1890s

• Melodrama, vaudeville
• Building of theatres and opera houses

• The Māori land wars
• The Boer War
• The New Zealand long depression
• The First World War

• Henrik Ibsen
  1828–1906
• George Bernard Shaw
  1856–1950
• Anton Chekhov
  1860–1904

1920s–1950s

• British Drama League plays

• The Great Depression

• Bertolt Brecht
  1898–1956
• Eugene O’Neill
  1888–1953
• Frederico Lorca
  1899–1936
• Noel Coward 1899–1973

1940

• Agitation propaganda (agitprop) theatre

• The Second World War

• Samuel Beckett
  1906–1989
• Tennessee Williams
  1912–1983
• Arthur Miller
  1915–2005

1950s

The beginning of a New Zealand identity in professional theatre:

• Bruce Mason

• The Korean War

• Harold Pinter
  1930–
• Edward Albee
  1928–

1970s

Development of theatre funding, advocacy, and training:

• The Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council
• Playmarket
• The New Zealand Drama School
• Professional theatres

• The feminist movement
• Māori land marches

• Caryl Churchill
  1938–
• Tom Stoppard
  1937–
• Edward Bond
  1935–

1980s

Acceptance of a New Zealand identity in staged theatre:

• Roger Hall
• Mervyn Thompson
• Renée

• The Springbok tour, 1981
• Rogernomics; right-wing economic theory

• John Godber
  1956–

1990s

A renaissance in New Zealand theatre; plays with a Māori or bicultural perspective:

• Briar Grace-Smith
• Hone Kouka

• Iwi and Crown Treaty of Waitangi settlements

2000s

Development of Paskifika and Asian theatre; growth of multiple theatrical styles:

• Indian Ink Theatre Company
• Albert Wendt
• Jo Randerson
• Oscar Kightley