All crew courses are held backstage. Go to the stage door at the back of the theatre, accessed from Vanguard Street or through the carpark beside Advantage Tyres.

FLY TOWER INDUCTION
Discover the world above the stage at the Theatre Royal and our region’s only counterweight fly-tower rigging system!

Led by our venue Technical Manager, this course offers a deep dive into the mechanics, uses, and limitations of the Fly-Tower System. Everything above our stage, from lighting electrics to drapery and scenery, is suspended from this system. Gain an in-depth understanding and hands-on training in its correct and safe operation, ensuring you can confidently contribute as a certified fly operator.

Safety is paramount, and as a professional performance venue, we take our responsibility seriously. The Fly-Tower System, our most crucial yet potentially hazardous equipment, is operated exclusively by certified personnel. Join us to become a trained fly operator, venue-certified to handle live local productions and collaborate with our venue staff during pack-ins and outs.

TECHNICIAN INDUCTION
Dive into the world Behind the Curtain: become a Backstage Technician! Unleash your passion for live productions by joining our backstage crew courses at the Theatre Royal.

Led by our seasoned Technical Manager, these courses provide a swift yet comprehensive introduction to our lighting, sound and intricate cabling systems that help bring performances to life. Embark on a captivating backstage tour, gain hands-on experience rigging lights and delve into the safe practices that govern the seamless operation of our diverse technical systems.

Participants acquire valuable insights into the inner workings of the Theatre Royal and receive a take-home resource. Plus, with venue certification, attendants over 13 are set to actively contribute to community productions for the next 12 months. Don't just witness the magic – become a part of it!

Theatre Royal Crew Inductions are available to people of any age as a learning experience. Attendants must meet the minimum (at the time of training) and display the expected attitude and conduct to be granted venue certification.

COMBINED REFRESHER
Brush up with a combined refresher course designed for past attendants of our technician and fly operator inductions. Led by our expert Technical and Venue Managers, we merge insights into the inner workings of the lighting and technical systems and an in-depth review of the Fly-Tower System.

What to Expect:

Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and renew your passion for life behind the scenes.

The following courses are being repeated Mon 10 - Wed 12 June. 

FLY TOWER INDUCTION
Discover the world above the stage at the Theatre Royal and our region’s only counterweight fly-tower rigging system!

Led by our venue Technical Manager, this course offers a deep dive into the mechanics, uses, and limitations of the Fly-Tower System. Everything above our stage, from lighting electrics to drapery and scenery, is suspended from this system. Gain an in-depth understanding and hands-on training in its correct and safe operation, ensuring you can confidently contribute as a certified fly operator.

Safety is paramount, and as a professional performance venue, we take our responsibility seriously. The Fly-Tower System, our most crucial yet potentially hazardous equipment, is operated exclusively by certified personnel. Join us to become a trained fly operator, venue-certified to handle live local productions and collaborate with our venue staff during pack-ins and outs.

TECHNICIAN INDUCTION
Dive into the world Behind the Curtain: become a Backstage Technician! Unleash your passion for live productions by joining our backstage crew courses at the Theatre Royal.

Led by our seasoned Technical Manager, these courses provide a swift yet comprehensive introduction to our lighting, sound and intricate cabling systems that help bring performances to life. Embark on a captivating backstage tour, gain hands-on experience rigging lights and delve into the safe practices that govern the seamless operation of our diverse technical systems.

Participants acquire valuable insights into the inner workings of the Theatre Royal and receive a take-home resource. Plus, with venue certification, attendants over 13 are set to actively contribute to community productions for the next 12 months. Don't just witness the magic – become a part of it!

Theatre Royal Crew Inductions are available to people of any age as a learning experience. Attendants must meet the minimum (at the time of training) and display the expected attitude and conduct to be granted venue certification.

COMBINED REFRESHER
Brush up with a combined refresher course designed for past attendants of our technician and fly operator inductions. Led by our expert Technical and Venue Managers, we merge insights into the inner workings of the lighting and technical systems and an in-depth review of the Fly-Tower System.

What to Expect:

Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and renew your passion for life behind the scenes. 

This performance will literally spin our whakapapa and our heritage on its axis. Written by Gregory Cooper, this 80-minute hair-raising, hilarious tongue-in-cheek race through our whole history as a city and a region will be the equivalent of being put in a spin dryer on maximum revolutions.

Doug Brooks, Donna Botha and Greg Cooper himself will be the wizards that wiz our audiences through this incredible journey of our city, Nelson, Whakatū's history.

Fasten your seat belts, bring support for your sides and rubber bands for your jaw bones as the laughter, the learning and the love of our city explodes out of the Energy Centre at Founders Heritage Park in December.

If you miss this, you miss breathing. This will be the answer to the doldrums of the fiscal downturn as tickets are priced so the whole family can enjoy this miraculous second outing from the Professional Theatre Company, Whakatū, Nelson.

Let me make this very clear… this is a must-see for everyone!

Nelson Youth Theatre presents one act plays for the whole family.

The Secret Garden, adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s much-loved book about the nurturing power friendship, love and nature can have. Follow the fortunes of Mary as her ice begins to melt and her curiosity leads her on one of the greatest adventures in popular literature. With a delightful score and a menagerie of puppets, Jessica Swale’s richly imagined adaptation is a must-see for all ages.

Cinders The True Story, a pantomime, retells the classic Cinderella tale with a few twists and witty word-play. Neil, the prince of Pantoland, is tired of looking for a suitable bride with status. When he spots Cinders at a ball, it’s love at first sight. However, marrying a kitchen maid will prove not to be as easy as it seems. This musical pantomime offers a whole new take on a very popular fairy tale with colourful characters, popular songs and a happy ever after ending. Or is it?

PLUS, IN THE 6PM PERFORMANCE ONLY: Little Red Whittington
A unique situation arises when two companies, each about to perform a different pantomime - Little Red Riding Hood and Dick Whittington, combine forces and do the two as one.

Nelson Youth Theatre presents two one act plays, Forget Me Knot and Kindly Leave the Stage.

Expect plot twists, lots of laughs and a play within a play. These plays bring together Youth Theatre talent both on the stage and behind the scenes. Plus, some of the parents will be taking to the stage in Kindly Leave the Stage.

Little Red Whittington is now being performed during the 6pm show on Sunday 19 November.

Prepare to cast off and embark on a magical voyage as Nelson Repertory Theatre proudly presents 'Go West' this Christmas Season. Set sail on a joyful journey that will take you from Scotland to the farthest corners of Canada and New Zealand. Along the way you'll meet a delightful cast of characters, each more hilarious than the last.

Our heroine is Bella McSporran, the lovable Scottish Dame who's fallen on hard times. Bella's Highland home is in jeopardy, thanks to the nefarious actions of our villain Blaize McSpreader. But fear not, for a miracle is just around the corner and it's in the form of Zippy: an angel-in-training with dreams of earning his wings. Together, they're about to take you on a journey like no other!

'Go West' is a heartwarming and hilarious pantomime that promises to deliver an abundance of songs, silliness, and smiles. Don't miss out on this enchanting production that's perfect for the whole family!

Fierce, furious, fabulously unforgiving: from its premiere at Auckland Arts Festival comes the celebrated stage adaptation of Tusiata Avia’s unapologetic poetry collection.

Inspired by the poems of celebrated New Zealand Samoan poet, Tusiata Avia who became the first female Pasifika poet to win the Ockham Book Award for poetry for The Savage Coloniser Book, this show presents a sometimes blistering, sometimes amusing, but always clear-eyed examination of colonisation and the continually thorny subjects of race in Aotearoa. 

Following on from the triumphant, internationally acclaimed Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, and again under the artful direction of Anapela Polata’ivao, Avia’s examination of race and racism, the colonised and the coloniser, is full of bold humour, courage and lacerating truths.

Not to be missed!

“a production of unparalleled excellence” - Spinoff

“honest, disruptive, and empowering” - Theatrescenes

ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMME

The Friday 20th of October performance of The Savage Coloniser Show will be New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Interpreted. This performance will no longer be Audio Described.

For more information please email [email protected] or call 027 241 4599.

To book reserved seats close to the front of the stage for a good view of the interpreter/performance, call the Theatre Royal or NCMA Box Office on 03 548 9477, or email [email protected]. 

____________________

Age 14+. The content of this show touches on important but difficult historical societal themes such as colonisation, slavery, genocide, sexual abuse and racism. Contains strong language.

Supported by: Innit Creative

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat – Live on Stage!

Yikes, the school holidays are coming. What to do with YOUR Thing One and Thing Two?! Here’s an idea, bring the whole family to The Cat in the Hat for an experience they’ll never forget. The story has been around for over 50 years and kids still love it, just like you did.

Two bored kids. (This was way before iPads). One rainy day. (We’ve all had a few of those.) And one crazy cat wearing a red-striped hat. (Where was the background check for that babysitter?!) In 1957, Dr Seuss used only 200 words to write his classic tale. More than 50 years later, The Cat in the Hat is a much-loved children’s phenomenon.

The play was adapted for the stage in 2009 by the National Theatre of Britain. The Cat in the Hat interrupts this rainy afternoon with his unexpected visit to Sally and her brother’s cozy home. Their outspoken and outraged pet Fish is astounded and concerned, but this cat will not be deterred. He will teach us all to make our own fun with nothing but a little imagination. “It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how.” Along with Thing One and Thing Two, the cat will fill the theatre with mischievous humour and madcap style.

Young and old alike will delight in this lively adaptation of a classic book coming to life before your very eyes. Spoiler alert: Things run amuck, and quickly!

The 2023 Gala Concert is the final event in the three-week Nayland College Arts Festival, which includes an Art Exhibition at Greenmeadows, Vast Dance Festival, a Drama production, Solo Performing Arts Competition, and a Contemporary Music showcase.

Join our instrumental groups, choirs, dancers and actors for this wonderful celebration of the Arts, culminating in a fabulous finale showcasing New Zealand Music.

New Zealand's sexiest and most successful comedy of all time is about to get its gear off again, in a nationwide tour this September and October!

This hilarious new production of Ladies Night promises to be this year's funniest night out as these real Kiwi blokes dare each other to put on a male strip show, after falling down on their luck and needing some extra cash. A spur of the moment idea rapidly becomes a reality as the venue is booked and the seats sold.

With the terrifying prospect of actually having to strip in front of the public only moments away, Craig, Barry, Norm, Wes and Gavin set about transforming themselves from beer belly to Six Pack.

Follow them on their journey as they get to grips with the finer points of seduction, stripping and the perfect wax job. Think Magic Mike with a double shot of Kiwi humour.

LADIES NIGHT will feature New Zealand’s hottest actor, Mike Edward (Shortland Street, Power Rangers, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Spartacus) as head stripper Barry and Mark Wright (Shortland Street, Power Rangers) as Bernie the sleazy nightclub owner.

Playing the role of Barry sees Mike come the full circle, his career launching in 1993 with an appearance in Ladies Night 2 – plucked from relative obscurity as a muscle-bound decathlete with an interest in the stage.

Mike, who has headed up the Dust Palace circus theatre for the past 15 years, says he can relate to Barry, feeling a little physically broken after years of stunt and aerial work, including stunts on James Cameron’s Avatar, yet still grafting his way in the world.

Written in 1987 by Anthony McCarten and Stephen Sinclair, Ladies Night was a global theatrical hit. The precursor to stage hits like Magic Mike starring hunky Channing Tatum, LADIES NIGHT has been translated into 16 languages and remains New Zealand’s most commercially successful play of all time.

After eight sell-out tours of Britain, it went on to win The Molière Prize, France’s premiere theatre award for comedy, in 2001.

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