16 October 2025 8:00pm 
The Pump House 
“Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy”
Free Theatre invites you to the heritage Pumphouse to meet Jane Mander.
Jane died in 1949 but comes alive for our performance to tell us about her almost forgotten life and work in the early 20th century as a feminist, suffragette and novelist.
Her best known novel is The Story of a New Zealand River, which inspired Jane Campion’s film The Piano and Michael Parekōwhai’s series of piano sculptures. As a self-confessed passionate puritan, Jane has some things to say about these works and about the passionless puritans of today.
Devised and directed by Peter Falkenberg, with design by Stuart-Lloyd-Harris, Jane Mander is performed by Marian McCurdy who is joined by Aaron Hāpuku and by Chris Reddington on the piano.
Presented with the support of Pub Charity, NZCT and Christchurch City Council.
*Themes suitable for a mature audience