Shows
Kick it into overdrive
Parking up at Te Auaha between the 21st and 24th of May, buckle up for Occean Denham’s NZ International Comedy Festival show A Hot Girl and Her Suzuki Swift.
This night is sparkling
Described as being so good that she “is Taylor Swift”, Shannon will perform hit after hit, costume change after costume change as the best thing at this party in Taylor’s Story, a stage spectacular at The Opera House on the 7th of May.
Giggles connect us
Calling all kids! Especially the ones who like cake! Sensible Spray and excitable Wipe will bring circus, slapstick, and magic to Circa Theatre in Kitchen Chaos these school holidays.
Faux pas and foul play
Crash-banging into The Opera House between the 19th and 27th of April, The Play That Goes Wrong is a finely tuned farce that features faux pas and foul play.
Rock on and rock out
Over 12 years and 67 shows, Caburlesque has been dazzling Wellington audiences with its signature blend of burlesque and variety cabaret. The theme for the next edition? Women of Rock.
What comes before
Ruby Kemp’s brand-new sci-fi musical, presented by Wellington Footlights Society from the 3rd to the 12th of April at Gryphon Theatre, “isn’t a show about the apocalypse”, the writer and composer says. “It’s about what comes before.”
Doing it Darby
Rhys Darby, one of Aotearoa’s biggest names, graces The Opera House with his newest stand-up show The Legend Returns on the 27th of March.
The nectar of the gods
Whether you pray to ancient gods, new ones, or no one, spend the Ides of March on the 15th at Gods, Myths & Monsters: A Pride Drag Show at Ivy Bar and Cabaret.
Music
Limitless love
Genre-defying singer-songwriter Reb Fountain released her new album How Love Bends last month and will pour raw emotion and intensity out on The Opera House stage this May.
Time capsules and conga lines
LA-based Kiwi musician Greg Johnson will dig deep into Vine Street Stories at Old St Paul’s on Saturday the 26th of April. We caught up with the singer-songwriter, pianist, and trumpeter about the 30th anniversary of the landmark album.
Nothing like that energy
We speak to Joseph Williams, lead singer of Toto, ahead of their Wellington concert at TSB Arena on the 24th of April with special guest Christopher Cross.
Chords in colour
We caught up with alt-rock luminary Kristin Hersh, who will play Old St Paul’s on the 23rd of March, joined by rising Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq.
Toe-tapping, heart-warming
Known for their tight harmonies, engaging stage presence, and capacity to build a genuine connection with audiences, American family band The Petersens are heading our way for the first time.
Get set to sweat
For the first time in nearly 15 years, American punk legends Hot Water Music will come crashing into Valhalla on the 11th of February along their 30th anniversary tour.
This is forever
The legendary SIX60 will hit Brewtown in Upper Hutt on the 1st of February. We caught up with bassist Chris Mac about the Grassroots Tour City Edition and more.
Reach for the sun
We chat to bassist Peter Hamilton of Solar Daze about the six-piece neo-soul group’s new single Don’t Fall and upcoming release party at Meow on the 12th of December.
Movies
Wellington Silver Screeners: Akash Saravanan
Meet rising Pōneke film talent Akash Saravanan. Currently undertaking a film degree and with numerous short films under his belt, he fell in love with filmmaking after moving to Aotearoa’s cinema capital.
The symphony of culture
Bring your tissues to Tinā, which is out in theatres on the 27th of February. This heartwarming and heartbreaking story celebrates mothers everywhere and the healing power of music.
Wellington Silver Screeners: Vincent Ward
Vincent Ward is one of Aotearoa’s filmmaking heavyweights, with titles the likes of Map of the Human Heart and What Dreams May Come in his oeuvre. I had the honour of hearing some of his stories.
A smorgasbord of shorts
Be voracious, Wellington! Show Me Shorts Film Festival is coming to Wellington’s Light House Cuba cinema between the 16th and 23rd of October to serve up bite-sized morsels of movie magic.
Steadfast storytelling
A celebration of documentary storytelling, Doc Edge Film Festival takes audiences to the far reaches of the globe and into the heart of humanity. Explore every facet of life from Te Auaha and The Roxy Cinema from the 3rd to the 14th of July.
Furious filmmaking
Can you make a film in just two days? Come watch Wellington’s finalists of the Vista Foundation 48Hours film competition at the Embassy Theatre on the 5th of July.
Crème de la crème
The French Film Festival is the liaison of the saison – check out all kinds of flicks coming to cinemas across the Wellington Region from the 5th to the 26th of June.
Cinema Italiano
For one night only on the 22nd of May, Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant will transport cinephiles to the orange-hued land of la dolce vita at The Show Me Shorts Italian Short Film Night.
Art
Come running sea
Kiwi artist Gregory O’Brien finds himself diving into the sea in his latest exhibition At the Washaway, moored at Bowen Galleries from the 29th of April until the 17th of May.
Marble and Mud
Examining her identity under the lens of her Greek whakapapa, Te Whanganui-a-Tara-based artist Eleftheria Apostolidis creates a multidisciplinary collage of her practice in Marble and Mud at Thistle Hall from the 22nd to the 27th of April.
Banquet of love
Feast your eyes on Fortune, a knitted yum cha banquet at Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum until the 27th of April.
Rhythms of the Earth
In Rosa Allison’s exhibition FLYING DREAMS at Page Galleries until the 22nd of March, floral and fungal forms flirt with humanoid shapes and other instruments of earthly pleasure.
Ebb and flow
Fractured forms transmute into a celebration of interconnectedness in Gina Kiel’s first solo exhibition Tidal Bodies, on now at Twentysix Gallery until the 15th of March.
The world in other ways
Glimpse Aotearoa in the Japanese style of ukiyo-e at Alistair McDonald’s newest showcase Auckland in the Style of Hiroshige at Exhibitions Gallery from the 13th of February to the 8th of March.
Your very own galaxy
Discover out-of-this-world sculptures made by Kapiti-based creative Russell Woodley.
Stories of resilience
Boro – Timeworn Textiles of Japan is an exhibition featuring mended clothing that’s as much about sewing as it is about storytelling. Catch it at Pātaka Art + Museum until the 9th of March.
Events
Euphoric energy
Six women DJs from Pōneke and Tāmaki Makaurau are cooking up something sizzling on the decks for Girls on Cue at Heartbreaker Bar & Restaurant on the 5th of April.
Knocking it out the park
Get amongst the legendary Kiwi music festival Jim Beam Homegrown as it bids farewell to the capital on the 14th and 15th of March.
A synthesis of sun, sea, and sound
This Is Living returns to McEwan Park in Lower Hutt on the 1st of March, serving up a synthesis of sun, sea, and sound courtesy of Breaking Beats.
Just awful
Brace yourself, dear reader / For the worst poem you’re ever gonna read-a / In celebration of the / Anti-Slam
Boom
Till death do us part
The most macabre matrimony is set to take place at Old St Paul’s this 28th of September. Witness the union of two of Wellington’s most lascivious lovers in Wedlock: A Drag Affair.
Building blocks
Imagination incarnate, LEGO® are the building blocks of creativity. Come play at the Wellington Brick Show in Lower Hutt’s Walter Nash Stadium from the 14th to the 15th of September.
Drawing the world
Illustrations leap off the page and come to life at the Picture Me Festival. Catch workshops, events, talks, and exhibitions across Wellington between the 11th and 19th of September.
The lioness of literature
We caught up with Katherine Mansfield House and Garden director Cherie Jacobson about Lioness of Literature: Talking Books with Emily Perkins, a fundraising event for the iconic Category 1 Historic Place and writer’s museum.
Personalities
Wellington Silver Screeners: Charlie Faulks
20-year-old Wellington-based animator Charlie Faulks recently received a grant from NZ On Air for his YouTube show Bloke of the Apocalypse. We got the inside scoop from Charlie himself.
Fighting the good fight
We caught up with legendary broadcaster Paddy Gower ahead of his first ever appearance at Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival.
Behind the scenes with Doug Jones
Doug Jones is famous for his transformations into creatures like Abe Sapien in Hellboy, The Faun and the Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth, Amphibian Man in The Shape of Water, and more. We catch up with the legendary actor ahead of Armageddon Expo.
The baddest blues rock
American blues-rock legend George Thorogood and his longtime band The Destroyers are coming to Wellington to play with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees ZZ Top this May. We got to spend 15 minutes laughing with the Bad To The Bone singer!
Fun, fruity, fabulous
Banana Jolie is a pun-slinging princess of peel who’s been electrifying audiences across the Antipodean festival circuit for the past decade. We interviewed Joana Joy about the fruity character and her upcoming appearances at CubaDupa.
Comic sense and sensibility
Ben Elton is often considered the godfather of modern comedy, with countless iconic shows, musicals, and books on his record. Catch the multi-award-winning comedian live at Michael Fowler Centre on the 26th of April in his new stand-up show Authentic Stupidity.
He shoots… he scores!
We sat down with rising football star Joaquin Hollis, who has been selected as one of just 10 players under the age of 10 to represent New Zealand at the prestigious Barcelona Academy World Cup.
A round of a-paws
Bluey’s Big Play, the theatrical adaptation of the award-winning animated children’s TV series Bluey, is about to have its New Zealand premiere. We interviewed puppetry director Jacob Williams.