
Bridget founded Birdlife Productions Theatre Company in 1998 as a response to her desire to incorporate a lifetime of skills into a creative medium that could reflect to the world the deeper and richer qualities of life.
Bridget works full time for the company as Producer, and Creative Director as well as sharing the Performing and Touring of their children’s theatre shows around New Zealand and abroad. Bridget established a career as a Visual Artist for over 20 years while being a Library Assistant. After becoming involved in ‘The Body In Space’ Theatre Company in 2012 as a ‘maker’ and set designer, she became passionate about acting and creating theatre. Bridget won ‘Best Direction’ for ‘Birdlife’, Nelson Fringe, 2015. ‘Kōkako’s Song’, a children’s show about the magic of the New Zealand Forest, was shortlisted for Playmarket ‘Plays for the young’ and nominated for ‘Best Visiting show’ Dunedin Theatre awards, 2017. In 2018 she co-created ‘Kōtuku and the Moon Child’ which toured successfully in 2019
in New Zealand and UK and Europe, winning ‘People’s Choice’ award, Festival Valise, Poland.
Bridget recently completed further training with John Bolton in Melbourne (2019).
Roger Sanders
Roger is a traditional storyteller, actor, musician, puppeteer and improviser, with over 30 year’s experience as a performer and theatre maker. He was a founding member of the UK storytelling and music troupe 'The Firebird’s Feather’ (UK, 1995), the ‘Body in Space’ theatre company (2010), ‘Birdlife Productions’ (2015), and the improvisation troupe ‘Peoples Republic of Improv’ (2017). Since 2011, Roger has been collaborating with Japanese Master Puppeteer, Akiko Myamoto, and takes every opportunity for ongoing training in physical theatre and improvisation. Performance highlights include the solo show ‘The End of the Golden Weather’ (Nelson 2009), Philias Fogg ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (2013), ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ (2017) and ‘The Magnificent Man in the Moon’ (2017). Roger recently completed further training with John Bolton in Melbourne (2019).
Roger is a traditional storyteller, actor, musician, puppeteer and improviser, with over 30 year’s experience as a performer and theatre maker. He was a founding member of the UK storytelling and music troupe 'The Firebird’s Feather’ (UK, 1995), the ‘Body in Space’ theatre company (2010), ‘Birdlife Productions’ (2015), and the improvisation troupe ‘Peoples Republic of Improv’ (2017). Since 2011, Roger has been collaborating with Japanese Master Puppeteer, Akiko Myamoto, and takes every opportunity for ongoing training in physical theatre and improvisation. Performance highlights include the solo show ‘The End of the Golden Weather’ (Nelson 2009), Philias Fogg ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (2013), ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ (2017) and ‘The Magnificent Man in the Moon’ (2017). Roger recently completed further training with John Bolton in Melbourne (2019).
Receiving 'People's Choice Award'
Teatr lalki i aktora w Łomży
Poland, June 2019
Teatr lalki i aktora w Łomży
Poland, June 2019
WINNER: PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD Festival Valise, Poland. 2019
WINNER: GREEN LIGHT LIST AWARD New Zealand Fringe, 2019
WINNER: OUTSTANDING DESIGN Dunedin Fringe Festival, 2019
NOMINATED: BEST FAMILY SHOW Guildford Fringe Festival, UK, 2019
NOMINATED: BEST VISITING SHOW Dunedin Theatre Awards, 2017 and 2019
WINNER: GREEN LIGHT LIST AWARD New Zealand Fringe, 2019
WINNER: OUTSTANDING DESIGN Dunedin Fringe Festival, 2019
NOMINATED: BEST FAMILY SHOW Guildford Fringe Festival, UK, 2019
NOMINATED: BEST VISITING SHOW Dunedin Theatre Awards, 2017 and 2019
