Tickets Here
A weekend of fresh voices and bold new theatre – three playreadings, three workshops, one big conversation about where New Zealand theatre is headed.
The Festival of New Theatre backs artists developing ambitious new work and gives audiences a first look at what’s next. Catch three brand new playreadings with a Festival Feast pass: Mrs Parker (Ella West), My Mum Stitches (Ana Mulipola), and The Consummate Professional (Andrew Todd & Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta). Each Festival Feast pass also includes access to the panel discussion, Making New Theatre in the Current Arts Landscape/Hellscape.
Round out your weekend with hands-on workshops led by industry practitioners, ticketed separately from your Festival Feast pass.
Mrs Parker by Ella West – Inspired by true events, Mrs Parker is a compelling story of determination, justice and the women who helped change a nation.
My Mum Stiches by Ana Mulipola – Woven with poetry and song, My Mum Stitches is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of family, identity and belonging. Tender, lyrical and uplifting, it celebrates the threads that connect us to those we have lost and carry forward with us.
The Consummate Professional by Andrew Todd and Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta (ages 18+) – A successful but nihilistic comedian celebrates the taping of his first one-hour standup special by booking his first one-hour “pornstar experience” with a sex worker. A thought-provoking comedy about entertaining adults; the people who do it; and the impact it has on their sense of self. A show about sex with no sex in it, it is told through a reflective stand-up comedy lens, with dramatic and musical theatre elements throughout.
Festival of New Theatre Panel Discussion – Join Dr Erin Harrington, Juanita Hepi, and Dr Pedro Ilgenfritz for a discussion on the realities of creating new theatre today. From artistic risk and audience engagement to training, sustainability, and keeping creative practice alive, they’ll explore the challenges and opportunities shaping contemporary performance in Aotearoa and beyond.
Workshops:
Putting It In Action Workshop – Young Script Writers Workshop with Josiah Morgan and the School for Young Writers (ages 12-25) – Through a range of writing and performance-based prompts, participants will explore scene-craft from multiple perspectives. Drawing on both literary and theatre traditions, the workshop will focus on creating effective, engaging, and impactful scenes.
Do The Hustle – Self Producing and Pitching Workshop with Tessa Waters (ages 16+) – A practical and fun workshop on self-producing, pitching and promoting yourself and your work. For independent artists, theatre makers and emerging producers.
Devising – devising theatre with Dan Pengelly (ages 16+) – This practical workshop will guide participants through techniques and craft skills for collaboratively creating narrative-based theatre.