Written by Rachel McLean and performed by Zachary Klein.

In the deepest reaches of the online manosphere, incels (involuntary celibates) preach their dogmatic ideology, express profound hatred for women, and share their own pervasive loneliness. But what draws young men into these spaces, and why do they stay? This verbatim solo play takes you inside the forums where isolation turns to misogyny turns to violence. Darkly funny and occasionally disturbing, blackpill interrogates an ideology that offers both belonging and misery. After a critically acclaimed 2024 development season, blackpill has its world premiere at TAHI 2026.

Recommended 16+. Contains verbatim content from extremist forums, and as such includes content that may offend or disturb including but not limited to hate speech, expressions of body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation. Audience discretion is advised. Contains flashing lights/strobe.

CREATIVE TEAM

Creator/Writer/Director: Rachel McLean
Performer: Zachary Klein
Producer: Ace Dalziel
Executive Producer: Nathan Mudge (Toi Factory)
Production and AV Design: Rebekah de Roo
Sound Design: Ben Kelly
Lighting Design: Lucas Neal
Marketing Design: Matilda Klein

ABOUT RACHEL
Rachel is a Te Whanganui-a-Tara based theatre-maker. She graduated from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington in 2022 with a BA in Theatre and Psychology, where she was awarded the Dronke Prize for Drama. Since graduating she has performed in The Tempest (Wellington Summer Shakespeare, 2023), Top Girls (WRT, 2023), and HAUSDOWN (Inconceivable Productions, 2023-5). Further acting credits in 2025 and 2026 include Farrago Bazaar and Once Upon a Time in Homowood with Red Scare Theatre Company.

Rachel made her playwriting and directorial debut in NZ Fringe 2024 with the five time award nominated development season of blackpill (Toi Factory). In 2025 she directed and dramaturged the premiere production of Death, Ray. by Zachary Klein, which received nominations for Most Promising Emerging Company and the Parkin Development Award in the New Zealand Fringe Festival. In 2026 she co-directed Stupid Stupid with Katie Hill in the New Zealand Fringe Festival, which was awarded the San Diego Fringe Tour Ready and Spectacular Organised Chaos Awards.

Throughout 2025 and 2026 she has acted as dramaturg in the development of The Hunt for the Canterbury Panther by Anna Barker, which also premieres at TAHI Festival 2026.

Written and performed by Mamaeroa Munn (Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi)
TAHI 2026 Creative Resident

This show was created as part of the TAHI Creative Residency programme, in partnership with Creative NZ and Taki Rua Productions

Dinner's on the table. The wine is poured. He should have been home hours ago.

Dinner's getting cold is a psychological thriller with flashes of humour, showcasing a darker side to the work of award-winning comedian and improviser Mamaeroa (Mo) Munn. One woman does her best to keep herself company as the evening stretches on and the truth becomes harder to ignore. What begins as an ordinary evening peels back the wallpaper of married life to reveal something far stranger and more unsettling beneath the surface.

Recommended 16+. Contains coarse language, references to domestic violence and psychological abuse.

VIEW PROGRAMME

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Mamaeroa (Mo) Munn (Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi)
Director & Mentor: Carrie Green
Technician & Production: Quentin Potts (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Production: Aroha Faletolu (Ngā Puhi) and Ralph Hilaga
Lighting design: Felix Olohan
Stage management: Emily Coyle

ABOUT MAMAEROA
Mamaeroa (Mo) Munn (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi) is a multi-award-winning comedian, improviser, writer and director based in Pōneke. She won Best Newcomer at the 2025 New Zealand International Comedy Festival for her debut comedy hour Is It Off?, which has since toured to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Chicago's iO Fest.

An improviser for more than nine years, Mo is the producer of the NZ Improv Festival and has trained in Wellington, London and Chicago. She made her playwriting debut with Oversharer at the 2025 NZ Fringe Festival to sold-out audiences and critical acclaim.

Mo is passionate about blending comedy with emotional depth, creating work that is both hilarious and relatable.

Written and performed by: Zody Takurua (Ngā Rauru, Te Kāhui Rere)‍ ‍
TAHI 2026 Creative Resident

This show was created as part of the TAHI Creative Residency programme, in partnership with Creative NZ and BATS Theatre.

After a young man receives concerning news from home, he must return and tell his father the ultimate final story. By utilising the māori pūrākau of Kuaka and Tāne Mahuta, FLIGHT CLUB takes us through the worlds of queer night life, whānau rupture and the reality of queer survival in the modern age.

Recommended 16+. Contains references to drug use, flashing lights and coarse language.

Audience interaction.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Zody Takurua (Ngā Rauru, Te Kāhui Rere)

ABOUT ZODY
Zody Mārino Takurua (Ngā Rauru, Te Kāhui Rere) is an emerging actor, writer and theatre-maker based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and a 2025 acting graduate of Te Kura Toi Whakaari – New Zealand Drama School.

Through a queer Māori lens, Zody’s work explores the necessity of fantasy in everyday life, imagining alternative realities while celebrating the nuances, joys and challenges of contemporary takatāpui experience. Zody’s performance credits include The Haka Party Incident, RURANGI and The Undertow.

In 2025, Zody continued developing new takatāpui theatre through Te Pou Theatre's KOANGA Playwrights Programme and the APHIDS residency at La Mama Theatre in Naarm.

Performed by Anna Bailey
TAHI 2026 Creative Resident

This show was redeveloped as part of the TAHI Creative Residency programme, in partnership with Creative NZ, Taki Rua Productions, and PAYPA

Flutter is a magical story of a glow worm who fell from the stars and a bat who is afraid of the dark. Premiering at TAHI 2023, this new 2026 version weaves together live music and puppetry in an adventure about friendship, bravery, and the very real threat of introduced predators in the New Zealand bush. Interactive, whimsical and heartwarming, Flutter is perfect for children aged 3-7, and is sure to delight audiences young and old. 

Children aged 3 and under are free when seated on an adult’s lap.

“Flutter is a delightful experience that is informative and entertaining for young and old alike.” - Shemaia Dixon, Theatreview

CREATIVE TEAM
Co-creator & Puppeteer: Anna Bailey
Co-creator & Director: Bridget Sanders
Co-creator & Musician/Composer: Stephanie Cairns
Co-creator: Jen McArthur
Set design and build: Struan Ashby and Roger Sanders
Puppet painter/surfaces: Erica Duthie
Costume: Sarah Bell
Electrician and light construction: Jospeh Bailey
Mentor: Kerryn Palmer

ABOUT ANNA
Anna Bailey is a puppeteer, theatre-maker and founder of String Bean Puppets, creating original works inspired by the unique flora and fauna of Aotearoa. Passionate about the art of marionettes, Anna uses puppetry to entertain, educate and spark conversations about our natural world, encouraging empathy for endangered species through playful storytelling.

Her puppetry journey began while working as an au pair for a puppeteering family in Italy, where she was inspired by the street marionettists she encountered across Europe and their remarkable ability to connect with audiences. Since then, she has performed in schools, museums, libraries and festivals throughout New Zealand and internationally.

For Flutter, Anna's bat marionette, Pepe, was hand-carved following a woodcarving puppetry course with acclaimed Icelandic puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik.

Special thanks to:
Kerryn Palmer, TAHI Festival, Marcus McShane, Taki Rua, Philipp Family foundation, Zealandia, All the children from the original development workshops, Barbarian productions and RUCKUS, Margaret and Peter Bailey, Ken Looi and May Ng.

Written and performed by Anita Wigl'it (Nick Hall)

Get to know Anita Wigl'it, star of ‘Drag Race: Canada vs the World’ and 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under S.1' in this kooky, hilarious and tell-all one-woman show. Travel back in time to 1989 when a little boy with a big personality was born. Then follow him as he grows up into the glamorous drag queen that we all know and love. Life stories, hilarious anecdotes and dazzling performances come together in this unforgettable show. You'll laugh, you might cry, and you'll definitely Wigl'it!

“An intelligent and inspiring story about someone who has overcome a life full of challenges to become a raging success living as their true self.” - Tanya Piejus, Regional News

Recommended 16+. Contains references to sexual abuse and coarse language.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Anita Wigl'it (Nick Hall)

ABOUT ANITA
Anita Wigl’it is one of New Zealand’s most popular Drag Queens. With a career that spans both the screen and stage, Wigl’it is constantly travelling New Zealand and further afield delighting audiences with her special brand of comedy and her outrageous personality.

Wigl’it is the co-owner and resident emcee of Caluzzi Cabaret on Karangahape Road, Auckland as well as the star of two seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race (Drag Race : Canada Vs the World S.1, RuPaul’s Drag Race – Down Under S.1) in which she was the first ever contestant to be crowned Miss Congeniality twice. As well as Drag Race she is also the host of the Warner Brothers Television shows House of Drag and Winner Winner Chicken Dinner and has made several appearances on New Zealand television programs (including Have You Been Paying Attention, Brain Busters and The Bachelorette) earning her a nomination for the New Zealand Television Personality of the Year in 2021.

On stage Wigl’it starred as Bernadette in Priscilla – The Musical at Auckland’s Civic Theatre at the end of 2025.

Written and performed by Raureti Ormond (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)

Lace up your boots… Grass Roots is back by popular demand for TAHI 2026!

From local club fields to Eden Park, “The Grinder” embarks on a hilarious and heartfelt odyssey through New Zealand's rugby culture. Blending iconic Kiwi anthems, pop bangers and comedy, you’re in for a ruck-us night. This energetic solo show tackles queerness, masculinity and our national obsession with the game we love here in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

“Grass Roots is about more than rugby. The talented Raureti Ormond has entertained us in a way that is touching, gives us pause and certainly engages.” - John Smythe, Theatreview

Recommended 16+. Contains sexual references, adult humour and coarse language.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Raureti Ormond (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Producer: Ace Dalziel
Set Designer: Scott Maxim
AV Designer: Grace O'Brien

ABOUT RAURETI
Raureti Ormond (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a theatre-maker descending from the waters of Waihāhā and Whanganui (ki Taupō Moana).

As a storyteller, his works weave whakaari pūoro (music theatre), matauranga māori and the histories of Aotearoa. He first wrote and directed Te Whio - a folk musical retelling of the 1953 Tangiwai Disaster, earning him a nomination for Most Promising Emerging Artist at the 2024 NZ Fringe Awards.

He was also commissioned by Kia Mau Festival to create He Ingoa - a song cycle about the sacredness of indigenous names. Premiering at Circa Theatre, it garnered him nominations for Most Promising Newcomer and Outstanding Composer of Music at the Wellington Theatre Awards 2025.

He was the 2025 recipient of the Taki Rua and Tahi Festival Creative Residency, in which he premiered Grass Roots.

Presented by TAHI with students from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and Whitireia and WelTec.

A firm TAHI favourite, HATCH returns to celebrate our next generation of solo theatre-makers. Discover tomorrow’s theatre-makers today as the HATCH emerging artists programme culminates in this vibrant student showcase of fresh faces and ideas!

Get Ready With Me!
Written and performed by Majenta Grant (Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa)
Hey, Besties! Come get ready with me for my Nan’s tangi! We’re doing soft glam, finding the perfect funeral fit, and a few #blessed sponsorships. Because if you didn’t film it… did it even happen?

ABOUT MAJENTA

Majenta Grant (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) is an emerging performer and theatre-maker currently training at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. Her work explores identity through an Indigenous lens, creating embodied, visceral stories that are both human and thought-provoking.

A Love Story
Written and performed by Alex Begbie
Oliver and Ruby have known each other for years. Now, Oliver is finally ready to share their story with the world. But every story has more than one side, and not every memory is shared the same way.

ABOUT ALEX

Alex Begbie is an actor and scriptwriter based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, with a passion for dark, character-driven storytelling. A graduate of Whitireia with a New Zealand Diploma in Drama, Alex has appeared in numerous stage productions and short films and is currently completing a Bachelor of Creativity.

Matcha do about nothing
Written and performed by Carys Chapman-Vari
How do you order your coffee? Through the eyes of a hospo worker, this story explores the impact of our everyday interactions, and what happens when kindness takes a back seat.

With thanks to All Good for their generous oat milk sponsorship.

ABOUT CARYS

Carys Chapman-Vari is an actor, dancer and choreographer from Rotorua completing a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Passionate about developing new work, she hopes to expand her practice into scriptwriting, directing and producing.

God Save the Clown
Written and performed by William Haywood (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou)

An introverted jester prepares for his biggest gig yet: being the court jester for The King, the first one since 1728.

ABOUT WILLIAM

William Haywood (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou) is a Wellington-based actor, writer and filmmaker studying at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. His work blends absurdity, satire and character-driven storytelling, using humour to explore thoughtful themes.

Everything Alive
Written and performed by Hera Yemaya (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa ki Matamata, Ngāti Hinerangi, Yurumein, Barbados, Nigeria)

Everything alive hums… so what can you hear?

ABOUT HERA

Hera Yemaya (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa ki Matamata, Ngāti Hinerangi, Yurumein, Barbados, Nigeria) is an emerging actor, writer, theatre-maker and musician based in Pōneke, currently training at Toi Whakaari. Passionate about collaboration and authentic storytelling, Hera’s work celebrates joy while creating space for young queer and BIPOC voices.

You
Written and performed by Andy Lester

This show is the penultimate step of an elaborate plan to bring about a fateful confrontation between actor and one very special audience member. You know who you are.

ABOUT ANDY

Andy Lester is a Pōneke-based theatre-maker and tauira at Te Herenga Waka studying Theatre, Physics and Statistics. Following performances at CubaDupa and NZ Fringe, HATCH marks the debut of Andy’s distinctive multidisciplinary creative voice.

Acknowledgements
Sally Richards - Producer and Facilitator
Marshall Rankin - Production and Technical Mentor
Jules Collinson - Theatre MFA Intern
Milad Ansani - Film MFA Intern
Scarlet Walker - Toi Whakaaari production intern
Mannuel Caballero - Operator
BATS Theatre
Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Mentors
Hannah Kelly
Ahi Kurunaharan
Nina Nawalowalo, The Conch

Co-written by Anna Barker and Jack Ellison-Jones. Performed by Anna Barker - TAHI 2026 Creative Resident.

This show was created as part of the TAHI Creative Residency programme, in partnership with‍ ‍Creative NZ, Taki Rua Productions, and PAYPA

You’re formally invited to the Shirley-East Cryptozoological Convention — where Aotearoa’s monster hunters gather to share their research into creatures beyond the realm of “modern science”. Rumour has it Naomi Coleridge has caught the Canterbury Panther… but is it real? And what’s that growling coming from the side of the stage? Grab your tinfoil hat and join Naomi as she faces the trials and tribulations of Aotearoa NZ’s outdoors in pursuit of something greater. Heartfelt, cringey, and very silly, this play explores achievement, family expectations, and self-realisation, with a strong connection to our natural environment.

Best suited for rangatahi aged 10-14 and their families.

Contains flashing lights

CREATIVE TEAM
Co-writer, Producer and Performer: Anna Barker
Co-writer: Jack Ellison-Jones
Director: Zachary Klein
Dramaturgy: Rachel McLean
Set Designer, Set Builder, and Lighting Designer: Nathan Arnott

ABOUT ANNA
Anna Barker is an actor and creative based in Pōneke. Graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (Acting, Distinction) from Te Herenga Waka, she also holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in theatre and film. With a background in acting, devising, stage management and publicity, Anna loves to work in a collaborative setting, specialising on the wild, the wacky and the comically absurd. She has worked around Aotearoa on and off stage with large casts, durational works, and solo managing large venues.

Theatre for young people had a strong influence on Anna growing up, sparking an ongoing love of performing arts. This is Anna's first adventure into solo performance, and she cannot wait to bring to life an original piece for young people that hopefully ignites a similar passion for live theatre.

Written and performed by Duncan Sarkies

Prepare for the alpacalypse! Join award-winning writer Duncan Sarkies for a beer and a yarn as he reads from his Ockham long-listed comic alpaca allegory, Star Gazers. Choose what Duncan reads from a giant menu of bitter, sweet, spicy and salty selections — a wild and tender leap into the high-stakes world of alpaca breeding, and a timely snapshot of a world at a crossroads.

"It’s like Succession, but with alpacas." — Toby Manhire, The Spinoff

Recommended 13+. Occasional coarse language.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Duncan Sarkies
Producer, Stage Manager and Operator: Alexander R Dickson
Designer & Publicist: Nicola Marshall

ABOUT DUNCAN
Duncan Sarkies is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, playwright and performer. His latest novel, Star Gazers, was longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, and he's perhaps best known for co-writing the cult Kiwi film Scarfies with his brother, Robert Sarkies. His screenwriting credits also include Flight of the Conchords (HBO) and What We Do in the Shadows (FX).

Every few years, like a hibernating mammal emerging from its burrow, Duncan resurfaces from his writing hovel to perform live and get it out of his system. He is now something of an alpaca expert thanks to Star Gazers, is researching rooftops for his next novel, secretly maintains a vast (if not comprehensive) chip packet collection, and can recite the alphabet backwards at an acceptable speed, provided he's not under pressure.

Written and performed by Ali Harper

It’s 1967, and Judy Garland is back, ready to reclaim her legacy after the heartbreak of her previous Australian tour. With her iconic voice, wit, and resilience, Judy steps onto the stage once more, determined to captivate hearts and silence the critics. Award-winning Ali Harper channels the music and charisma of the Hollywood star. She performs over 20 of Garland’s hit songs, including “Get Happy”, “The Trolley Song”, “The Man That Got Away” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” As the curtain rises, one question lingers: can Judy’s indomitable spirit carry her through to the final bow? Be there to witness the magic, the drama, and the triumph of a true star.

“…a fabulous performance by a mightily skilled entertainer and a duo of amazing instrumentalists.” - Jo Hills, Theatreview

Recommended 13+.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Ali Harper
Musical Arrangements: Tom Rainey
Piano: Francis Meria
Guitar/Horns: Blair Latham

ABOUT ALI
With over three decades in the entertainment industry, Ali Harper has carved out a distinctive career as a performer, producer, and creator of compelling one-woman shows that have resonated with audiences both in New Zealand and internationally.

Ali has received top honours at the United Solo Festival on 42nd St in New York, winning Best Actress for Joanna Murray-Smith's Bombshells and Best One-Woman Show for Songs for Nobodies as well as Solo Critics Award for Ali's show Judy's Encore.

Ali's other solo shows include A Doris Day Special, Legendary Divas, The Look of Love and A Natural Woman.

Passionate about connection and transformation through performance, Ali creates intimate theatrical experiences that celebrate resilience, nostalgic celebrations of those who came before us and the enduring power of music.

Presented in partnership with Circa Theatre. Supported by NZ Deaf & Hard of Hearing Foundation.

Acknowledgements:

• NZSL Interpreters - Rachel Tate and Fran Collins

• Deaf Consultant - Pollyanna Ferguson

Written and performed by Amy Grace Laura

Join multi award-winning performer Amy Grace Laura for Little Landscapes, a sensory and intimate performance for young children and their grown-ups. With nature at its heart, this gently interactive show uses storytelling and object puppetry to create tiny, quiet and playful natural worlds inspired by Amy's childhood. Made for tamariki aged 5–7 and their grown-ups. 

Capacity is limited to 10. All adults must be accompanied by a child. This is a koha performance, with payment on the day.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Amy Grace Laura

ABOUT AMY
Amy Atkins is a theatre-maker, poet and performer creating intimate, imaginative work for children and their grown-ups. An alumna of Massey University and John Bolton Theatre School, she has trained extensively in clown, bouffon, melodrama and neutral mask, and continues to develop her clown practice through performance, teaching and workshops.

Inspired by her rural childhood on an organic biodynamic market garden in Kaimai, Tauranga Moana, Amy's work draws on nature, play and sensory storytelling. Passionate about performance poetry, puppetry and audio art, her award-winning theatre has been recognised at fringe festivals across Aotearoa, with works including RAW! ASMR and ASMR HOUR earning accolades for performance, writing, sound design and accessibility.

Written and performed by a creative team led by Dr Sally Richards and Dr Kerryn Palmer.

A play reading of work in development.

MOTHERED is a new theatre work in development exploring the complex and essential relationships we have with our mothers and with motherhood. At a time when the voices of mothers, older women, mana whenua wāhine and migrant women remain underrepresented on our stages, MOTHERED creates space for these stories to be seen and heard.

Through new writing, prose, poetry and verbatim performance, the work traverses some of the infinite permutations of motherhood and our relationships with our mothers – from the mouths of babes and mouthy teenagers through to our grandmothers.

Recommended 13+. Contains mature themes and coarse language.

This is a ‘pay what you can’ performance.

Opening Song: Family Mine by Melissa and Lou Sutherland

MONOLOGUES IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

THANKS FOR THE MAMMARIES by Kerryn Palmer
Excerpt from JOY by Mel Dodge
UPSTAIRS FOR THINKING… by Melissa Sutherland
MOTHER OF A LIST - Part 1 by Sally Richards
SEED by Elisabeth Easther
MOTHER by Louise Wrightson
RANTS IN THE DARK by Emily Writes. Adapted for the stage by Mel Dodge, Lyndee Jane Rutherford and Bevin Linkhorn
THE BRIGHT SEA by Vanessa Rhodes
NOT IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD by Jamie McCaskill
PAKARU by Mitch Tawhi Thomas
UPSTAIRS FOR THINKING… Part Two by Melissa Sutherland
THE FACE IN THE MIRROR by Desiree Gezentsvey
MOTHER OF A LIST - Part 2 by Sally Richards
DREAMS OF BABIES by Vanessa Rhodes
THE SECRET LIFE OF 16 YEAR OLD GIRLS by Sarah Boddy
TO NOT BE A MOTHER by Sameena Zehra
Jacinda Ardern reflects on a career focused on the power of kindness in NPR
RANTS IN THE DARK by Emily Writes. Adapted for the stage by Mel Dodge, Lyndee Jane Rutherford and Bevin Linkhorn.
OPHELIA THINKS HARDER by Jean Betts
MOTHERED by Vanessa Rhodes

With additional verbatim material sourced from our communities.

CREATIVE TEAM
Producer: Sally Richards
Co-creators: Sally Richards and Kerryn Palmer
Collaborators, Writers & Performers: Mel Dodge, Melissa Sutherland, Sally Richards, Kerryn Palmer, Vanessa Rhodes and Sameena Zehra
Designer: Rebekah de Roo

Thank you to The Hannah, Boosted donors and to Playmarket.

Written and performed by Thom Monckton

An Order of Magnitude is the tiniest treat on repeat. An intermingled, tangential spaghetti of mime sketches weave together to create an imaginary entrée of great ambition and a chat afterwards, or come back and experience it all over again.

All ages. This is a ‘pay what you can’ performance.

CREATIVE TEAM
Producer & Performer: Thom Monckton

ABOUT THOM
Thom Monckton grew up in Pātea, went to clown school in Paris. He lives between Finland and Aotearoa, works with Cirque du Soleil, and has also trained as a ranger.

Performed by Matt Powell with live music by Matt Hutton.

For billions of years, life on Earth has engaged in a spectacular variety of behaviours, adaptations, and accidents, from the African elephant using its toenails to communicate over vast distances, to the blind catfish in a cave in Ecuador navigating its environment by growing teeth all over the outside of its body. Bring your favourite weird and wonderful animal fact and watch it come to life in a one-of-a-kind improvised nature documentary from one of Wellington's foremost improvisers. No two performances are ever the same!

“Powell really gets to show off his cultivated wit and ability to think on his feet in this format, developed from decades of performing.” - Malcolm Morrison, Theatreview

All ages. May include discussion of animal mating behaviours and anatomy.

CREATIVE TEAM
Performer: Matt Powell
Live Music: Matt Hutton
Director: Jennifer O'Sullivan
Operator: Em Maguire

ABOUT MATT
Matt Powell has been performing, directing, and teaching improvisation around New Zealand, Australia, and the world for over 25 years. A veteran of Christchurch's Court Jesters, he is a co-founder of Locomotive and Late Night Knife Fight in Wellington, and a former Artistic Director of the New Zealand Improv Festival.

His debut solo show, The History Boy, was nominated for Outstanding Solo Performance in the 2021 New Zealand Fringe Festival.

Written and performed by Lucy Heffernan

In this rock 'n' roll monologue, the glittery chaos of a children's birthday party collides with a family in crisis. Set in suburban Sydney, Party Girl follows Sprinkles the fairy as she navigates impossible expectations, mental health, and the unicorn party from hell. Swapping a magic wand for an electric guitar, this fairy is more Courtney Love than Tinkerbell. Funny, raw and moving, Party Girl is a story about love, faith and finding your voice.

★★★★★

“Truly, a show that cannot be missed. Have a laugh and a cry in one sitting.” - Mia Mathias, Theatre Thoughts

Recommended 16+. Contains mature themes, coarse language and loud noises.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer, Co-producer and Performer: Lucy Heffernan
Co-director: Tim Maddock
Co-director and Co-producer: Lily Hayman
Co-producer, Lighting Designer, Production Manager: Tyler Fitzpatrick

ABOUT LUCY
Lucy Heffernan is a writer, performer and theatre maker. A skilled songwriter, she inserts original music into all her performances.

Lucy trained a the University of Wollongong and studied a Bachelor of Performance, a Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours (First Class), and is currently undertaking a PhD in Creative Practice at the University of New South Wales funded by a Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. After seeing Fleabag in 2018 at Carriageworks, Lucy was bitten by the solo performance bug.

Party Girl is Lucy's first solo show which debuted in 2019 in Lucy's hometown of Wollongong. Party Girl has played multiple Adelaide Fringe's (where it won a Weekly Award for Best Theatre in 2023), Sydney, Newcastle and was programmed at Summerhall as part of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, where Lucy was performed one of her original songs live to air on the BBC News.

Lucy is currently working on her next solo show as part of her PhD candidature at UNSW, where she continues her exploration of how music and theatre intersect in form of 'gig theatre'.

Written and performed by Lisa Maule with accompanying musician Michelle Scullion.

Lisa Maule brings her collection of original poetry to the stage in this playful and thought-provoking performance celebrating creativity, curiosity and the everyday. With live music by Michelle Scullion, these humorous and heartfelt poems wander from a "capitalist stapler" and the need to pee, to the winding hills of Karori and the traces of ancient trees. Unexpected laughs, moments of reflection, and a fresh perspective on the world around you. Embrace unexpected laughs, challenge your norms and immerse yourself in creativity.

“The energy buzzing between Lisa and the incredible Michelle Scullion is such a highlight.” - Gin Mabey, Theatreview

Recommended 13+. Contains mature themes and coarse language.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer, Producer and Performer: Lisa Maule
Musician & Composer: Michelle Scullion
Director: Jim Moriarty (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kahungungu)

ABOUT LISA
Lisa Maule is an award-winning theatre designer, creative producer and emerging poet from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Best known for her work as a lighting designer, she has contributed to Aotearoa's performing arts sector for more than 35 years, working across theatre, education, festivals and major events.

She is currently Kaihautū Producer for Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu. Inspired by her exploration of Aotearoa's history, social justice and mātauranga, Lisa began writing poetry in 2023 as a way to make sense of the ideas she was absorbing. Encouraged by fellow poet Ruby Brunton, her writing quickly evolved into Revelation Valley—her debut poetry collection and performance, which premiered in 2025. Alongside her creative practice, Lisa is a passionate advocate for accessible knowledge as Vice President of Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand.

Written and performed by Dave Houston with accompanying musician Stephen ‘Stretch’ Teakle

Described as "a depression comedy" and "a 60-minute lifeline from the stage," STILL HERE blends character comedy, storytelling and six original live songs across punk, rock, folk, lullaby, hip-hop and psych-folk into a funny and moving exploration of mental health. Meet Uncle David, Rave Dave, Davo, Darvid Uluru Crystal, psychiatrist Davina Davis and several other Dave derivatives in this funny, moving and unforgettable show about staying here. An intoxicating blend of laughter, pathos and empathy.

The performance on 10 September (World Suicide Prevention Day 2026) is followed by a facilitated wānanga exploring mental health, suicide prevention and awareness, connection, community wellbeing and starting the conversation.

“Poignant, unpretentious and uplifting. Still Here is a little show with a whole heap of heart.” - Theatre Travels, The Butterfly Club, Melbourne

Recommended 13+. Contains mental health themes, references to depression and suicide, and coarse language.

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer: Dave Houston
Musician: Stephen 'Stretch' Teakle

ABOUT DAVE
Dave Houston is an Australian actor, musician, writer and theatre-maker who has been creating and touring original theatre for more than 30 years. Trained at the Victorian College of the Arts, he is the Artistic Director of Full-On Theatre and has performed across theatres, festivals, schools and community settings throughout Australia and internationally, first taking a solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the age of 24.

Blending storytelling, live music, comedy and community engagement, Dave is passionate about solo performance that is emotionally honest, funny and human. His work is shaped by a lifelong interest in theatre, wellbeing and human connection, and he is currently completing a Master's in Gestalt Therapy to further inform his directing and teaching practice.

A committed ally for First Nations peoples, Dave has also worked extensively as an artist-in-residence with Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital and has released two solo albums alongside six albums with his bands.

Presented and facilitated by Dave Houston

A supportive, body-based workshop for artists creating solo or small ensemble shows. Using games, improvisation, movement, personal reflection and Gestalt approaches, participants explore feeling, memory, myth, fairy tale and archetype to generate theatrical material that connects personal experience to universal human themes.

About Dave

Dave Houston is an Australian actor, musician, writer and theatre-maker who has been creating and touring original theatre for more than 30 years. Trained at the Victorian College of the Arts, he is the Artistic Director of Full-On Theatre and has performed across theatres, festivals, schools and community settings throughout Australia and internationally, first taking a solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the age of 24.

Blending storytelling, live music, comedy and community engagement, Dave is passionate about solo performance that is emotionally honest, funny and deeply human. His work is shaped by a lifelong interest in theatre, wellbeing and human connection, and he is currently completing a Master's in Gestalt Therapy to further inform his directing and teaching practice. A committed ally for First Nations peoples, Dave has also worked extensively as an artist-in-residence with Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital and has released two solo albums alongside six albums with his bands.