“Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy”
- H.L. Mencken
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16-18 October 2025, The Pumphouse
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 Chris Reddington and Stuart Lloyd-Harris, Jane Mander is performed by Marian McCurdy who is joined by Aaron Hāpuku and Chris Reddington on the piano. Performances: Thursday 16th October 8.00pm Friday 17th October 8.00pm Saturday 18th October 8.00pm The Pumphouse Bar is open from 7.30pm prior to the performance for ticket holders only. Location: The Pumphouse, 544 Tuam St Tickets: $20/$30 https://events.humanitix.com/the-passionate-puritan Presented with the support of Pub Charity, NZCT and Christchurch City Council. *Themes suitable for a mature audience 
Photos by Sabin Holloway
“Puritanism is an awful disease” 
Reviews:An original production by Free Theatre, The Passionate Puritan is riveting, its dramas real. These are not the dramas of love and lust in an untamed forest, but rather the dramas of disconnection and distance, of recrimination, missed meanings and regret — and of historical injuries that continue to hobble us while remaining unnoticed in our quotidian distractions. Free Theatre deserves more credit than it gets for the contributions it continues to make to cultural life in Ōtautahi with productions like this, which are at once thoughtful, entertaining, provocative, accessible and fun. 
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Image: Heaphy, Charles: Kauri forest, Wairoa River, Kaipara. [1839]
Audience response:
...such a superb play and superb performance by all three of you. I was blown away how fab you three were. Your beginning was like a delicious novel that makes you inwardly smile with delight…. Really, your acting capacity is equal to any I have seen at the court ( well better in many cases). Chris’s musical capability- Avant Garde sound creation and his sensitive jazz thrilled me and Aaron carried the depth of Nga Puhi in a sonorous beautiful way. I totally loved it and was disappointed that I couldn’t give you a standing ovation, and that more people weren’t there, so I’ve texted everyone I know and I hope for a full house tonight.... Incredible piece. So many fascinating morsels to chew on. Beautifully written and performed 👏🔥 Loved all the soundscapes in this show! Classic Free Theatre creativity on display. 
I enjoyed last night's performance very much. I found it equally funny and provocative... And yet again Free Theatre showed its mastery of staging. ...just wanted to say what a fantastic performance last night... Held us the whole way thru. Congrats, that was great. Jane Mander lives and wants her royalties! Backdated! And all very current themes. Loved the "property rights" reference Press Articles:"Theatre Brings Back Forgotten Feminist", Victoria Meakin, The Press, October 13th 2025
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