Latest news with #TeAuaha
Scoop
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
TAHI Festival 2025: NZ's Celebration Of Solo Performance Returns With A New Format And Double The Line-Up
TAHI Festival is back 10-20 September with a brand-new format, expanded partnerships, and twice the shows compared to 2023. Now in its sixth year, TAHI doubles down on its kaupapa of elevating the solo performer, unveiling a new format and bringing fresh creative energy. With 16 shows across multiple Pōneke Wellington venues, this year's programme spans laugh-out-loud comedy, raw political theatre, poetic cabaret, animal therapy, and intimate living room storytelling. BATS Theatre becomes the home to new solo works, giving artists a dedicated space to premiere original solo pieces. Meanwhile, established and award-winning favourites will take centre stage at The Hannah, Circa Theatre, Te Auaha, Two/Fifty Seven Willis Street, on the street in a party van, and - in true solo style - an artist's own apartment. 'The festival has evolved over the years,' says Festival Director Sally Richards. 'TAHI has always been about the power of one, but we know no solo artist works alone. Our new model puts that network front and centre. We give artists the wrap-around support they need to take creative leaps, while growing a platform for their work to be seen.' New this year, TAHI introduces Creative Residencies — a major step in supporting the development of solo theatre in Aotearoa. These residencies offer artists time, space, and mentorship to explore new ideas and deepen their practice in a collaborative environment. In 2025, three residencies will be delivered in partnership with Creative New Zealand and leading arts organisations: a Māori Creatives Residency with Taki Rua Productions; a New Work for 10–14 Year Olds Residency with Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa (PAYPA) and Toi Pōneke Arts Centre; and an Emerging Artist Residency with BATS Theatre. HATCH, TAHI Festival's high-energy student showcase, returns to spotlight the next generation of solo performers. In partnership with Wellington City Council, Te Auaha, Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, HATCH supports emerging artists through workshops, mentorship, and creative development, culminating in a student showcase at BATS Theatre. 'BATS is proud to be the whare for TAHI Creative Residencies and HATCH, and to serve as the vibrant hub for this year's festival,' says Tania Marie Tapiki Smith, General Manager at BATS Theatre. TAHI began in 2019 and was last presented to Pōneke audiences in 2023 with eight shows. Now, in 2025, it returns 10–20 September with double the programme, a broader creative footprint, and the same commitment to courageous storytelling from some of the most exciting solo voices from Aotearoa and beyond. The full programme and ticketing information can be found at About TAHI Festival TAHI New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance is NZ's only festival dedicated to solo performance. Founded in 2019 by Dr Sally Richards, TAHI exists to support, showcase, and celebrate solo artists across genres and generations. Now in its sixth year, TAHI continues to foster new work, champion established voices, and build a vibrant national community for solo theatre makers. Learn more at
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mental Health Charity Amplify The Voices Of 11 Inspiring Kiwis Through Innovative Audio-Visual Exhibition
Auckland, New Zealand — [4.7.25] — In collaboration with internationally-renowned director and photographer Tom Gould, Voices Of Hope are proud to announce, for the first time in Wellington, the launch of an innovative and insightful audio-visual exhibition - Behind the Smile, open from 11th July - 6th August. A striking photo and audio series, Behind the Smile profiles 11 everyday kiwis who have faced staggering mental health challenges throughout their lives. Transcending a traditional visual exhibition experience, this showcase is interactive and engaging. Guests are able to listen to each individual share stories about the challenges they've had to navigate via their mobile device while admiring the striking and contrasted profile imagery that adorns the gallery walls. The exhibition is a call for all kiwis to be more curious, empathetic, and in touch with our humanity - everyone has struggles you can't see - Behind the Smile. Voices Of Hope co-founder Genevieve Mora is proud to extend the spotlight to a diverse range of individuals through Behind the Smile. 'We are on a mission to inform, empower, and spread hope to those struggling with mental health, by amplifying inspiring voices of lived experience. For this campaign, it was really important to us to share the stories of everyday kiwis, in the hope that audiences will be able to resonate, reflect, and leave the space feeling hopeful and inspired. We are excited to bring this to a new community where hopefully more people can be positively impacted' This passion project has been over a year in the making, with Gould and the team, travelling across Aotearoa visiting the 'happy place' of each person in an effort to capture their essence in its truest form. To anyone struggling, just know that you are not alone. It's not weak to speak. Olivia Kirikiri, Producer at Te Auaha says 'Te Auaha is immensely looking forward to hosting Voices of Hope and highlighting this important kaupapa. This exhibition is more than just art—it's a powerful conversation about mental health'. Voices Of Hope invites viewers to head to Te Auaha Gallery, 65 Dixon Street, Wellington to experience this creative work, and be both inspired and comforted by the bravery and vulnerability of each individual. To get the full immersive experience BYO device and headphones Voices of Hope Voices of Hope is a mental health charity co-founded by Genevieve Mora and Jazz Thornton, dedicated to sharing lived experience stories and promoting recovery. With a vision to support those facing mental health challenges, Voices of Hope creates spaces for open dialogue, empowerment, and connection. At Voices of Hope, we believe in the power of sharing your lived experience to create positive change. Our storytelling platform exists to bring better understanding of mental health challenges, promote help-seeking behaviours and useful resources, and ultimately spread hope. Voices of Hope (VoH), a mental health charity, was founded in 2017 by Genevieve Mora and Jazz Thornton, individuals who have personally battled mental illness. Using their past experiences and their passion for content creation, they built a new narrative around mental health. Over the years, VoH has grown into a community of people around Aotearoa and the world, who contribute to the ever evolving mental health conversation. Our aim is to inspire and educate others, fostering empathy and understanding around mental health. Tom Gould Tom Gould is an award-winning director & photographer from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Gould's work has been published and exhibited at institutions globally, including MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) and the British Film Institute. He has also left his mark on the world of iconic brands, collaborating with the likes of Ralph Lauren, Nike, NBA, Timberland, Adidas and more. Te Auaha Gallery Te Kāhui Auaha is Whitireia & WelTec's creative campus that opened in 2018. Located right in the heart of Wellington City, on the corner of Cuba Street and Dixon Street, Te Kāhui Auaha facilities include two theatres, a 55 seater cinema, exhibition gallery and multiple performance & recording studios. Situated on the ground floor of Te Auaha with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Dixon street, the Gallery hosts a range of exhibitions from New Zealand and International artists and creatives. Event Details
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Peripheral Views: Marsden's Artist In Residence Exhibition Opens At Te Auaha
After six inspiring weeks at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, award-winning artist Connah Podmore concludes her time as the 2025 Artist in Residence with a collaborative exhibition, Peripheral Views, at Te Auaha from 19 – 29 June. Established in 1999, Marsden's Artist in Residence programme invites professional artists to work closely with students, building on a legacy of artistic excellence and creative exchange. This year, Connah Podmore – whose poetic drawing practice explores the depth found in everyday moments – shared her distinctive approach to composition, mark-making and process with Marsden's Visual Art students. Throughout the residency, students were encouraged to look beyond the obvious, to engage with subtle shifts of light and shadow, and to work in reverse – removing rather than adding – to build their images. Students learned to see the familiar with new eyes. 'I enjoyed learning about Connah's story and hearing the meaning behind her work,' said Olive, Year 10. 'I found shading the black canvas with a malleable rubber challenging, but I learnt how to use charcoal to create light, shadow, and monochrome depth.' Pina, Year 10 added, 'It was fascinating that instead of working from light to dark, we worked from dark to light. I learned to play with light and shadows, and to find ways to add interest to my work.' 'I loved creating a charcoal piece with Connah,' said Maddie, also in Year 10. 'Working with charcoal was a new concept to me. We took photos of shadows and recreated them using malleable rubbers to bring out the light. Connah was so inspiring and talented.' Sudhiksha in Year 10 reflected, 'It was really fun to turn a blank sheet of paper into art using only charcoal and a malleable eraser. I enjoyed going out to take photos and exploring lighting in interesting ways – turning those photos into artwork was really cool.' Kathryn Cotter, Head of Visual Art at Marsden, said the experience had a powerful impact on students: 'Connah brings a new way of viewing and interpreting familiar environments, which has really resonated with our students. Her thoughtful and experimental approach encouraged them to slow down, to observe more carefully, and to find creative depth in what they might otherwise overlook. We were incredibly privileged to have an artist of Connah's calibre in residence – her generosity in sharing her practice and process made this a truly inspiring and transformative opportunity.' The residency extended beyond Marsden, with Connah also leading a creative workshop for local primary school students on 9 May. Titled A Window on the World, the session encouraged young artists to explore texture and layering using found objects, foliage, talcum powder and water to create expressive prints. Each student selected a favourite to frame within a custom paper 'window,' giving their work a sense of perspective and place. They then had fun cutting up and collaging their remaining monoprints to create wonderful new compositions. It was a fun, hands-on introduction to creative thinking and visual storytelling. The upcoming exhibition, Peripheral Views, invites audiences to meditate on the gentle details often glanced over and discover layers of complexity in the seemingly simple. Drawing on the dispersion of light, the fleeting nature of vision, and the subtle distance between observer and object, Connah and students of Marsden present work that explores a shifting from subject to sensation. Exhibition details: Te Auaha Gallery, 65 Dixon Street, Wellington 19–29 June Monday–Friday 8.30am–6.00pm | Weekends 10.00am–3.00pm Artworks are available for purchase Marsden is proud to support and nurture creative potential through its Artist in Residence programme. Connah's time at Marsden has been both inspirational and enriching for students, staff, and the wider school community.
