February 8, 2022

The dance community of Aotearoa/NZ recently said farewell to dance doyenne Dorothea Ashbridge. She was a wonderful classical performer in her earlier years and a beloved teacher to many, in particular Limbs Dance Company. Dr Marianne Schultz has compiled this obituary for a seminal figure. ‘A consummate artist with undying…...

February 3, 2022

RELAUNCH OF THE 2022 AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS UNDER RED LEVEL AS PROGRAMME REVISED DUE TO COVID-19 On Thursday 10 February the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts will relaunch a reduced and revised programme that can be operated viably and safely under government guidelines at…...

January 30, 2022

BATS UNDER RED OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEMLike the rest of the country Wellington is currently at Red of the Traffic Light System. This means we’ve made some changes to the way we operate.Shows are currently going ahead! Any tickets purchased so far have probably not been impacted by the…...

December 14, 2021

DUNEDIN THEATRE AWARDS 2020-21The Dunedin Theatre Reviewers Collective has gone ahead with a modified awards ceremony to acknowledge the work of local theatre practitioners across the past two years.Last year’s Dunedin Theatre Awards ceremony was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so the collective’s planned small-scale, invitation-only ceremony on December…...

December 13, 2021

THE WELLINGTON THEATRE AWARDS – NGĀ WHAKARĀKEI O WHĀTAITAI – 2021 The Wellington Theatre Awards – Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai – recognise the actors, designers, technicians, managers, writers, composers and directors that create and produce theatre in Wellington. After another interesting year for the theatre industry, with new lockdowns and…...

December 12, 2021

Open Letter to Raewyn Whyte (National Treasure) From Lyne Kia ora Raewyn I hope you are enjoying your new life on the shores of the Hokianga. I know it was nearly a year ago but we (dance people who love you) are finally getting our thoughts together to thank you.…...

November 28, 2021

2021 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award ‘SHARP, WITTY and BRILLIANT’ PLAYWRIGHT WINS TOP AWARD Playmarket is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award is Christchurch-based playwright Nathan Joe. The $10,000 cash prize recognises professional success in the career of the writer and is designed to…...

November 23, 2021

Moving beyond Square One. After all this, what would it mean for the arts and culture sector if it found itself back at square one? Square one means low wages, a medium income...

November 23, 2021

WHEN WILL ARTS IN AOTEAROA GET THE GREEN LIGHT? By James Wenley: Scene by James … As Aotearoa’s Delta outbreak stretches on and we attempt to reconcile what a ‘suppression’ approach to Covid means for us in reality, the path forward for the live arts sector in Aotearoa (we’re talking…...

November 19, 2021

STATE OF THE ARTS: an online korero Ngā mihi ki a koe! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first ever online event on Thursday 18 November 2021, STATE OF THE ARTS. What a kōrero! If you couldn’t join us on the night (or you just want to…...

November 19, 2021

INDEPENDENT ARTIST, COVID-19 SURVEY RESPONSE(Aotearoa New Zealand) By Johanna Cosgrove 19 November 2021 The last eighteen months have been hard on everyone, but it has been particularly challenging for artists who make a living from their creative practice in Aotearoa. There has been some great advocacy going on behind the…...

November 8, 2021

ADAM NZ PLAY AWARDS 2022 Submissions are now open for the 2022 Adam NZ Play Award.
Awards may be given in the following categories:- Best Play- Best Play by a Māori Playwright- Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright- Best Play by a Woman Playwright – McNaughton South Island Play Award- Dean…...

November 8, 2021

TAHI New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance seeks Expressions of Interest for 2 commissioned solos as part of the TAHI Tupu Project. This is an opportunity for theatre-makers and playwrights to create new solo performance in New Zealand. Through this project, two new works will be commissioned: 1. Commissioning of…...

October 19, 2021

FURTHER SHOWS CANCELLED DUE TO EXTENDED LOCKDOWN IN TĀMAKI MAKAURAU Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) is saddened to advise today that due to ongoing uncertainty arising from COVID-19 restrictions, their final play for 2021 – the Dentons Kensington Swan comedy season of Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward is now cancelled. Directed…...

October 19, 2021

PILOT PERFORMANCE VENUE IN THE HEART OF ŌTEPOTI (DUNEDIN) The Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust is ready to take bookings for a pilot performing arts space in the heart of the city. Te Whare o Rukutia, in the building formerly occupied by the Dunedin Community Gallery, will address the immediate need…...

October 18, 2021

AUCKLAND’S BASEMENT THEATRE CLOSING DOWN FOR 2021 As cases continue to rise, sticking to the plan and our bubbles has been more important than ever. Following the update from the government today (Monday 18th October), the Basement whānau has had to make the decision to not platform any more shows…...

October 15, 2021

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 2022 Four weeks of cutting-edge arts experiences in 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts The full programme for the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts* has been announced, featuring multiple world premieres, the finest in Māori and indigenous art,…...

October 4, 2021

THE PANTOGRAPH PUNCH SEEKS KAITOHU DIRECTOR The Pantograph Punch is an online journal and digital hub publishing bi-monthly issues that seek to excite, inspire and challenge our readers and our sector. To help us continue our mahi we are looking for someone to join us in the role of Kaitohu…...

September 29, 2021

CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND WELCOMES ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION FROM GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE ARTS SECTOR THROUGH DELTA 29 Sep 2021 Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni announced today that the Government is providing a targeted support package of reprioritised funding to help the arts and culture sector respond to…...

September 29, 2021

FOOTNOTE New Zealand Dance General Manager New, fit-for-purpose premises. Exciting business management position at a celebrated arts company. An organisation with a legacy of notable New Zealand dancers and choreographers. After 36 years as a celebrated national contemporary dance company, Footnote New Zealand Dance is well-known for creating and commissioning…...

September 25, 2021

EMILY CAMPBELL SCHOLARSHIP New Zealand performer Emily Campbell tragically passed away last year before taking up her Equity Foundation Scholarship at the Atlantic Acting School in New York. Emily was chosen by an industry judging panel from hundreds of applicants, who praised Emily’s empathy and emotional connection to her work.…...

September 20, 2021

THE NZ IMPROV FEST IS BACK, IN SPITE OF BLOODY COVIDIt’s been a hellish couple of years for live performance all across the world, but next month, the New Zealand Improv Festival returns with its 2021 programme, “Throw Away the Script”, from the 4th – 16th of October....

September 17, 2021

THE DELTA DIFFERENCE: Why Aotearoa’s Performing Arts and Events need support now – and what you can do. James Wenley, Theatre Scenes, explains why targeted support for Aotearoa’s performing arts and events sector is urgently needed to help see us through the Delta outbreak.We know that Delta is different. And…...