From ballet to theatre, to live music, art exhibitions and incredible speakers, check out the range of epic events taking centre stage the upcoming weeks.
Fiona Pardington: A Beautiful Hesitation @ Auckland Art Gallery from 05/03/2016 – 19/06/2016
Explore themes of death, sex, flesh and the female gaze in Fiona Pardington: A Beautiful Hesitation at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. With more than 100 photographs on display, A Beautiful Hesitation is a comprehensive presentation of 30 years of Fiona Pardington’s practice. Revealing the key elements that have helped to shape her work, the exhibition celebrates one of New Zealand’s most notable photographers.
You Can Always Hand Them Back @ SKYCITY Theatre from 31/03/2016 – 16/04/2016
Maurice and Kath’s kids have left home; the nest is finally empty and a life of gin, golf and overseas jaunts awaits. That is, until the grandchildren arrive. With grace and good humour (and a little song and dance), old rhythms are given new life as they embrace the delights and demands of bath time, babysitting and bundles of joy.
To celebrate forty years of smash-hit success, Roger Hall puts the grand into grandparenting in a charming and tuneful collaboration with UK musical legend Peter Skellern.
Packed with laughter and tinged with tears, You Can Always Hand Them Back is a vintage Kiwi comedy with a heart of gold that no grandparent will want to miss and no would-be grandparent should.
Brahms and Beethoven presented by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra @ Auckland Town Hall on the 9th of April 2016
The NZSO continue their irresistible ‘Masterworks’ series with a tribute to two giants of the Romantics – Beethoven and Brahms.
Nicola Benedetti, who last captivated New Zealand audiences in 2012, returns to perform Brahms’ lyrical Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. Joining her is the cellist Leonard Elschenbroich, whose intuitive, physical style has earned a loyal international following. Having known each other since they were students, they bring an intimacy to Brahms’ yearning melodies.
Celebrating this new musical relationship between conductor and orchestra, the NZSO starts, however, with another work of compelling optimism – the Festival Overture from their own great, Douglas Lilburn.
Flashdance Live @ The Civic Theatre from 21/04/2016 to 27/04/2016
Who doesn’t love a good throwback?
Flashdance (the ultimate 80s dance flick) is now live on stage and coming to New Zealand for the first time with its all-American cast.
With electrifying dance at its core, Flashdance the Musical tells the story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a club dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and the power of pursuing your dreams.
NZ International Comedy Festival 22/04/2016 – 15/05/2016
We’ve cut down the massive programme to ten shows you can’t miss but don’t forget to check out the full programme for more.
Think you’re funny? The Comedy Fest and Flick Electric are on the lookout for New Zealand’s freshest undiscovered comic talent through the ‘Fresh as Flick competition.
Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala The biggest event on the list! Hosted by Rhys Darby and featuring crowd favourite Arj Barker (USA), Australia’s Felicity Ward, triple j breakfast host & Aria Award winner Matt Okine, Kiwi fave Urzila Carlson & many more.
- Eli Matthewson Could the Internet – arguably the greatest invention of our lifetime – be the worst thing that’s ever happened to us? Get off Buzzfeed and buy a ticket to this show to find out with the award-winning Eli Matthewson.
- Trash Test Dummies The perfect Comedy Festival event for the whole family – side-splitting laughs meets amazing circus stunts as three dexterous dummies take out the trash and take to the stage.
- Rose Matafeo – Valley of the Lols Join the hilarious Rose Matafeo as she discusses that time in every young lady’s life when she’s “not a girl, not yet a woman”.
- Parker and Sainsbury – Camping Chris Parker, Thomas Sainsbury, Kura Forrester and Brynley Stent mince around stage in the overly-dramatic-cum-campest-drawing-room drama Auckland has ever seen.
- Renee Lyons – Tinderella Tinder is no longer a game but part of a serious life plan. A show for anyone who’s been on awkward dates or made terrible life choices – Tinderella is outrageous, absurd and definitely laugh out loud funny.
- Le Comique Featuring an eclectic mix of alternative comedies (and a bit of stand-up), this show will give you a taste of your favourite flavours and some new things to try.
- Aunty Donna YouTube stars Aunty Donna are thundering into NZ for the first time. Expect 60 mins of pure killer sketch-comedy that transports you into their warped world – turning the ridiculous into the sublime.
- Matt Okine Don’t miss the multi-award winning Brisbane comedian (and triple j breakfast host) Matt Okine – down to earth, super personal and simply hilarious, Okine should definitely be on your hit list this year.
- Lords of Strut A chaotic rollercoaster of a show, these charming brothers try to hold it together as they dance and bicker through a riotous hour of physical comedy combining dance with acrobatics.
INTERNeX New Zealand 