Latest news with #CircaTheatre
Scoop
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
How Does She Manage It? Fringe Festival Favourite Returns To Wellington
Fearless performer and maverick of the stage, Eliza Sanders, blew Wellingtonians away with her a revolutionary fusion of contemporary dance, cine-theatre, and quirky comedy at the New Zealand Fringe Festival in 2024. Now, after both national and international success, Manage Your Expectation returns for a very limited return season at Wellington's Circa Theatre from 16 -20 September 2025. Manage Your Expectations transforms contemporary performance through an ingenious combination of live cinema, whimsical humour, and profound physical storytelling. The work begins in the increasingly-popular style of comic performance lecture (think Hannah Gadsby's Nanette). Clownish antics and personal storytelling set up the work's second half which is brimming with evocative moments of moving image on stage and screen. Each vivid scene addresses a universal concept of human relationships: Partners, Children, Ancestors, Self and Death. ' This is Eliza's most sophisticated and nuanced piece of choreography and image-making. It's the most accessible piece of dance-led theatre we've made." says Allanah. The work has already garnered major recognition, taking home awards for Outstanding Solo Performance at NZ Fringe 2024 and Best Performer at Whangārei Fringe 2024, as well as seven award nominations in the same year, most notably Best In Fringe and Most Innovative Work (NZ Fringe) and Most Original Production at the Wellington Theatre Awards. Manage Your Expectations holds a lens up to live performance, through an ingenious combination of comedic storytelling, hypnotising live-feed cinematography, and profound movement. The simplicity of the setup - one solo performer, a camera, a screen and you, the audience - strikes awe and deep personal resonance with the audience. Movement, multimedia, and razor-sharp wit combine to examine the impossibility of perfect communication, musing on the influence of context, identity and personal history while creating something beautiful from our collective mess. Director Charley Allanah says 'It's about finding joy and humour in complexity, and in our endless inability to really understand ourselves and each other" Eliza is proud to bring this bold and deeply personal work back to Wellington as part of TAHI Festival of Solo Performance. The 10-day Festival returns this September to uplift, amplify and celebrate the powerful voices of Aotearoa New Zealand's storytellers. 'Audiences can expect to be joyously confused and then profoundly moved. I like to make people laugh in order to open up their hearts so they can cry' says Sanders. House of Sand and TAHI Festival presents: Manage Your Expectations WHEN: Tue 16 – Sat 20 Sept, 7:30pm | Sat 20 Sept, 2pm WHERE: Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street Te Aro, Wellington
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Redaction Action That Sparked A National Reckoning Comes Home
Press Release – Elephant Publicity Co-written with director Tainui Tukiwaho this uplifting one-man play is inspired by true events and shares the remarkable experience of Te Wehi Ratanas time in Rimutaka Prison part courtroom drama, part prison diary, part absurdist krero. Te Wehi Ratana's story takes centre stage in ration the Queen's veges following a theatrical act of redaction, resistance, and reclamation, playing to Circa Theatre, Wellington from 16 August – 13 September. Following its 2025 premiere at Te Pou Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival, the production comes home to the whenua where the story was born. Co-written with director Tainui Tukiwaho this uplifting one-man play is inspired by true events and shares the remarkable experience of Te Wehi Ratana's time in Rimutaka Prison. Part courtroom drama, part prison diary, part absurdist kōrero, people can expect a playful and provocative theatrical experience that questions what we hold to be true. In December 2023, Te Papa Tongarewa became ground zero for an act of protest that shook the nation. Tangata Whenua-led, direct action, climate and social justice rōpū Te Waka Hourua painted over the English text of the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition with the now-iconic provocation: 'no. Her Majesty the Queen of England is the alien. ration the Queen's veges.' The action ignited a national reckoning — sparking outrage, admiration, discomfort, and kōrero across the motu. All involved faced charges, only Te Wehi Ratana was held in Rimutaka Prison. This is the story of his 48 hours behind bars. Locked in a cell with his new mate Brian, Ratana discovered the true currency of incarceration: conversation… And lozzies. Nicotine Lozenges (or lozzies) became a bartering tool for stories. Inmates offered their thoughts — unfiltered and raw — on the Treaty, the Te Papa artivism, the Crown, and colonisation. What began as small talk soon gave way to confessions, kōrero, and hopes and dreams for the future. Ratana began collecting those reflections — written down in letters from the inmates. The voices that emerged were nuanced, poetic, conflicted, and deeply human. ration the Queen's veges is built on those voices. 'You think you know who's inside prison. But when you're in there, and you really listen, you realise: these are some of the most honest voices in the country. And they rarely get heard.' – Te Wehi Ratana Performed by the accomplished Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa), ration the Queen's veges gives shape to the people and stories Ratana met behind bars — some true, some not. From his cellmates' surprising tenderness to the fierce loyalty of the inmates in Block C, Rauhina shapeshifts through a dozen characters with humour, purpose and emotional precision. The play premiered to acclaim at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival in 2025. Critics said: 'A powerful and necessary amplification of the quieter voices of rebellion in our society.' – Art Murmurs 'A true story told with charm, clarity and honesty. Totally recommended.' — Theatreview Tukiwaho says the play illustrates the impact political action can have on those who are normally shunned in our society. 'Te Wehi found a safe space for inmates to express and share their feelings through ingenuity and genuine connection. ration the Queen's veges is a story about the quiet voice of defiance that still burns within us even when we are silenced.' It is particularly significant that ration the Queen's veges now arrives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 100 metres from where the protest took place, where Te Wehi was charged and convicted, and where the original spray-painted panel has since been removed. In April 2024, Te Papa installed a new Treaty display — a more curated response that includes video explanations and signage referencing the protest. But the original panel? It's in storage. Its future is unclear. Meanwhile, Ratana with Te Pou Theatre, is not done telling his story… CREATIVE TEAM Kaiwhakaari / Performer – Ngahiriwa Rauhina Writers / Kaituhi – Te Wehi Ratana & Tainui Tukiwaho Director / Ringatohu – Tainui Tukiwaho Stage Manager & Voice Artist – Roy Iro Lighting Design, AV Design & Production Manager – Jane Hakaraia Sound Design – Connor Magatogia Set, Costume & Props – Nicole Marsh AV Support – Bekky Boyce Operator – Marshall Rankin Produced by Te Pou Theatre and Productions SEASON DETAILS Venue: Circa Two, Circa Theatre, Wellington Early Bird Tickets: 19 June – 3 July 2025 Preview Night: Friday 15 August Season dates: 16 Aug – 13 Sept Programmed for inclusion in the TAHI – New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance Choose Your Price Night: Tuesday 19 August Audio Described Performance is at 4.30pm Sunday 7th September Sunday Special Tickets: 4.30pm Sunday 17 September, tickets are $40. Relaxed Performance: 4.30pm, Sunday 24 August. Also, pre-notes are available on request. Q&A Session: Sunday 17 Aug following the 4.30pm performance Relaxed Performance: Sunday 24 August Tickets: $30–$60 at Runtime: 50 mins (no interval) Content Note: Contains coarse language and themes related to incarceration and protest. BIOS: Tainui Tukiwaho is an experienced theatre maker having worked professionally in te ao whakaari for the past 20 years. He began his career as an actor after graduating from Unitec. Using this skill as a foundation for storytelling, he progressed to directing and writing where – over the past 10 years – he has built a sizable resume. Tainui observed a lack of Māori voices on our professional stages and quickly adopted and implemented a distinctive style and perspective representative of his cultural background. With this voice he has written, adapted and translated many plays, including Peter, Paka, Paratene, E kore a muri e hokia, Hoki Mai, Tama ma, Larger than life, Te Awarua and the international sell-out festival show Black Ties. Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa) is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans over two decades in Aotearoa's performing arts landscape. Raised in the healing waters of Whakarewarewa beneath the watchful eye of Tarawera Maunga, Ngahiriwa carries his Te Arawa whakapapa into every role—whether acting, directing, producing, or mentoring. He has worked across stage and screen, collaborating with some of the country's leading creatives, including recent roles in The Visitors, He Kōni Ahi, and Shortland Street. Passionate about elevating Te Ao Māori through storytelling, Ngahiriwa is also a devoted father and partner, committed to building platforms for future generations of Māori artists. Stage Manager and voice artist (off-stage actor) Roy Iro (Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Manahiki, Rakahanga, Tongareva) Roy Iro is an award-winning writer and actor from West Auckland, New Zealand, of Cook Islands descent. He graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2021, Iro co-created and performed in FLAMES: A Hip-Hop Musical, earning the 2021 Wellington Fringe Parkin Development Award and earning Best Supporting Actor for the short film In The Depths (2021). Iro's screen credits include appearances in the television series 'Wellington Paranormal' (2022) and Time Bandits (2024).In 2023, Iro was selected for the Q Theatre Residency Programme and Playmarket's Brown Ink residency (2023), providing him with the opportunity to develop new theatrical works and further hone his craft.
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Redaction Action That Sparked A National Reckoning Comes Home
Te Wehi Ratana's story takes centre stage in ration the Queen's veges following a theatrical act of redaction, resistance, and reclamation, playing to Circa Theatre, Wellington from 16 August – 13 September. Following its 2025 premiere at Te Pou Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival, the production comes home to the whenua where the story was born. Co-written with director Tainui Tukiwaho this uplifting one-man play is inspired by true events and shares the remarkable experience of Te Wehi Ratana's time in Rimutaka Prison. Part courtroom drama, part prison diary, part absurdist kōrero, people can expect a playful and provocative theatrical experience that questions what we hold to be true. In December 2023, Te Papa Tongarewa became ground zero for an act of protest that shook the nation. Tangata Whenua-led, direct action, climate and social justice rōpū Te Waka Hourua painted over the English text of the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition with the now-iconic provocation: 'no. Her Majesty the Queen of England is the alien. ration the Queen's veges.' The action ignited a national reckoning — sparking outrage, admiration, discomfort, and kōrero across the motu. All involved faced charges, only Te Wehi Ratana was held in Rimutaka Prison. This is the story of his 48 hours behind bars. Locked in a cell with his new mate Brian, Ratana discovered the true currency of incarceration: conversation… And lozzies. Nicotine Lozenges (or lozzies) became a bartering tool for stories. Inmates offered their thoughts — unfiltered and raw — on the Treaty, the Te Papa artivism, the Crown, and colonisation. What began as small talk soon gave way to confessions, kōrero, and hopes and dreams for the future. Ratana began collecting those reflections — written down in letters from the inmates. The voices that emerged were nuanced, poetic, conflicted, and deeply human. ration the Queen's veges is built on those voices. 'You think you know who's inside prison. But when you're in there, and you really listen, you realise: these are some of the most honest voices in the country. And they rarely get heard.' – Te Wehi Ratana Performed by the accomplished Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa), ration the Queen's veges gives shape to the people and stories Ratana met behind bars — some true, some not. From his cellmates' surprising tenderness to the fierce loyalty of the inmates in Block C, Rauhina shapeshifts through a dozen characters with humour, purpose and emotional precision. The play premiered to acclaim at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival in 2025. Critics said: 'A powerful and necessary amplification of the quieter voices of rebellion in our society.' – Art Murmurs "A true story told with charm, clarity and honesty. Totally recommended." — Theatreview Tukiwaho says the play illustrates the impact political action can have on those who are normally shunned in our society. 'Te Wehi found a safe space for inmates to express and share their feelings through ingenuity and genuine connection. ration the Queen's veges is a story about the quiet voice of defiance that still burns within us even when we are silenced.' It is particularly significant that ration the Queen's veges now arrives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 100 metres from where the protest took place, where Te Wehi was charged and convicted, and where the original spray-painted panel has since been removed. In April 2024, Te Papa installed a new Treaty display — a more curated response that includes video explanations and signage referencing the protest. But the original panel? It's in storage. Its future is unclear. Meanwhile, Ratana with Te Pou Theatre, is not done telling his story… CREATIVE TEAM Kaiwhakaari / Performer – Ngahiriwa Rauhina Writers / Kaituhi – Te Wehi Ratana & Tainui Tukiwaho Director / Ringatohu – Tainui Tukiwaho Stage Manager & Voice Artist – Roy Iro Lighting Design, AV Design & Production Manager – Jane Hakaraia Sound Design – Connor Magatogia Set, Costume & Props – Nicole Marsh AV Support – Bekky Boyce Operator – Marshall Rankin Produced by Te Pou Theatre and Productions SEASON DETAILS Venue: Circa Two, Circa Theatre, Wellington Early Bird Tickets: 19 June – 3 July 2025 Preview Night: Friday 15 August Season dates: 16 Aug - 13 Sept Programmed for inclusion in the TAHI - New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance Choose Your Price Night: Tuesday 19 August Audio Described Performance is at 4.30pm Sunday 7th September Sunday Special Tickets: 4.30pm Sunday 17 September, tickets are $40. Relaxed Performance: 4.30pm, Sunday 24 August. Also, pre-notes are available on request. Q&A Session: Sunday 17 Aug following the 4.30pm performance Relaxed Performance: Sunday 24 August Tickets: $30–$60 at Runtime: 50 mins (no interval) Content Note: Contains coarse language and themes related to incarceration and protest. Tainui Tukiwaho is an experienced theatre maker having worked professionally in te ao whakaari for the past 20 years. He began his career as an actor after graduating from Unitec. Using this skill as a foundation for storytelling, he progressed to directing and writing where – over the past 10 years – he has built a sizable resume. Tainui observed a lack of Māori voices on our professional stages and quickly adopted and implemented a distinctive style and perspective representative of his cultural background. With this voice he has written, adapted and translated many plays, including Peter, Paka, Paratene, E kore a muri e hokia, Hoki Mai, Tama ma, Larger than life, Te Awarua and the international sell-out festival show Black Ties. Ngahiriwa Rauhina (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa) is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans over two decades in Aotearoa's performing arts landscape. Raised in the healing waters of Whakarewarewa beneath the watchful eye of Tarawera Maunga, Ngahiriwa carries his Te Arawa whakapapa into every role—whether acting, directing, producing, or mentoring. He has worked across stage and screen, collaborating with some of the country's leading creatives, including recent roles in The Visitors, He Kōni Ahi, and Shortland Street. Passionate about elevating Te Ao Māori through storytelling, Ngahiriwa is also a devoted father and partner, committed to building platforms for future generations of Māori artists. Stage Manager and voice artist (off-stage actor) Roy Iro (Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Manahiki, Rakahanga, Tongareva) Roy Iro is an award-winning writer and actor from West Auckland, New Zealand, of Cook Islands descent. He graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2021, Iro co-created and performed in FLAMES: A Hip-Hop Musical, earning the 2021 Wellington Fringe Parkin Development Award and earning Best Supporting Actor for the short film In The Depths (2021). Iro's screen credits include appearances in the television series "Wellington Paranormal" (2022) and Time Bandits (2024).In 2023, Iro was selected for the Q Theatre Residency Programme and Playmarket's Brown Ink residency (2023), providing him with the opportunity to develop new theatrical works and further hone his craft.
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Circa Theatre Presents 'All The Things I Wish I Could Be' These July School Holidays
Get ready for lift-off, laughs, and loud singalongs! This July, tamariki and their grown-ups are invited on a wild, musical ride with two lovable dads—Jeff and Tom—as they explore all the things they've ever dreamed of being. From All Blacks to ballerinas, monkeys to monsters, All The Things I Wish I Could Be is a joyful, high-energy celebration of imagination, friendship, and the freedom to be whoever (or whatever!) we want. This brand-new Aotearoa-made adventure stars local legends Tom Knowles (Shrek in Shrek The Musical, Capital E national tours, Global Children's Entertainment Awards winner) and Jed Parsons aka Jeff Parsnips (award-winning indie singer-songwriter and rising star of the Kiwi kids music scene). Packed with hilarious characters, playful chaos, and a full set of catchy original tunes performed live, this 'very Kiwi' comedy is perfect for tamariki ages 3+—and guaranteed fun for the grown-ups who bring them. Sing, dance, and roar along as Jeff and Tom bumble their way through time, space, and endless possibilities. Where will they land next? The moon? A jungle? A rugby field? You'll have to come and find out… SHOW DETAILS Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 Tuesday 1 July – Saturday 12 July 2025 10.00am & 11.30am daily Special Sunday Shows: 6 July at 1.30pm & 3.00pm Run time: 50 minutes Tickets: $20 per person/ $70 Family Pass (4 tickets) TICKETS: EXTRA SPECIAL PERFORMANCES Thursday 10 July – 10:00am: Jams & Prams Perfect for babies, toddlers, and their grown-ups—this relaxed kids concert version has a pram park and extra space for wrigglers. Thursday 10 July – 11:30am: Unplugged A Relaxed Performance for anyone who might benefit from a gentler theatre experience—modified lighting, sound, and a welcoming vibe for all. Come find out what YOU could be! All The Things I Wish I Could Be is a high-energy, big-hearted show that proves there's no limit to who—or how silly—you can be.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
GIVE WAY! The musical about road rules
Photo: Roc Torio In 2012, a change to New Zealand's road rules caused a frenzy among some drivers who worried our roads would turn to chaos. As it turned out, the intersection turning rule reversal went down relatively smoothly. Thirteen years later, it has become the topic of an eccentric musical which is currently showing at Wellington's Circa Theatre. GIVE WAY! stars an idealistic young Ministry of Transport worker who leads the charge for the new rule and is met with a flurry of anti-change protestors. Producer Dave Armstrong and lead actor Jackson Burling speak to Kathryn.
