
Hawke's Bay Roars For More: Extra Show Added For The Gruffalo At Toitoi This July
The internationally acclaimed production, based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, has captivated audiences around the world—from London's West End to Broadway. Now, in a rare treat for New Zealand families, this international hit will grace just two cities on its tour: Auckland and Hastings. That makes Toitoi the only regional venue to welcome this theatrical gem.
'We knew The Gruffalo would charm Hawke's Bay, but the demand has exceeded all expectations' says Glen Pickering, Toitoi's Presenter Services Manager. 'When international productions see how enthusiastically our community embraces world-class theatre, it puts Toitoi—and Hawke's Bay—firmly on the map. High-selling seasons like this one help us attract even more exceptional shows from around the globe to our region.'
Presented by Tall Stories and CDP Theatre Producers, The Gruffalo brings the enchanting tale of a clever mouse and his imagined monster friend to life with sing-along songs, colourful characters, and vibrant staging.
With all three existing performances down to the last few seats, the additional matinee is expected to sell quickly.
Tickets for the new 2pm Friday performance are available now at www.toitoivenues.co.nz and from the Hastings and Havelock North isites.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
India's first private maths research institute comes up in Mumbai, Fields Medal winner Manjul Bhargava on advisory council
India's first privately funded mathematics research institute, Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute (LMSI), was launched in Mumbai Sunday in the presence of world-renowned dignitaries from the field of mathematics, including Dr Manjul Bhargava, the first Indian-origin winner of the Fields Medal, the highest honour in mathematics. Dr Bhargava, who serves on LMSI's advisory council, is also set to conduct the institute's inaugural course. Currently a professor at Princeton University, Dr Bhargava will lead a seminar-based course on arithmetic statistics and number theory. Scheduled to begin later this month and continue until mid-December, it marks the first of several intensive four- to six-month programmes to be hosted by LMSI and led by prominent experts from India and abroad. With an advisory council composed of eminent mathematicians from around the world, LMSI aims to host many such intensive courses. The institute is backed by the Lodha Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lodha Group founded by Mangal Prabhat Lodha. The Foundation received an endowment of approximately Rs 20,000 crore from the Lodha family last year. Abhishek Lodha, chief executive officer and managing director of Lodha Developers, said, 'It is very important for us as a company to make sure that our success contributes in a wholesome manner to India's development. In that context, the family decided last year to donate about one-fifth of the ownership of the company to the Lodha Foundation. We have realised that for any nation to become strong, we ought to have original thinking and promote innovation.' The institute will be headed by Dr V Kumar Murty, a renowned mathematician, known for his significant contributions to number theory and arithmetic geometry. He said, 'We know that in the vast history of India, there have been many great mathematicians who contributed fundamental ideas that have shaped the world that we live in today. The LMSI aims to address fundamental problems that will help India become a developed nation and a global leader by 2047.' Dr Murty, who holds a PhD from Harvard University, has served as director of the Fields Institute and professor at the University of Toronto. Dr Murty's research covers a range of topics, including analytic number theory, information security, and arithmetic algebraic geometry. LMSI's advisory council features esteemed figures such as Dr Vikraman Balaji (Chennai Mathematical Institute), Dr Sourav Chatterjee, Dr Ravi Vakil, and Dr Yakov Eliashberg (all from Stanford University), Dr Alexander Lubotzky (Weizmann Institute of Science), and Dr Kavita Ramanan (Brown University), among others. Beyond academics, LMSI seeks to apply advanced mathematical tools, such as data science, operations research, machine learning, and optimisation, to address critical challenges in infrastructure, healthcare, and economics. Faculty will be empowered to pursue research without administrative burdens. In the future, LMSI plans to launch the Indian Congress of Mathematics. Ashish Kumar Singh, chief mentor at Lodha Foundation, said, 'The foundation of almost all technological progress today is mathematical, whether it be cryptography, cybersecurity, warfare, and definitely artificial intelligence (AI). At LMSI, we are aiming to get the brightest researchers to come together and pursue research in cutting-edge frontier mathematics.'


Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- Indian Express
People in Assam need development, not guns
Assam Government has launched a scheme to issue arms licenses to its majority population (wherever they are in minority), which it terms 'indigenous'. This new step seems to be a part of a series of anti-Muslim policies taken up by the Himanta Biswa Sarma government. In the recent past, the Assam government has pushed the subaltern Miya Muslims to the brink through consecutive actions. From demolition drives in several districts, including Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Darrang, Nagaon, Golaghat, and Kamrup, to the death of a few protesters — mostly Miya Muslims — has made Assam politics fraught with communalisation. Reportedly, the names of evicted persons in places such as Charubakhra, Chirakuta, Sandeshpur of Dhubri district, and Kachutoli of Kamrup district have also been deleted from the electoral rolls. Hundreds of Miya Muslims who migrated to several districts of eastern Assam for work — mostly as labourers — have also been allegedly threatened and told to leave, in effect, restricting their mobility within the state. Additionally, the CM's use of hurtful comments against the Miya Muslims has also made life difficult for this marginalised community. Against this backdrop, the decision to give arms licenses to the indigenous people for their own 'safety' where they are 'less' in numbers sows the seeds of further confrontation and paves the way for what can be called 'competitive marginality'. In Assam, 'Khilonjiya' or the indigenous communities have been pitted against Miya subalterns by the majoritarian forces, mainly through the use of language. Use of offensive and exclusionary terms like 'outsiders' (in Assamese, 'bahiragoto'), 'push back', 'illegal immigrants', 'Bangladeshi', 'doubtful voters' in common political parlance, coupled with contemptuous words used against Bengali-speaking Muslims, nowadays, shapes the political contour of the state. Moreover, the definition of 'indigenous' remains fraught with many challenges. Unlike in other states, in Assam, it has long been an exclusionary term. Be it the movement in the 1980s or during the debates over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) — when another term, 'Original Inhabitants (OI)' was introduced — the political contest over insider-outsider has been part of Assam's body politic. But in this debate, what is undermined is the incredible heterogeneity of Assam's society. Among the social groups that have lived in the state for centuries are Ahom, Moran, Muttuck, Sonowal, Lalung, Brahmin and other upper caste Hindus, Karbi, Tiwa, Goria Muslim, Deshi Muslim, Bodos, Bengali, Adivasis (referred to as tea tribes) and Miya Muslims, among others. These social groups migrated to Assam in different historical periods. The situation has been further complicated since the government has started offering citizenship to undocumented Bangladeshis through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). However, now the discursive term 'indigenous' is used for almost all, except the Miya Muslims, despite them constituting the largest Muslim group in Assam. Such exclusionary vocabulary is against the rights of the citizens enshrined in the Indian Constitution. So, the move to allow these undefined 'indigenous' communities to arm themselves has the potential to further provoke social unrest. Civil society groups, both from the Hindu and Muslim communities, have come out against this divisive move. It is high time for the judiciary to intervene and halt this effort before it is too late. The arming of civil society is not the way to protect the 'indigenous' population, even when there is a credible threat — it is the responsibility of the government and its police to protect people. Such efforts amount to nothing but a dog whistle. The people of Assam need an egalitarian society, good educational institutions, a proper healthcare system, and employment, not guns. The writer teaches Sociology at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi


Economic Times
a few seconds ago
- Economic Times
How Chinese streaming giants iQiyi and WeTV giving Netflix, Amazon Prime a run for their money
Synopsis Southeast Asia's streaming landscape is witnessing intense competition as Chinese platforms like iQiyi and Tencent's WeTV challenge Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. These Chinese companies are investing heavily in local content, particularly in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This strategy aims to capture the region's growing digital entertainment market, projected to reach $6. TIL Creatives Southeast Asia's streaming market is turning into a high-stakes battleground, with Chinese platforms like iQiyi and Tencent's WeTV rapidly challenging American heavyweights Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. To capture audiences, Chinese companies are aggressively investing in original, locally tailored content. With viewers demanding stories that feel closer to home, these platforms are betting big on regional productions to win loyalty. iQiyi, backed by Baidu, has been expanding across Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The company is pouring resources into local shows, with budgets of up to $1.54 million per production, and plans to release four to six Thai titles annually. It is especially targeting popular genres such as 'boys' love' and 'girls' love' dramas, which enjoy massive fan bases in the region. Tencent's WeTV, which entered Southeast Asia in 2019, has focused on idol programs designed to engage younger viewers. Its initiatives have even produced successful acts, including the seven-member boy band NexT1de. Meanwhile, early entrants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video continue to hold strong positions, but their dominance is starting to weaken as Chinese competitors gain traction. The fiercest competition is playing out in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In Thailand, for instance, Chinese platforms already control around 40% of the streaming market—surpassing the roughly 30% share held by American services. A sizable ethnic Chinese population and the rising popularity of Chinese content have helped Beijing-based platforms secure an advantage. For Chinese companies, the push into Southeast Asia is also a survival strategy. With the domestic market increasingly crowded and profits under pressure, expansion abroad offers new growth. The region's youthful demographics, growing middle class, and hunger for digital entertainment make it especially attractive. Analysts estimate that Southeast Asia's streaming market will reach $6.8 billion by 2030, up nearly 50% from 2024. This battle underscores how streaming is no longer a Western-dominated industry. By localizing content and tapping into cultural connections, Chinese companies are reshaping the balance of power in the global entertainment market—one drama, variety show, and boy band at a time.