Theatre Takes on Vaping, Alcohol, and Money Matters in NZ Schools

Young actors perform SMASHED theatre show This term, Life Education Trust’s Theatre in Education (TiE) team is back on the road—bringing high-energy, thought-provoking performances into schools across Aotearoa. The programme combines the power of live theatre with evidence-based learning to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing rangatahi today: vaping, underage drinking, and financial literacy.
Left to right: Hakaia Daly, Maddy Johnston, Sarah Penny perform SMASHED

The 2025 cast features three new performers. Hakaia Daly (24), Maddy Johnston (22), and Sarah Penny (21)—who will deliver performances designed not just to entertain but to empower. The programme is backed by social cognitive theory, which shows how behaviour is shaped through social interaction and media influence. These shows and workshops create a safe space for students to reflect, respond, and grow.

All three actors have varied theatre and performance experience. Hakaia has worked in a number of community arts projects and previously toured New Zealand schools with the Sexwise programme. Sarah worked as a tour guide at Weta Workshop while studying Film and Theatre Production. Maddy is passionate about youth-focused work and has been working at Evolve Youth service since graduating with a degree in Criminology and Psychology.

The Theatre in Education programme includes:

  • SMART$, which challenges students to think critically about financial decisions and future planning.
  • Behind the Scenes, which explores the health risks of vaping and how social media influences decision-making.
  • SMASHED, explores the dangers of underage drinking, told through the story of three teens navigating peer pressure and consequences.

Theatre in Education is about more than just watching a show. It’s about giving students a "rehearsal for reality"—a chance to engage with challenging content in an interactive, meaningful way that supports diverse learning styles. It sparks real conversations and encourages students to think for themselves.

Background

Hakaia Daly (24)
Hakaia is a passionate performer and community arts advocate from Hamilton. Over the past two years, he has worked with Home Ground, running creative workshops with women recently released from prison. Prior to that, he spent two years touring Aotearoa’s secondary schools with the Sexwise programme—his favourite stop was the West Coast. A former Arts Captain at Hillcrest High, Hakaia’s love for drama began there, and he’s excited to return as part of this tour. He’s particularly interested in the social impact of the arts and recently debuted his first solo show, Scat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Wellington Fringe Festival—a stand-up comedy act featuring live jazz. Hakaia has served on the board of Summer Shakespeare and has spoken on Seven Sharp about the ongoing relevance of Shakespeare in today’s world.

Maddy Johnston (22)
After studying Criminology and Psychology at Victoria University, Maddy worked with Evolve Youth in Wellington, supporting young people with health, counselling, and social services. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she’s the team’s most experienced driver and is looking forward to road-tripping across the country in the tour ute. Maddy’s deeply committed to youth-focused work and says, “Working at Evolve made me realise how screwed up things are—I can’t wait to meet young people all over Aotearoa.” While studying, she also pursued acting, appearing in the short film Empty Ceilings, which screened at the most recent Fringe Film Festival.

Sarah Penny (21)
Sarah is an Auckland-born theatre and film creative who studied at Massey University in Wellington. For the past three years, she’s worked as a tour guide at Weta Workshop, inspiring visitors to tap into their creativity: “I see lots of people light up and be proud of what they’ve made.” Sarah has experience working with children as a swim instructor and performer. Her original children’s show Fairies Playing Football featured in the Fringe Festival. A skilled mime artist, she also wrote, directed, and starred in a short film exploring the lives of clowns.
“What I love about theatre is that every performance is different,” she says. “I’m looking forward to seeing how different kids interact with our shows and workshops.”