As a professional performance venue, we have a responsibility to maintain a safe working environment for our cast, crew, and audience. Our Crew Training Initiative is an annual certification scheme that introduces and maintains local crew members' knowledge and skills to ensure backstage activities are carried out to in-house protocols and industry safe working practices.

People working as Fly Operators or Technicians are required to maintain their training in order to work in the building.

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!

As part of this year's Tuku 21, 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, 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.

Entry is free, and no need to book!

This show has been cancelled

Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean boasts about a documented history of over 2,500 years. Being a key trading post over several centuries connecting east and west of the ancient trade routes, the influence of Theravada Buddhism and the colonisation which began in 1500s with the arrival of the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch and finally the British have mainly influenced Sri Lankan Cultural heritage to be so diverse and vibrant.

You'd be able to experience an authentic Sri Lankan cuisine which has close ties with South and Southeast Asian cuisines, and the notable influence of middle eastern and Dutch cuisines. A cultural performance, range of local games with a stall displaying key elements of the Sri Lankan heritage and adaptation of modern technology will be presented.

Event schedule:
11 15 AM: Cultural performance (Music, dance and performing arts)
12 30 - 2 PM: Lunch (enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan meal)
2 30 PM: Local games with prizes to be won (Indoor and outdoor activities)
11 AM - 4 PM: A stall displaying key elements of Sri Lankan heritage (including a unique opportunity to see how locals embrace technology at cultural/religious events)
Access to all of the above items is included in your 'General Admission' ticket.

 

Far from being 'just another cover band', The ABBA Show is a full-scale concert production featuring more than two hours of fun, energetic musical performances with a live backing band, replica costumes, theatrical lighting and effects and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle.

Starring incredibly detailed performances from internationally acclaimed impersonators ABBAsolutely fABBAulous, The ABBA Show gives fans of all ages a chance to re-live the ABBA concert experience, celebrate the music of ABBA and dance the night away!

Comedy Gold in association with Theatre Royal Nelson presents 'One night with the King' - The latest stand up comedy special from star of stage and screen; Andre King.

Once described as '...the squeaky hinge on the lid of Pandora's box...' King's comedy sparks and tickles, goading the audience into a false sense of security before bombarding the crowd with a flurry of hilarious punchlines leaving the audience gasping for breath and screaming for more. Often compared to 'The Great One - Jackie Gleason' and presenting a style of stand up comedy that harkens back to the crafts golden age, this is fun the whole family can enjoy.

'Endearing, hilariously caricatured impressions and accents. Comedy at it's most sincere and civilised!' Joanna Alpern - Broadway Baby Edinburgh

'One of New Zealands finest comedy exports…irresistibly funny!' Mark Ritchie - The Stage UK

The audience will be filmed as part of a live audience for a DVD recording.

Come and hear brass bands from the "Top of the South" in an evening of entertainment. This programme will feature some of the best soloists in NZ performing modern and traditional brass concert music.

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).

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.

Our after-work crew training courses are held on-stage by our technical manager and provide members of the community with the unique opportunity to become venue-certified as a technician, fly operator or venue stage manager.

Participants receive a take-home resource and become venue-certified to work in their field of training for the next 12 months.

For full course details, head here.
Theatre hirers wishing to pay course fees with an upcoming box-office settlement should head here.

The Big Sing is a dynamic, national group-singing competition for secondary school students.

Festivals are held in June in eleven New Zealand regions and The Big Sing has grown into a major highlight of the secondary school music calendar. This year, more than 8000 young people are taking part in regional festivals nationwide, and the number continues to grow.

Come and hear talented young singers from schools across the region as they compete for a place in the Grand Final held later this year!

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