Playwright | Author | Director | Designer | Editor | Teacher
KEN HUDSON
Playwright & Literary Artist
About
Ken Hudson is one of New Zealand’s most prolific and versatile playwrights.
With a career spanning five decades, his work has been staged by Court Theatre, Theatre Corporate (Auckland), Circa Theatre (Wellington), Centrepoint Theatre (Palmerston North), and Canterbury Children’s Theatre. His plays combine wit, heart, and social insight — ranging from historical musicals to biting political satires, adaptations of classics, and imaginative theatre for young audiences.
Biography
Ken Hudson’s career began in Christchurch in the 1970s,
where he quickly established himself as both a writer and theatre innovator. He was appointed Writer-in-Residence at Court Theatre in 1978 and went on to develop a body of work that spans theatre, film, poetry, publishing, and education.
In addition to his stage works, Ken has published poetry through Oxenhall Press, worked as an arts organiser, and led creative direction for numerous video and media productions. He also taught English and drama, sharing his passion for literature and performance with the next generation.
At the heart of Ken’s writing is a commitment to stories that resonate — political, personal, and profoundly human.
Selected Works
Till the Boys Come Home
Genre: Musical / Historical Drama
Court Theatre (Christmas & return seasons), Theatre Corporate (Auckland), Circa Theatre (Wellington), South Island tour, and community productions. A moving, lyrical work exploring New Zealand’s WWI experience through the voices of those left behind.
Press: “Model performance.” — The Press
Scoring
Genre: Musical / Historical Drama
Court Theatre (Christmas & return seasons), Theatre Corporate (Auckland), Circa Theatre (Wellington), South Island tour, and community productions. A moving, lyrical work exploring New Zealand’s WWI experience through the voices of those left behind.
Press: “Model performance.” — The Press
A Fridge Too Far
Genre: Farce / Social Satire
Christchurch Arts Network & Repertory Theatre. An absurd and hilarious exploration of social welfare and survival.
Press: “Clever, different… an enterprising production carried off with skill.” — CAN Review
Jobless (with Philip Norman)
Genre: Play with Music
Court Theatre. A collaboration with composer Philip Norman, fusing drama and music to tackle themes of work, dignity, and class.
Origins of Power
Genre: Political Satire
Court Theatre Studio. A biting lampoon of bureaucracy and ambition.
Press:
“Outrageously funny satire.” — Court Theatre Studio
The Revenge of Badsky
Genre: Children’s Theatre
Canterbury Children’s Theatre. An adventurous, humorous tale with moral depth for younger audiences.
The Runaway Settlers (adapted from Elsie Locke)
Genre: Adaptation / Historical Theatre
Christchurch Drama Centre. An adaptation of Locke’s beloved novel dramatizing early Canterbury life.
The Electric Lake & Hypnagogis
Genre: Theatre in Education
Court Theatre. Imaginative educational plays blending social themes with young audiences.
Square Dance
Genre: Theatre in Education / Lunchtime Theatre
Court Theatre. Compact and engaging, designed for accessibility and schools.
What the Critics Say
“A master of the everyday situation.”
— The Press on Scoring
“Outrageously funny satire.”
— Court Theatre Studio on Origins of Power
“Model performance.”
— The Press on Till the Boys Come Home
“Clever, different… an enterprising production carried off with skill.”
— CAN Review on A Fridge Too Far
“Play on sex ‘not written to shock.’”
— Evening Post on Scoring
“Politics and parody delivered with verve.”
— The Press on Origins of Power
In Development
Jimmy’s Mum
The untold story of Anna McNeil Whistler and her influence on Victorian art circles.
CONTACT
For scripts, collaboration, or production enquiries:
33 Lindsay Street Christchurch 8014 New Zealand
+64 21 032 8276
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