A bold wave of local musical theatre talent takes centre stage this February as The Last Five Years arrives at the PumpHouse Theatre from 20–27 February, led by a team of award-nominated young artists in a fully self-funded, self-produced season.
Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years is a strikingly intimate two-hander that charts the rise and fall of a relationship from opposite ends of time. Jamie’s story moves forward, Cathy’s moves backward,
intersecting only once — at the emotional heart of the show. With its contemporary score and emotional precision, the musical offers a piercing look at love, ambition, and timing.
This production is among the first interpretations of The Last Five Years to feature a purely dance-driven ensemble, adding a dynamic physical language to the storytelling. The ensemble features Rebecca Dreyer, David Tuitama, Georgia Smith, Will Stretton, and Tim Hoskins — dancers whose careers span professional stage work, national and international competitions, and commercial performance. Leading the movement direction is Pearl Stretton, who also dances in the production. An accomplished choreographer of award-winning and touring performances, she describes this project as a dream collaboration, bringing together a hand-picked team of dancers she deeply admires to help shape the physical heartbeat of the show.
A stellar live band underpins the storytelling, featuring: Joshua Williams – Bass, Bridie Pirie – Violin, Howard Lu – Cello I, Emily Young – Cello II, Dylan Hadfield – Guitar.
Entirely self-funded, this Kiwi production reflects a growing movement of independent theatre-making in Aotearoa — driven by artists committed to telling meaningful stories with ambition, integrity, and heart. As All That Dazzles writes, the show is “a stunning love letter to musical theatre and a definitive must-see.”
Audiences should prepare to have their hearts broken and rebuilt during this 90-min whirlwind of music, drama, passion and romance.
Performance Dates: 20–27 February
Venue: PumpHouse Theatre
