By Luke Di Somma & Gregory Cooper
Directed by Kip Chapman

Time to rock the vote!
Radical, riotous and bursting with wit, this bold musical experience about one of New Zealand's greatest heroes is a red-hot hit that pulsates with passion.

Our favourite daughter, suffragist, activist and cyclist Kate Sheppard, (played by Esther Stephens from the hit TV-series, West Side) is transformed from the face on the $10 note into a feminist firebrand, raising hell in this punk rock opera.

"Bursting with wit, verve and righteously rocking tunes" (THE PRESS), That Bloody Woman presents New Zealand's founding mother as you've never seen her before; loud, proud and in your face. Leading the charge to win women the vote, Kate takes on the patriarchy, public opinion and even Prime Minister Richard 'King Dick' Seddon.

Fresh from sell-out seasons in Auckland and Christchurch, Kate takes the show on the road in 2017.

"Kate's back: a kickass role model for equality and people power. May her message continue to roll out across the country." METRO MAGAZINE

"It vibrates with rocking tunes, righteous energy and knob gags. What is not to like?" THE PRESS

"...a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled, honest, sassy and poignant celebration of a world first." THEATRESCENES

Featuring Esther Stephens, Geoffrey Dolan, Phoebe Hurst, Cameron Douglas, Amy Straker, Kyle Chuen & Andy Manning

Warning: contains really loud music, really coarse language and feminist women riding bicycles!

A Christchurch Arts Festival Commission

by Die Roten Punkte (Germany)

Dysfunctional siblings Otto & Astrid are back with their latest show Eurosmash!, one of the most irreverent and funny gigs you are ever likely to see!

Otto & Astrid are Berlin's (self-appointed) Prince and Princess of Art Rock and Europop. They are unparalleled performers of stellar proportions - gigantic and explosive. Tragically orphaned as children, they ran away from their small rural hometown to Berlin, and knew instantly they had found a place among the counterculture and the solace and saviour of rock 'n' roll music.

A lipstick-smeared, tantrum-loving, sonic collision between the B52s, Kraftwerk and the early Ramones, Die Roten Punkte are truly one of a kind. Astrid's avant-garde style and legendary antics inspire both reverence and fear, while Otto's dynamic stage presence brings to mind a whirling dervish on meth.

Fans of Spinal Tap and Flight of the Conchords, say 'Hallo!' to your new favourite band!

"Orgasmic rock-und-roll experience." MONDAY MAGAZINE, CANADA
"Pitch-perfect pop parody." THE SCOTSMAN, UK
"Wild cabaret rock!" HERALD SUN, AUSTRALIA

Awards
Best Cabaret production - Melbourne Greenroom Awards 2015
Most Outstanding Show - London Fringe 2015
Best in Fest - Winnipeg Fringe 2008 & 2010

A musical imagining of Shakespeare's great soliloquies.

After a stunning sold-out show at Auckland's Pop-Up Globe, we are thrilled to have Play On in Nelson.

From Tui-nominated songwriter and award-winning composer Paul McLaney, and the producers behind Fly My Pretties, Play On is a celebration of Shakespeare set to contemporary music with an amazing New Zealand cast. McLaney has enlisted the help of high-profile musicians to perform a number of Shakespeare's most well-loved soliloquies as a song cycle.

Play On features performances from McLaney himself, alongside Julia Deans and Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle), with accompaniment from the EDIN string section, featuring Rachel Wells, Jessica Hindin and Mahuia Bridgeman-Cooper.

The brainchild of McLaney along with actor/directors Ian Mune and Peter Elliot, Play On combines the best in acting and music for an unforgettable experience.

"If music be the food of love, play on." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

A Silo Theatre Production
By Kip Chapman with Todd Emerson & Sophie Roberts
Starring Todd Emerson & Chris Parker

And we're live! The oven's caught fire, David is drinking and Peter has bad news.

In this immersive work, co-created by theatrical daredevil Kip Chapman (That Bloody Woman), Hudson & Halls Live! gives us a glimpse into the lives of two of New Zealand's trailblazing personalities at a pivotal point in their career and relationship. It's the Christmas special and they're up to their eyeballs in turkey stuffing and melting cream castles!

Long before Masterchef and My Kitchen Rules there was Hudson and Halls. In the closet with the door wide open, Peter Hudson and David Halls were New Zealand's original great gay love story - and two of our greatest entertainers.

Hudson & Halls Live! has left audiences all around the country in stitches and coming back for more. Prepare to be transported to a 1980's television studio for big laughs, rum-fuelled showdowns, and some very questionable cooking.

"It's very, very, very funny… Theatre rarely gets much better than this." METRO MAGAZINE

"HUDSON & HALLS LIVE! is one of the best shows I've seen this year, and maybe the best show. It is enormously entertaining, profoundly sad and a loving homage to two New Zealand icons." THE PANTOGRAPH PUNCH

2015 Auckland Theatre Awards
Best Production
Best Director
Actor of the Year (Chris Parker)
Best Supporting Actress (Anya Tate-Manning)

2016 Wellington Theatre Awards
Excellence in All Aspects of the Production

Originally commissioned and developed by Silo Theatre Trust with the assistance of Creative New Zealand and Silo Theatre's Patron donors. HUDSON & HALLS LIVE! premiered at Auckland Live's Herald Theatre on 6 N

Contains coarse language

Compagnia Baccalà (Switzerland)

An extraordinary physical performance blending contemporary clowning with theatre and circus.

Inspired by the era of silent films, two characters take to the empty stage in a timeless performance of enthralling physicality and exquisite humour. Poetic, surreal, ironic, acrobatic and infinitely enjoyable, they play out their unique and hilarious pas de deux through the universal language of gesture and look, without a single word being spoken.

Inventive and exciting, the characters' breath-taking fumble through mishaps, acrobatics and life will have you laughing long after you leave the theatre.

"Sometimes a show is such a total delight that it is hard to write about it without just gushing 'See it, see it!' - Pss Pss is such a show. See it, see it." TOTAL THEATRE

"... this gentle child-like dance of love and friendship transcends language and utterly captivates with imagination and fun." EDINBURGH GUIDE

Suitable for all from 9 years

Awards
Winner - Swiss Theatre Award 2016
Winner - Audience Award, 2014 Festival des arts burlesques de Saint-Etienne, France
Winner - Audience Award, 2010 Festival Des Art Du Cirque, Switzerland

The very best of Nayland College Performing Arts will be on stage at the Theatre Royal in celebration of our students and their talents and achievements in 2017. The evening will feature performances from Dance Company, Concert Band, Jazz Band, our three Choirs and songs from our 2017 musical production 'Bye Bye Birdie'.

Nelson Youth Theatre Company presents a double-bill with Aesop's Falables - a fun filled show suitable for the whole family and Holy Moses! A musical journey through plagues, the Passover, the Exodus and the Ten Commandments through clever lyrics and memorable music.

The winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by over 100 million people in 144 cities in 27 countries. The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show in Broadway history, and is still currently running in London and New York. In 2018, The Phantom of the Opera finally comes to Nelson!

The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. Its sensational, smash hit score includes "Think of Me", "Angel of Music", "Music of the Night", "All I ask of You", "Masquerade" and the title song "Phantom of the Opera."

Following in the footsteps of sell out seasons of Les Misérables, Annie, the Sound of Music and many others, the Nelson Youth Theatre Company presents The Phantom of the Opera at the Theatre Royal Nelson in April 2018! Strictly limited season - don't miss it!

Nelson Youth Theatre Company is delighted to present one of the most enduring shows of all time, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A joyous retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven scheming brothers and his coat of many colours, Joseph is a kaleidoscope of catchy songs and colourful dance numbers - Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door to Me and Go Go Go Joseph - parodying various musical styles from rock 'n roll to country and western, French ballad, calypso and jazz.

The UK's longest-running musical, which has enjoyed three West End productions, one on Broadway, and continues to tour the US and UK, Joseph launched the careers of both Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who went on to become one of the most successful musical theatre partnerships of all time.

The ultimate feel-good show, Joseph will once again see Nelson audiences cheering the music of Lloyd Webber.

Disney's musical tale of the Hans Christian Andersen classic comes to life on the stage. Nelson Youth Theatre Company invites you to journey "under the sea" with Ariel and her friends in Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr!

Nelson's talented young performers will bring the tale of Disney's animated film The Little Mermaid to life in a wonderful stage production the whole family will enjoy. In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she's the girl with the enchanting voice.

Adapted from Disney's 2008 Broadway production, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr features the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She's in Love," and the Oscar®-winning "Under the Sea."

Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr contains all of the ingredients of a classic Broadway musical - great songs, wonderful production numbers, our plucky heroine, wacky sidekick and of course, the evil villain! Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr is an enchanting look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance.

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