2016 is the inaugural year of Off the Cuff! Join us monthly for improv, sketch comedy and anything else we have "up our sleeves". Nelson's entertainment company, Down With Mondays, in partnership with The Historic Theatre Royal aim to bring you a new show each month that will give your laughing muscles a workout.

*All members of Off the Cuff previously performed in the highly successful improv show The Deep End.

The hysterical and uplifting Menopause the Musical is heading on another sell-out New Zealand tour in 2016. Packed full of one-liners about hot flushes and memory loss backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of comedy parody versions of pop classics, the all-singing, all-dancing comedy is set in at a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common meet by chance at a lingerie sale.

The all-female cast of make fun of their woeful lives experiencing "The Change", forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges.

The women bond as they realise that menopause is no longer "The Silent Passage", it is an unavoidable stage in every woman's life.

Previous New Zealand tours have sold out, so don't delay, call your friends and book your tickets today.

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.

The Deep End is an improvised comedy show where the actors take your suggestions and use them to create scenes. It's theatre on the spot- dangerous, thrilling and often hilarious! Each monthly show will have a new theme and a cast comprised of different actors from our skilled Nelson crew, plus the occasional surprise visiting actor, so come back each month to see your favourites and be wowed by the endless ways in which the intrepid crew can invent one-off sketches, songs and stories!

"...top rate improvisational comedy... as clever as any I've watched... fresh, witty and unexpected." -Nelson Mail

Live Arts Nelson’s Summer school will showcase their performance piece de resistance. 

The students have spent a week immersed in theatre, drama, dance, singing and music, visual and creative arts, and have been part of creating and/or performing this new piece of theatre.

A gold coin donation to see these kids show their amazing talent.

Applications are now open for the inaugural Live Arts Nelson Summer School! Once upon a time... in the future

Are you looking for a summer adventure? Do you want to spend a week immersed in theatre, drama, dance, singing and music, visual and creative arts? Would you like to be part of creating and/or performing a new piece of theatre to be staged at Theatre Royal, Nelson?

Live Arts Nelson Summer School, has lined up some of the region's top professionals to tutor and guide you in musical theatre, drama, improvisation, voice, dance, music composition, visual art and costuming. Using, 'Once upon a time in the future...' as our inspiration, this five day arts-fest will take a workshop format for the first few days before opening into a collaborative and inclusive creative experience, encompassing all genres and harnessing divergent ideas to create a performance piece de resistance.

Dates:
Monday to Thursday January 25 to 28 - 9.30am to 3.30pm
Friday January 29 – performance showcase!

Cost: $275 for four days tuition and the performance showcase.

You must be between 6 and 21 years to apply.

Numbers are limited and acceptance is by application only. To apply, download and complete the application form below.

Nelson Youth Theatre Company is delighted to present a double bill, showcasing our younger performers in Heidi and The Snow Queen.

This story of Heidi, the little orphan girl who brings new hope to everyone her life touches, glows even more endearingly today than it has for generations. The way Heidi brings her gruff, old hermit grandfather back into the world and helps Clara, the invalid child, find health and happiness portrays the charming sentiment of the old world. Heidi would say that everyone will love seeing this beguiling book brought to life - and Heidi wouldn't lie.

The Snow Queen is skillfully adapted from the famous original story by Hans Christian Andersen. This is the story of Gerda, a little girl who searches for her friend Kai when he is bewitched and imprisoned by the Snow Queen in her ice palace. Gerda's innocence charms all good people and animals she meets on the way. They help her to the royal court, and on to Lapland, where good conquers evil and the children are reunited.

It's here, and it's "AN ELLE OF A SHOW" - Time Magazine

Nelson Youth Theatre Company is delighted to present the New Zealand premiere of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

Legally Blonde is a fabulously fun international award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde. It follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. This action-packed musical explodes on the stage with memorable songs and dynamic dances. Equal parts hilarious and heart-warming, this musical is so much fun it should be illegal! Legally Blonde will take you from the sorority house to the halls of justice with Broadway's brightest new heroine (and of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser), with a peppy score and playful book. This musical is ridiculously enjoyable from start to finish.

Legally Blonde, the Musical - Book by Heather Hach, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin - Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture.

One of the most well known and well loved of all the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, HMS Pinafore is a hilarious blend of razor sharp wit and beautiful music. With dashing sailors, comically pompous officers and a bevy of beautiful ladies, this is definitely one not to be missed. It's a hugely fun show that all ages can enjoy and features an all star cast!

One hound, one Holmes and the vague smell of damp fur......

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a wonderfully barking spoof!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most celebrated Sherlock Holmes story gets a gloriously funny makeover in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate, with a look of terror still etched on his face, and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street, with Dr Watson in tow, to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death, and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles.

"Unfailingly hilarious." - The Guardian

"Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!”