The Spinoff’s top pick of events from around the motu. Here’s the best for the week April 2-9.
Welcome to The Spinoff event guide, your weekly, curated selection of gigs, events and exhibitions happening across Aotearoa. If you want to pitch your event for future guides then please use this handy form.
Whangārei
Dance: RNZB presents Dazzlehands!
Forum North
10.30am, 12pm & 2.30pm Fri, April 8
$27.23-$37.49
The vibrant ballet adaptation of the bestselling Aotearoa picture book – will kill at least one hour of the school holidays, and in fancy, farmyard style. See the RNZB’s website for the dates and locations of the rest of the nationwide tour.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Visual arts/installation: Dreamer
New Zealand International Convention Centre
April 3-12
$12-$35
“Dreamer is a brand-new indoor light festival created for curious minds of all ages.” This looks absolutely beautiful and is a chance to look inside the just-opened convention centre. It’s also bound to help kill some hours over the school holidays.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Theatre: HELP! A Monster Ate My Story
Circa Theatre
Opens Thursday, April 7
$20
“The delightful words and pictures of award-winning Wellington author Ruth Paul (Lion Guards the Cake, Stomp, Anahera, I Am Jellyfish) have thrilled young readers for many years. Now all the fun is coming to the stage in a brand-new play for children. With your HELP! Ruth and favourite characters LION, JELLYFISH, T-REX and KIWI will join forces against the MISH-MASH MONSTER to stop it eating their stories!”
Whakatū
Theatre: Dr Doolittle Jr
Theatre Royal
April 4-6
$19-$29
“Nelson Youth Theatre Company presents Doctor Dolittle JR the Musical, the classic tale of a wacky but kind doctor who can talk to animals, taking the audience on a journey from the small English village Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the far corners of the world.”
Ōtautahi
Music: K-Pop Live
Isaac Theatre Royal
2.30pm & 8pm Wed, April 8
$48-$68
A one-hour show bursting with K-Pop bangers.
