TIM BRAY THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES CLOSURE FOLLOWING THE SANTA CLAUS SHOW ‘24

With deep regret, the Trustees of Tim Bray Theatre Company announce that the company will close after 33 years following its final season of The Santa Claus Show '24. This difficult decision comes as a result of the ill health of Founder and Artistic Director, Tim Bray QSM, who has been diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma. This is a rare soft tissue cancer, more commonly seen in children and young adults but occasionally seen in older adults. While the condition isn’t curable, Tim has recently started a course of chemotherapy to help control the cancer and will require ongoing treatment. 

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Michelle Lafferty
TOP US COMEDIAN CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF NEW ZEALAND

Highly acclaimed US comedian, Josh Wolf, has just announced he is heading back to New Zealand this coming February. After a sold-out tour in 2023, Wolf will be bringing his hilarious show, the ‘High On Life Tour’, to more cities in 2025, including new locations he has not performed in previously.

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Michelle Lafferty
GLOBAL COMEDY STARS FELICITY WARD AND TAPE FACE JOIN BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA LINE UP

The New Zealand Comedy Trust is delighted to announce the first international and local acts taking to the stage at next year’s Best Foods Comedy Gala – Felicity Ward, Tape Face and Eli Matthewson. The ultimate night of laughs will be hosted by Hayley Sproullon 2 May in Auckland and 3 May in Wellington, kicking off the annual 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo.

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Michelle Lafferty
2024 WINNERS OF PORTAGE CERAMIC AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Te Uru is thrilled to announce the 2024 Portage Ceramic Award last night went to Wendelien Bakker for her work Sea of Grass. This year’s Merit Award winners are Terry Bell for The Clay Pulls You In, Ted Kindleysides for Figure Bottle Form (set of two) and Raukura Turei for Nau mai e hine.

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Michelle Lafferty
CELEBRATE SUMMER AT AUCKLAND LIVE’S CHRISTMAS IN AOTEA SQUARE

Auckland Live Christmas in Aotea Square is back and so is summer. While Santa is getting Christmas ready, we are transforming Aotea Square into the ultimate pre-Christmas summer hangout. From Friday 29 November to Sunday 22 December the Square will be dressed up for Christmas with The Christmas Pavilion and The Illuminating Light Forest by Angus Muir. Experience an array of free entertainment and performances – from live music to circus, visual arts to karaoke, and even an outdoor cinema.

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Michelle Lafferty
SAVE THE DATE: AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL BUSKERS FESTIVAL HITS CITY STREETS IN 2025

The 25th annual Auckland International Buskers Festival is set to bring a world-class lineup of street performers to the city for Auckland Anniversary Weekend. From 24 – 27 January, the Waterfront and CBD will be bursting with an exciting blend of extraordinary talent, from thrilling fire tricks, high-flying extreme pogo, hilarious clowning and breathtaking acrobatics.

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Michelle Lafferty
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK 2025 SEASON ANNOUNCED: ‘40S GANG DRAMA ‘RICHARD III’ AND ALL-FEMALE CAST FOR ‘SHREW’

Now in its 29th year, Auckland Shakespeare in the Park, Auckland’s only outdoor Shakespeare experience, is set to bring Shakespeare to the stage like you’ve never seen before. This summer enjoy the Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew performed by an all-female-identifying cast, and Richard III, presented as a hard-hitting gang drama. Experience Shakespeare timeless tales at The PumpHouse Theatre’s Outdoor Amphitheatre from 18 January – 15 February 2025.

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Michelle Lafferty
HAYLEY SPROULL TO HOST BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA

Make sure to mark your calendars and get ready for a night of comedy brilliance as the New Zealand Comedy Trust proudly presents the Best Foods Comedy Gala for 2025, hosted by multi-talented comedy sensation, Hayley Sproull. This unmissable night serves as the curtain-raiser for the 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo, for over three weeks of laughter, and an incredible selection of what’s hot in comedy, from 2 – 25 May.

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Michelle Lafferty
NEW ZEALAND COMEDY TRUST AND RNZ LAUNCH COMEDY PODCAST DEVELOPMENT FUND

Comedic voices have a new opportunity to bring their talents to the airwaves, with the launch of the Aotearoa Comedy Podcast Development Fund—a collaboration between RNZ and the New Zealand Comedy Trust (NZCT). The fund is designed to support the development of original, inclusive, and engaging comedy podcasts that reflect Aotearoa’s cultural diversity and creative innovation.

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Michelle Lafferty