Smokefree Rockquest is New Zealand's only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. Founded in 1989 by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, who now run Rockquest Promotions full-time out of Nelson, Smokefree Rockquest is a New Zealand institution.
Musical successes from Smokefree Rockquest include Kimbra, Broods, The Good Fun, Midnight Youth, Opshop, Annah Mac, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Pistol Youth, Bang!Bang!Eche!, Ivy Lies, Cairo Knife Fight, Cut Off Your Hands, Luke Thompson, The Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Anna Coddington, The Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, Aaradhna, Spacifix, The Naked and Famous, Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Checks, Julia Deans, Pine, King Kapisi, Kingston, The Naked and Famous, Autozamm and Elemeno P.
Smokefree Rockquest aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and to encourage their peers to support 100% original New Zealand music.
Scouts Nelson proudly presents Nelson Scout Gang Show.
A fun filled family variety show for young and old that will have you laughing in your seats. There will be well known songs, and sketches for the whole family.
It has been a long 26 years since the last show, and we are bringing it back with a force to be reckon with.
On her 16th birthday, a curse by the evil Carabosse causes the beautiful Princess Aurora to fall into a deep sleep for 100 years. Only the kiss of a prince could awaken her.
Set to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky, join the dancers as they take us on a dream-like journey through this classic fairy tale, complete with fairies, a magical kingdom and the opulent splendour and costumes we love from Gillian Francis, Nelson Academy of Dance.
The performance will present dance students as the featured performers in this authentic full-length ballet and this year Gillian introduces international dancer, Jordan Nelson.
Jordan began his professional career with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2012.  Since then he has danced with Columbia City Ballet, Madison Ballet, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and has returned to Ballet Chicago as a guest artist. His career highlights to date are performing Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux at The Harris Theatre in Chicago, dancing Stars and Stripes and Allegro Brillante with stars of NYCB and performing in The Opera House at the Kennedy Center. This was his second season with Festival Ballet Providenc and Jordan is thrilled to have the opportunity travel in Nelson NZ to work with Gillian and her dancers!
This ballet casts a spell of delight all the way to true love's kiss! A joy for the whole family and not to be missed!
A glamourous evening of entertainment, with 8 local personalities being partnered with a trained ballroom dancer and performing a ballroom dance in front of a panel of judges at the Trafalgar Centre, in order to win the coveted title of Nelson's first DANCING FOR A CAUSE winner!
Raising funds for Nelson Hospice is the aim with fully catered corporate tables and a range of seating options to suit every budget, making this a night of glamour, fun and dancing, all for a great cause!
Our eight local celebrity dancers for the event are: Rachel Reese (Mayor of Nelson), Pic Picot (Businessman-Pic's Peanut Butter), Rachel Boyack (Community leader and recent Labour Candidate for Nelson), Ros Pochin (Breast Surgeon Nelson), Paul Hampton (Victory Boxing), Matt Bouterey (Restauranteur), Matt Lawrey (Nelson City Councillor and recent Green party candidate for Nelson) and Richard Carruthers (Osteopath and Nelson Youth Theatre founder).
Everyone's favourite cat comes to mischievous life in this theatrical adaptation of the Dr Seuss classic.
From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat that they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and the craziest of ideas, he is certainly loads of fun. He turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure... but what will mum find when she gets home...?
Expect towering hats, mischief and an imagination recharge! Suitable for children from 3 years.
Tickets available from 1 May.
Despite deep personal loss, ZULU LOVE have decided not to disappoint their New Zealand audiences and they will be returning to Nelson.
ZULU LOVE is a Johannesburg (South Africa) based band starring some of Soweto's top musicians. Nelsonians will remember them as the incredible vocalists from last year's sold-out performances of Stimela the Musical. "As soon as people saw them, they were bowled over by their incredible talent, infectious enthusiasm and pure joy" Nelson Mail
Their deep rich African harmonies blend traditional styles such as isicathamiya with upbeat African Soul.
Celebrate the return of the incredible music of South Africa with artists we can't wait to see again! Don't miss the soaring voices and Zulu Love!
Ever wondered how a theatre works or wanted to have a better understanding of what is involved to make a production come to life? The Theatre Royal’s Open Day is the perfect opportunity to find out!
We are throwing open our doors and inviting you to step behind the scenes, giving you the opportunity to tread the boards of our stage and we will show you exactly how our theatre operates including the fly tower!
You will also have the opportunity to meet many of our local artists and companies who perform regularly at the theatre, join our Royal Family and find out about our technical training programmes that are available throughout the year.
It’s your chance to be ‘centre stage’! If you’ve ever wanted a look behind-the-scenes, to see how the magic of theatre really works, now is your chance.
Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature's most beloved heroines, in her madcap adventures. Featuring updated songs from Disney's thrilling animated motion picture, Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr is a fast-paced take on the classic tale.
The ever-curious Alice's journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit. Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!
Enjoy two wonderful evenings of Musical Theatre highlights from the composing debut of Cole Porter to the latest Broadway sensations!
Nelson graduate and Musical Theatre addict Yitzin Ruiz Lopez has gathered a company of likeminded performers to take you on a journey through the history of Musical Theatre. This is his goodbye to Nelson before embarking on an overseas adventure. You will hear a mix of most iconic and well known musical theatre songs and the Director's favourites.
There will be a wide range of genres - from musicals by Gershwin, Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Schönberg, Sondheim to Lin Manuel Miranda. Two unforgettable evenings of Musical Theatre - A History in Song - not to be missed!
Talented performers from throughout the region perform Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Jazz numbers.
Following a successful year with performances throughout NZ, the dancers are excited to showcase their talents and what they have achieved this year, from beginners through to senior dancers looking ahead to further their dancing overseas
