When choosing your ticket(s), please select carefully as you will not be able to move between areas. This is because of building capacity and fire regulations. 
Stalls (downstairs): General Admission. Seats will be removed from the flat section to make room for dancing. There will not be enough seats for everyone.
Dress Circle (upstairs): Seats allocated.

Globetrotting four piece, The Beths are thrilled to announce their return home playing seven shows throughout Aotearoa in March 2026 in celebration of their recently released fourth album Straight Line Was A Lie. 

Released in August this year, Straight Line Was A Lie is the first album released via American label ANTI-, debuting at #1 on the Aotearoa Album Chart and receiving glowing reviews from press around the world. Written in Los Angeles and self-recorded in their hometown of Auckland, it is their most vulnerable and revealing body of work to date.

In October 2025 The Beths made their late night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing Straight Line Was A Lie’s standout opening title track, praised by Stereogum as a “total slam dunk of an opener.”

This performance gives a taste of what to expect on the band’s homecoming tour which comes off the back of three solid months of touring the world. The North American leg includes some of their biggest venues to date in the U.S., including The Wiltern in Los Angeles, The Fillmore in San Francisco, The Salt Shed in Chicago, Brooklyn Paramount in New York City, Union Transfer in Philadelphia, 9:30 Club in Washington, DC and more.

Following their New Zealand dates, the band head to Australia where they play their biggest Australian headline shows thus far.

The path from The Beths’ critically celebrated and year-end-list-topping 2022 album Expert In A Dying Field to Straight Line Was A Lie was anything but straightforward. For the first time, Stokes was struggling to write new songs beyond fragments she’d recorded on her phone. She’d recently started taking an SSRI, which on one hand made her feel like she could “fix” everything broken in her life, from her mental and physical health to fraught family dynamics. At the same time, writing wasn’t coming as easily as it had before.

With Straight Line Was A Lie, Stokes broke down the typical Beths writing process, opening themselves up to a wave of creative input, with Stokes’ free-flowing writing routine proving to be therapeutic. Already a celebrated lyricist, Stokes has long impressed fans and critics with catchy, instant-classic turns of phrase that capture the personal and ladder up to the universal. But Stokes’ intentional deconstruction and rebuilding of her relationship to writing, however, has resulted in a complete renewal. Her songwriting has achieved startling new depths of insight and vulnerability, making Straight Line Was A Lie the most sharply observant, truthful, and poetic Beths project to date.

Nelson City Council presents a line up of local youth bands.

SCANNING TICKETS: Tickets will be scanned at the door into the Theatre, so please make sure you arrive in good time and have your tickets ready for scanning, either on your phone or hard copy.

ALCOHOL FREE: This is an alcohol free event.
The Theatre Royal bar will be selling non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
Food and drink from outside the Theatre Royal may not be brought into or consumed in the Theatre.

SECURITY: There will be security guards on site to ensure that the space is safe, secure and alcohol free. Bags may be checked.

SEATING INFORMATION: Seating is General Admission, not allocated.
Chairs in the flat section downstairs are being removed to provide standing room. This means there may not be a seat for everyone.
Be early to grab the position you want, either in the standing room space or in the tiered section downstairs or upstairs.

NO PASSOUTS: This is a no pass-out show, which means that if you choose to leave the venue, you may not reenter.

Early Bird prices only available for some performances. Discount ends Wednesday 3 December.

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award-winning theatrical triumph inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl.

With a book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, this Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical celebrates the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny. Matilda has captivated audiences around the globe, winning over 100 international awards and thrilling sold-out houses from London to Broadway.

Matilda is a brilliant, brave little girl with a vivid imagination and extraordinary powers. Despite being neglected by her self-absorbed parents, she finds solace in books and in her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey. But life at school is far from easy, especially under the tyrannical rule of the terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull. With courage and cleverness, Matilda proves that even the smallest among us can stand up and make a difference.

Bursting with high-energy choreography, unforgettable songs and dazzling performances, Matilda The Musical is a joyous celebration of girl power and the magic of storytelling.

Featuring an all-local cast, including some of Nelson’s most talented young performers, this production promises to be a theatrical event not to be missed. Join us for a magical night at the theatre and witness the wonder of Matilda!

The Greatest Christmas Show is New Zealand’s #1 family Christmas event, blending heartwarming moments, spectacular dance, and world-class entertainment into one unforgettable night.

Prepare for a breathtaking spectacle featuring soaring vocals that will fill the theatre with the spirit of Christmas, while our cast of incredible dancers and a jaw-dropping cirque aerial act bring the stage to life in a flurry of wonder, skill, and glittering costumes.

From high-flying feats to touching moments that capture the true meaning of Christmas, and a very special visit from Santa Claus himself, this is a show that will warm hearts, inspire smiles, and create cherished memories for the whole family.

🎟 Don’t miss the magic. Don’t miss the laughter. Don’t miss the #1 family show this Christmas.

Dreams really do come true, as we celebrate the incredible discography of Fleetwood Mac.

From their formation in 1967, constant lineup changes, crippling addictions, and tumultuous romances – threatening to derail the group’s success, Fleetwood Mac spun inner discord into gold, creating enduring music that would resonate with multiple generations of rock fans, continuing to capture the zeitgeist.

We bring all the hits - from their early British days to their US move, and various line-up changes – in this live 2-hour concert

FLEETWOOD MACS recreate the timeless music in one extravaganza you do not want to miss!

You could Go Your Own Way, or you could join us for a night of Rumours and Dreams.

Join the Creedence Clearwater Collective for a night celebrating the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty.

This real-life travelling band presents the music of one of the world’s most iconic bands – from the songs they wrote, to the songs covered, to the songs they wrote for others. All the hits that defined a generation, and have become the soundtrack for many more – all in one night, live on stage.

You do not want to hear through the grapevine that you missed out on this howling good time.

This one's for the young hearts, the old hearts, and the broken hearts. 

Story, science and a synth combine in an exhilarating performance that examines what happens in our bodies when we’re bereft. From acclaimed New Zealand company EBKM, Heartbreak Hotel tracks a woman’s broken heart in a wrenching and relatable journey that's studded with classic break-up songs and razor-sharp observations on the physiology of love.

Enjoy an hilarious, honest take on a universal human experience, and leave feeling all the better for it.

Fresh from smash-hit shows at RISING Festival in Melbourne, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and a season at Soho Theatre London.

Winner of Best Play at TimeOut Australia Arts and Culture Awards
Winner Actor of the Year (Karin McCracken) at the Wellington Theatre Awards 2024
Winner Sound Design of the Year (Te Aihe Butler) at the Wellington Theatre Awards 2024

“One of the best productions I’ve seen this year... a tender-hearted exemplar of what can be accomplished when creative stagecraft meets authentic, measured storytelling.” — TimeOut Melbourne ★★★★★

“I defy even the coldest cynic to resist the aching charm of this unapologetically tender two-hander. Hijacks your nervous system and fast-tracks its way into your soul.” — The Scotsman ★★★★

“Slickly staged and sharply written...as funny as it is wistful.” — The Stage ★★★★

12+

Supported by: Rutherford Hotel Nelson

Viking Ha! contains a tale they missed out of the famous Viking sagas.

A tale of true friendship and growing into becoming your real self.

A tale of standing up for each other.

A tale of the lesser-known minor deities of Norse mythology.

A tale of Vikings & Dragons (NB no dragons will be trained in this production).

A tale of odd socks, bad puns and all the usual pantomime silliness.

Release your inner Viking. Release your inner Dragon. Release your laughter.

Come and have some fun – you deserve it.

One stage. Ten bands. Feel the noise. Rock the City!

On Friday 5th September, Nelson's youth music scene isn't just knocking on the door of the Theatre Royal—they're taking it over! For one night only, COMMOTION and Nelson City Council are handing the legendary Theatre Royal stage over to the next generation.

Rock the City is a non-competitive youth music showcase, packed with the freshest talent. Ten incredible bands will seize the spotlight, performing their original music to an enthusiastic audience.

Featuring: Shedheads, Imperfect Circles, Salisbury Road, Recovery, Triple Stuffed, Flipswitch, Lodestone, Armadillo, Zinger and Silver Lining.

This is your chance to experience the energy when raw talent meets a professional stage and connects with an audience that champions every note. The vibe is pure support and community spirit, celebrating the creative talents of our rangatahi.

Alcohol free event.
General admission (seats not allocated).
Seats removed from the flat section downstairs to make room for dancing.

Rockshop Bandquest is Aoteaora's live music event for Primary and Intermediate aged school students. In its fifteenth year, the programme annually hosts hundreds of young bands in venues throughout the country.

Presented by the Wright Family Foundation, and powered by NZ Rockshop, the programme is run by RQP Group (Rockquest Promotions) - the team behind Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, and Showquest performing arts competitions.

The kaupapa is to encourage Primary and Intermediate aged musicians onto the stage; learning through experience and developing their performance skills alongside their teamwork, communication, goal-setting and leadership skills.

General Admission seating.
Stalls (downstairs): seats will be removed in the flat section to create standing/dancing room. This means there will not be a seat for all ticket holders.
Dress Circle (upstairs): 99 seats available. Patrons who choose to sit upstairs are guaranteed a seat, but do not have access to the stalls during the show.