Puffs – Two Act Edition for Young Wizards is a fast-paced, funny and heartfelt theatrical adventure that tells a familiar story of a magical school from an entirely different perspective. Rather than following the celebrated heroes, Puffs focuses on the students who rarely get to be at the centre of the story – the ordinary young people trying to find friendship, courage and their place in a world where somebody else always seems destined for greatness.

Across seven increasingly eventful years, we follow a group of young wizards who discover that being a hero isn’t necessarily about being the strongest, cleverest or most celebrated person in the room. Sometimes it is simply about showing up, standing alongside your friends, embracing who you are and recognising that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Packed with comedy, larger-than-life characters and plenty of theatrical chaos, Puffs is ultimately a story about friendship, belonging and finding value in being yourself.

Those themes make Puffs a natural fit for YoubeYou – Ngāmotu Theatre for Youth and our Junior Section of rangatahi aged 10–14.

YoubeYou was created around a simple belief: Every Voice Belongs. Every Story Shines. Everyone Matters. We celebrate diversity and difference both on and off stage, creating an environment where young people can explore their creativity without feeling that they need to fit a particular mould.

Puffs playfully turns the idea of the “supporting character” upside down. It reminds us that there really are no insignificant people or insignificant stories – something that sits at the heart of YoubeYou.

Through the production, our rangatahi will develop performance and technical skills, confidence, friendships, teamwork and leadership while experiencing the collective magic of creating theatre together. Most importantly, they will do so in a space that encourages them to bring their whole selves.

Because at YoubeYou, you don’t have to be the chosen one.

You just have to be you.