3 actors. 60 minutes. 100 things. Can they do it?

100 Things is the craziest improv comedy show in Tāmaki Makaurau, and now it's going on tour!

Imagine if the TV shows Taskmaster and Whose Line Is It Anyway? had a baby ... it'll be kind of like that!

How does it work? In an improv show, the improvisers typically ask the audience for a few suggestions that will inform how the show plays out. In 100 Things, the actors will write down -- you guessed it -- 100 things to incorporate into their show, with a little help from the audience.

ONE HUNDRED THINGS, YOU GUYS. IN A ONE HOUR SHOW. They have to use all 100 of them, or the show will be deemed a catastrophic failure! If they pull it off, they'll have set a world record for most ask-fors used in an improv show.

100 Things has previously applied for and been rejected by the Guinness Book of World Records. The book-keepers over at Guinness may think "most ask-fors used per minute in an improvised comedy show" is not a valid world record category, but we sure do! 100 Things is now driven by a powerful desire to prove the Guinness Book of World Records Wrong. This desire leads the team to amazing new heights of improv skill.

In the meantime, 100 Things has collected a range of other accolades! A sold-out season at Dunedin Fringe 2024. Winner of Late Night Knife Fight improv showdown in Tāmaki Makaurau. And nominated for best ensemble at New Zealand Improv Festival 2024!

Performed by Rebecca Mary Gwendolon (RAW Comedy finalist), Izzy Renton (Shortland St) and Frankie Browne (Ugly Shakespeare Company): three improvisor besties who can't wait to share this show with you.

Six characters from classic plays meet as present day teenagers at midnight on The Bridge to Nowhere (the one in the Hutt..)  The endless angst of Chekhov and Ibsen, the personal dilemma solilioquies of Shakespeare and the ancient agonies of Sophocles transform to snappy one-liners and hilarious antics as the young people competitively re-enact moments from their dysfunctional lives. Mixing original text and texting, quotes and online questioning, the young people struggle with contemporary versions of age old problems - love, family, loneliness and belonging, to find their way forward.

Meeting first on 'Whats the Point .com' they agree to 'end it all." But really, Antigone and Hamlet want to spite their uncles, Masha (the Seagull) wants sympathy for her humiliating love triangle, Irena (Three Sisters) wants to get out of Foxton and Hedda (Hedda Gabler) wants to control them all, while Helena (A Midsummer Nights Dream) is very keen to meet Hamlet - " He sounds pretty much a mess. I'll just wash my hair.."

An award winning play by Micky Delahunty returning to the Fringe eighteen years after its first performance in the same spot and performances in schools and theatres round the country.

So if you love the classics AND/OR are young OR know some young people OR were ever young yourself!? - you will find this comedy celebrating the power of human connection as funny and relevant as ever.

Having Blitzed the UK's controversial Citizenship Test, Award Winning Comedian and Freshly Minted Brit Sully O'Sullivan shines a light on the reality of Britain's claims to Greatness. Like how do you apologise for accidentally hanging a Monkey because you thought it was a French spy? Was Queen Elizabeth really her own cousin? And what's actually in Brown Sauce? "After two decades gigging in every nook & cranny of Old Blighty, Sully O'Sullivan celebrates and satirises all that's great about Britannia in one comedic swoop!" Scottish Comedy Festival

"a wicked sense of humour" BBC

"a blast of hilarity" Manchester Evening News

"This show is ABSOLUTELY NOT sanctioned by the British Tourism Board" britishtourismboard.org.uk

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/ulcyiw6WGP4?si=KoD8RPM4NA4-lLqx

A Man Named Dave tells the story of an ordinary man with an extraordinary problem. Dave lives a perfectly normal life--so normal, in fact, that every moment is dictated by The Narrator. Day after day, he trudges through his monotonous 9-5, until one morning he decides to flip the script.
What follows is a chaotic and playful journey to independence, as Dave wrestles for control of his own story. Along the way, his co-workers--appliances, office supplies, and unexpected allies--spring to life. Some help him, some hinder him, but all push him closer to discovering what it really means to take charge of his own destiny.
Blending voiceover, puppetry, and live performance, A Man Named Dave is a witty and imaginative exploration of self-determination in an absurd world.

For two nights only, two of New Zealand's top young rising comedy stars - Tama Alexander and Craig Westenberg - join forces for a series of skits, gags, goofs, and laughs in this not-to-be-missed show.

With topics ranging from the absurd to the absurdly funny, A Regular Show answers the question: 'how chaotic can a live sketch comedy show get?'

Coming to NZ Fringe for the first time, A Regular Show is truly an experience not to miss!

Craig Westenberg has extensively toured the North Island and has performed at the New Zealand and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. Described as being "clever, confident, and witty", Craig has been making his mark in the Auckland comedy scene and beyond. He is a frequent performer at The Classic Comedy Club in Auckland and has contributed to 7 Days and Paddy Gower Has Issues.

Tama Alexander has spent the last few years working professionally in the comedy industry, travelling the country and performing at numerous venues, and is often described as having the energy of a "manic TV presenter".

Don't miss your chance to see two of the nation's up-and-coming talents in A Regular Show!

Ever heard a bald man sing Rihanna? The Edinburgh Fringe phenomenon returns to NZ Fringe. Scottish baldy Gary Sansome takes an irreverent look at music and popular culture in this hilarious, fun-packed show. 'Recommended for anyone who wants to laugh' (PelicanMagazine.com.au).  'Escapism of the highest order... superb crowd work, improvisation and the largest amount of energy I have ever seen used on stage. An hour of pure entertainment and hilarity' ***** (BunburyMagazine.com).

"A triumph of creativity, community and comedy; hilarious, heartfelt, unique"
- Theatreview

"Airhorn! is the night out that you deserve, a guarantee that you'll leave thrilled and giggling. A triumph of alternate comedy that can't stop, won't stop, and shouldn't stop."
- Wellyott

The beloved monthly show of comedic carnage is back for another Fringe extravaganza! Airhorn! is a collection of the hottest and funniest comedians in Wellington coming together for a dayglo collage of alternative comedy. It is bright, it is loud, it is violent, it is heartfelt, it is everything you want AND it is everything you need! This will be a double-stuffed spectacle of the stars you won't wanna miss!

This show will be made up of some of your faves like:

- Alayne Dick
- Anna Maclean
- Booth the Clown
- Ginge and Minge
- Lesa MacLeod-Whiting
- Lily Catastrophe
- Jak Darling
- Samantha Hannah
- Zach Mandeville

Plus special guests and other surprises.  Last year was a literal brawl. This year will be a fantasia.

Ahoy there, me hearties!! Are ye sick of the lily-livered landlubbers and scurvy dogs? Are ye in the mood for high adventure? Then climb aboard Cap'n Bob and First-Mate Mickeys comedy galleon and set sail on the good ship ARRRRRRRRR! Join a fleet of guest comedians as we all walk the plank and snuffle for booty!! Tickets be cheaper than pieces of eight so don't be an arrrrrrrrrsole and join our comedy crew! Splice the mainbrace!!! All aboard!!!.

Neil Thornton, that grumpy bearded guy who's won all kinds of awards (Best Comedian, Best MC) is back with an hour of new material about his lifelong, ceaseless, and futile struggles and obsessions. Protagonists, Antagonists, and the questionable use of an injectable agonist.

"Thornton is just a master of the craft of comedy - the room is totally unified and he knows how to follow our responses." - Theatreview

"A bold performer with intelligent material. Constantly amusing and thought-provoking." - ruminator.co.nz

Outstanding Contribution to the Industry, New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards, 2023

Best Industry Helper, 2018, 2019, 2020 Wellington Comedy Awards

Best MC, 2022 Wellington Comedy Awards

Best Comedian, 2020 Wellington Comedy Awards

Best Male Comedian, 2020 Cartel Comedy Awards

Best Mentor, 2021 Cartel Comedy Awards

"A bonkers heartbreaker of a solo masterpiece"

"Original and unique in absolute spades"

"This show is future legendary"

"Alice May Connolly is a bonafide freakin [star]"

"Hugely innovative"

"Extremely silly"

"Funny. Delightful. Surprising. Quirky. Deep."

"A portrait of how we all cope in such varied ways"

"Five star show"

- really cool people who saw the show in the comedy fest

Hot on the heels of her lead turn in NZs festival hit film, The Weed Eaters, Alice May Connolly blends stand up comedy and theatre into a mischievous, perverse, unforgettable exploration of identity, family, and grief.

If you like watching an assortment of Stand-up comedians, while enjoying pizza and beverages, then Alien Comedy is for you.

Join the cult following, its Wellington's second longest running Comedy Show. First Thursday of every month, 8pm at Moon Bar in Newtown.

Fringe Festival Editions! Two shows in one night!

Amid the Summer's Malice is a re-write of A Midsummer Night's Dream that focuses in on agency and consent, while still keeping the humour. Follow Hermia as she navigates escaping an arranged marriage, gets lost in the streets with her friends Lysander and Demetrius, stumbles into Oberon's love potion plot, deals with the fairy king's meddling, and then come out the other side with Lysander happily in love with her, and she is magically drugged to love him back. Classic Midsummer! Meanwhile, poor Richard (just call him Dick) is putting on a one-man show for the big wedding, and of course, nothing could possibly go wrong there either. With all the magical transformations and love-potions, the implications for agency and consent could not be clearer; so come along to see this funny, colourful story told again, in a modern setting with updated language, and with modern issues at the core.

The forest is calling! This summer, a new company of players, The Midsummer Botanicals, invite audiences to step beneath the trees and into the wild, wondrous world of As You Like It - a sun-soaked celebration of laughter and community blooming in one of Wellington’s gorgeous parks for the first week of the Wellington Fringe Festival.

In 1983, A Midsummer Night’s Dream lit up the Victoria University Quad and sparked a beloved tradition of outdoor Shakespeare in Wellington - a festival of artistry, friendship, and open-air delight that ran for over forty years. After its sudden end in 2023, a vital chapter of our city’s cultural story seemed to close. But this February, the Botanicals are bringing it gloriously back to life.

Helmed by director Eli Hancock (he/they) and produced by Shakespeare’s North Productions, As You Like It promises a riotous return to form; where the music is live, the language sparkles, and the forest is very much alive.

“As You Like It is Shakespeare at his most joyous,” says Hancock. “It’s about finding yourself in unexpected places - through love, disguise, friendship, and the wilderness. After years of loss and uncertainty in the arts, this feels like a healing; a reminder of why we make theatre in the first place.”

Set in a vibrant reimagining of Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden, this production draws on courtyard and marketplace traditions of performance, transforming Wellington’s Aro Valley Park into a living, breathing garden of music, colour, and character. Audiences are invited to arrive early, explore the space, and meet the motley cast of lovers and fools before the story even begins. Expect song, sun, silliness, and the scent of summer roses.

You know those days when you have to laugh or you'd cry? Mark and Leigh wrote that stuff down, coloured the pages, screwed them up, lit them on fire.. and infused the ashes into poems and songs.The singer of sad songs who sings with "a voice that stops traffic" and longs to be funny, hangs on every oaked word of the wise poet.
Mark's words can soothe the angry, fire up the lowly and hug a grieving heart all at once, such is "the magic one feels when seeing Mark perform his poetry live".
If a good poem is food for thought, Mark's plates, delivered fresh as though he is just streaming consciousness, are a degustation where every morsel leaves you wanting more.
Leigh loves making people laugh and is too often her own material.. (being diagnosed ADHD as a young working mum explained a few things... ) but as a singer-songwriter she just can't seem to write a happy song. People have asked, and she has tried! Her songs see her described as a "female piano playing Bob Dylan". Songs that call for tissues more than dancing shoes.

You know those days when you have to laugh or you'd cry? Mark and Leigh wrote that stuff down, coloured the pages, screwed them up, lit them on fire.. and infused the ashes into poems and songs.The singer of sad songs who sings with "a voice that stops traffic" and longs to be funny, hangs on every oaked word of the wise poet.
Mark's words can soothe the angry, fire up the lowly and hug a grieving heart all at once, such is "the magic one feels when seeing Mark perform his poetry live".
If a good poem is food for thought, Mark's plates, delivered fresh as though he is just streaming consciousness, are a degustation where every morsel leaves you wanting more.
Leigh loves making people laugh and is too often her own material.. (being diagnosed ADHD as a young working mum explained a few things... ) but as a singer-songwriter she just can't seem to write a happy song. People have asked, and she has tried! Her songs see her described as a "female piano playing Bob Dylan". Songs that call for tissues more than dancing shoes.

A hilarious and spellbinding magic show from Melbourne's best queer femme comedian.

Join Tricksy on a my-cheeks-are-sore-from-smiling journey through mind-freaking stage illusions, quick-witted sketches and a shocking final act.

Assigned Magician at Birth confronts the idea of deception, from its innocent use in stage magic to its complicated association with identity, gender and masking. It's a side-splitting, eye-opening look into the world of magic, from Tricksy's unique perspective. Also there are puppets. 

"***** Collins is a polymath" - The Age

"Assigned Magician at Birth is a beautiful, clever, emotional, funny and unforgettable hour." - We are Locals, Darwin Aus

Audience participation is completely optional.

Join Daniel on the Wellington streets for the toothbrushing event of a lifetime.

Outside Sal's on Cuba Street
Sponsored by Grin Natural

Beware - BUCK SCOURGE is loose... or are we trapped in their LIVING NIGHTMARE *thunder cracks, a clown horn honks in the distance*

Dancing playfully on the line between being genuine and performing for others is our devilishly cheeky BUCK SCOURGE and their menagerie of characters. This show is for people hoping to feel something, people happy to not quite know what's going on, and for those keen to yell at a stranger.

Sean is a clown from Wellington, New Zealand. After training in France at Ecole Philippe Gaulier they continue to bring it up unprompted. They eat cheese now (on principle) even though it causes pain (to Sean and to others). This clown (derogatory) is also responsible for other chaotic successes like the infamous MILK saga, the award-winning ratKing, the ever confused DIFFERENT shows: 'The Devils Are Coming' and 'Dogs In The Hole'.

Sean also was five-time award-nominated at the NZ Fringe 2024 for their startlingly human performance in the verbatim solo show about incels: 'blackpill'. However, due them being snubbed at the awards, Sean has turned their back on earnest performance forever.

Hear ye, hear ye! Heathens and scoundrels rejoice, Bad Bards return from their infamous quests across the whenua to bring tales of myth, magic and maidens ;).

Escape the toils of the feudal system into stories and original tunes with nights of merriment, mischief, and slanderin' the king!

A devised Musical Comedy spectacular, 'Bad Bard Bar Show' comes at you from Artificers a new emerging theatre company making its debut this Fringe. With Musical and comedic talents from Lydia Sainsbury (Wellington Raw Comedy Quest Winner 2025), Lizzy Burton Wood (The Ghost Show, Five Words or Less, Icky), Ngarongonui Mareikura-Ellery (Alma and the Mind Galaxy, Whanake) and Viki Moananu (Playwrights B425 2025 Winner).

Anna Dobbie (2025 Raw Comedy Quest finalist) and Meaghan Fisher (2025 NZICF Wellington Comedy Club Rainbow Showcase, 2025 Raw Comedy Quest semifinalist) are bad girls. Two of Wellington's best new comedians, they are teaming up to bring their insights into gender weirdness, the absurdity of straight culture, the exciting world of number plates, microaggressive toddlers, the Brooke van Velden of it all, and whether it's true that mosquitoes prefer the French. Sitting somewhere on the edges of almost any spectrum you can think of, Anna and Meaghan are sure to make you laugh - eye contact, however, is not guaranteed. Join this duo for an evening that will make you laugh, think, and wonder if that was the weirdest striptease you've ever experienced.

Get ready to bang out your favourite hits in glorious harmony like never before - grab a friend for a night of mass karaoke mayhem that will have you on your feet and singing your heart out.

Don't miss this jukebox mash-up of the greatest power ballads, rock and disco hits from the 60s to the 90s, banging out impromptu harmonies and picking up some new ones under the guidance of our funky vocal hosts and massive house choir who have come all the way from Australia!

It's the perfect night out for shower singers, pop divas and even air guitar pros. Join us for a fun night of singing, games and on-the-spot competitions. Lubricate your vocal cords, bring your dancing shoes and sense of adventure!

Bangers and Mash Ups is a 90 minute show that is best enjoyed standing / dancing! If you book a general admission ticket and have accessibility requirements or will need seating, please get in touch with the box office and we can sort that out for you.

What happens when a comedian walks into a volcano?

In 2023, Ben Miller was the artist in residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the first ever stand-up comedian ever selected. This was probably a terrible idea on their part.

Come watch this show where scientist turned stand-up comedian Ben Miller explores volcanology, entomology, Hawaiian history, space volcanoes, cats, cookies, and more.

Ben Miller is an NYC based scientist turned comedian who has been working for the past 9 years. In that time, he has performed at all the top clubs in the city such as Broadway Comedy Club, Carolines, and The Stand. Ben was once ranked as the top roast battler in NYC. He has a degree in Materials Science and Engineering, worked on a science bus, 3D printed cookies and has defused a few bar fights while on stage. In 2022, Ben Miller's debut hour, Stand-Up Science, had a completely sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and he now tours internationally.

Praise for the show:

"Ben Miller's nerdy and vivid comic mind erupts in this hour-long set!" - Winnipeg Free Press (4-star review)

"Ben does a fantastic job of getting the facts across and making us laugh at the same time! A real and rare treat. - The Mumble (4-star review)

"Ben had us laughing until we cried - very funny and very clever! - Audience member

What happens when a comedian walks into a volcano?

In 2023, Ben Miller was the artist in residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the first ever stand-up comedian ever selected. This was probably a terrible idea on their part.

Come watch this show where scientist turned stand-up comedian Ben Miller explores volcanology, entomology, Hawaiian history, space volcanoes, cats, cookies, and more.

Ben Miller is an NYC based scientist turned comedian who has been working for the past 9 years. In that time, he has performed at all the top clubs in the city such as Broadway Comedy Club, Carolines, and The Stand. Ben was once ranked as the top roast battler in NYC. He has a degree in Materials Science and Engineering, worked on a science bus, 3D printed cookies and has defused a few bar fights while on stage. In 2022, Ben Miller's debut hour, Stand-Up Science, had a completely sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and he now tours internationally.

Praise for the show:

"Ben Miller's nerdy and vivid comic mind erupts in this hour-long set!" - Winnipeg Free Press (4-star review)

"Ben does a fantastic job of getting the facts across and making us laugh at the same time! A real and rare treat. - The Mumble (4-star review)

"Ben had us laughing until we cried - very funny and very clever! - Audience member

Its that time again, time for something less ordinary. This is the 13th year of Beyond the Pale: a Garage Project Tradition to celebrate New Zealand's own wonderful Fringe Festival with an unorthodox foray in to the weird and wonderful. Available from all good venues throughout NZ Fringe.

After racking up over a million followers online and making audiences across the globe laugh until they cry, Blake Pavey is hitting New Zealand with his brand new hour of stand-up! Fresh off two national tours and a YouTube comedy special, Blake's bringing plenty of cheeky stories, sharp punchlines, and his signature charm across the ditch!

"Pavey's stand-up delicately weaves elements of darkness and light, moving the audience to the brink of tears, before landing a hefty punchline that leaves them in (metaphorical) stitches." - The Age

Get your tickets and come see why he's more than just "that guy off TikTok!".

If you are reading this, I have crashed into your present. Unless you've already read this, then
we are stuck in a loop until you have a talk with yourself. Your future self.

Tinker with time my-chime machine and sound yourself out to blip to the future.

Booze and Craic is bringing the laughs to NZ Fringe with a line up of 2 award winning, world travelled hilarious comedians from Bonnie Scotland and the Emerald Isle.

The show features:
Alan McElroy:
Award winning comic who was recently nominated for Best MC at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Electric Picnic & performed to soldout crowds in Australia. His show at NZ International Comedy Festival received rave reviews and more stars!

☆☆☆☆☆ "Excellent Irish storyteller performing a hilarious night of comedy"
Funny Tonne, Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Gary Sansome:
Baldy Scotsman who is known for his 5 star Edinburgh Fringe show Bald Man Sings Rihanna. Gary has performed across the world at some of the worlds top comedy clubs including Carolines on Broadway in New York, Yuk Yuks Torono, Comedy Store Sydney and The Classic Auckland.
☆☆☆☆☆ "Pure Entertainment and Hilarity" Bunbury Magazine Edinburgh Fringe
"Sansome is a natural entertainer, striking up easy conversation with the audience in perhaps the most improvised, effortless stand-up show I've ever seen." Regional News Wellington

Your wall. Two bugs. They're gonna sing at you.

Join Lia and Phoebe, long-time queers and short time bug enthusiasts (from a distance... they're really freaky up close (THE BUGS NOT THE QUEERS)), as they explore identity and intersectionality in a set of original comedy songs.

"Phoebe Caldeiro's original composition was very impressive... Lin-Manuel? Take notes." - Salient Magazine (not a quote from this show but you know, still pretty cool for someone to say about her)

"Musician Lia Kelly starts the show playing the piano. This girl LOVES playing the piano. She is living for it and I am living for her living for it." - Theatreview (also not a quote from this show but she does still really like playing the piano)

Ever felt that wave of tears trying to burst out of you whilst listening to a really good song?
I haven't, cos I just let it all flow. Seriously, I cry a lot. I need help.

Your help! Come and see my live gig! Cry with me! 

CONCERT 26 is an intense set of evocative covers, performed live with instruments and vocals, accompanied by dance. Cultivating a space to feel, heal and express together - and play through some absolute bangers!

A messy amalgamation of rock, pop, punk, funk and disco. What more could you want?

"In an endless scroll, red heart shapes speed by" - SOAK

"Everyone that I know is broken" - The Beths

"Everything I do it just comes undone" - Coldplay

Someone wakes up. It is a working man. They are a bug! Sounds familiar, doesn't it...

Insects in lab coats, an exterminator's moral crisis, a rude bug, lamp-obsessed moths and phone-life balance: this playful work hops from scene to scene, crafting an absurd odyssey through the minds of two clowns.

CRUSH THE BUG is a new New Zealand clown work from recent Ecole Phillipe Gaulier alumni Daniel Nodder and Sean Burnett Dugdale-Martin after successful development in New Zealand and internationally. These award-winning clowns have concocted an interactive clown show about confusion, metamorphosis, togetherness, and humans' great capacity for passionate distractedness.

Itay Dom and Keegan Govind are driving 8 hours to Pōneke to deliver their best jokes. Please buy a ticket. Ideally we would like to make enough money to cover venue hire, petrol money, advertising & a treat on the way home!

Itay Dom (@itaybendom) is a comedian who loves blending chill crowd work with clever observations that'll keep you laughing. You might've spotted him getting eliminated (with style) from Guy Mont-Spelling Bee and The Bachelorette, but now he's back with his best material yet. 

Keegan Govind (@keegangovind) is a product of the New Zealand comedy scene. A high energy act with the confidence and material to back it up, a constant crowd favorite at the Classic. A sure fire fun time for any audience with him as MC, he uses comedic skill and energy to set the atmosphere for an unforgettable night of laughs.

Billy T Award Nominee, 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival
Winner - Breakthrough Comedian, NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2024
Winner - Best MC, NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2023

Roll up, roll up, the circus is in town!

Leave your kids at home because things get weird after dark.
This is a show for professional performers to let loose and perform acts that are not fit for a traditional family-friendly circus show. From dangerous circus tricks to risqué burlesque acts to just plain strange, this show has everything.

Produced by Athena Rose, with acts from Wellington's best circus performers.

Closer Than You Know
A social experiment. A conversation. A shared story. A live map of human connection

What if we're all more connected than we realise?
Closer Than You Know invites the audience to step into the space -- literally. Lines and projections on the floor map out continuums: from "I loved school" to "I hated it," from "I take risks" to "I play it safe," from "I feel hopeful" to "I'm not so sure."
You'll move, notice, talk, and listen. Each choice opens up small moments -- vignettes, stories, fragments -- drawn from shared experiences.
This is theatre made together, in real time. It's playful, surprising, sometimes tender, sometimes funny.
We'll find the invisible threads that link us -- through memory, emotion, and the simple act of being in the same room.
Because connection isn't something we make.
It's something we remember.

Howdy, partners! (In Matthew McConaughey's voice.)

Have you ever wondered if you would rather be the solo clown in a world full of cowboys? Or, if you would rather be the lonesome cowboy in a world of clowns? For four nights only, you don't have to decide. You get the best of both worlds!

Join us in the saloon at high-noon (not actually, more like early evening) for a clowning and western show. Meet our troupe of clown cowboys-- the Clownboys. Witness their slap-stick, physical gags, classic jokes, western tropes, and original country ballads.

What do these Clownboys yearn for? What does it mean to be a clown... and a cowboy?
Get ready for a gay ol' time, in every sense of the word!

Danger! Intrigue! Tumbleweed!? Will they band together as friends, or become duelling foe?

Get ready for chaos, courage, and comedy under the needle! Presented by Drug of Choice and Flash of Jeanius, this one-night-only Fringe spectacle brings together powerhouse comedians, one of whom has never been tattooed before, for a show that is part stand-up, part endurance test, and all entertainment.
As the buzz of the tattoo gun hums, these comedians will deliver fresh, fearless stand-up sets while real tattoos, that are chosen by the audience, are etched in real time. Expect the perfect mix of adrenaline, laughter, and slightly questionable life choices.
Each performer is bearing skin and soul, proving that the line between pain and pun is thinner than you think. With live tattoo artistry unfolding on stage, audience banter flying, and sterling performances this is not your average comedy show.

Direct from sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, your favourite daytime soap is getting a comedic reboot.

Coming up on Coro: someone's up the duff, there's yet another scene in the local pub (of course), and two Kiwis battle with Manchester accents!

Five episodes, two actors, nine characters, and 60 minutes of action-packed mundanity.

"Absolutely hilarious...the epitome of fringe."- Edinburgh Fringe Review

"consistently impressive" - Wellyott

Aimee Thorne is a stand-up comedian with a dark, acerbic wit. Picture Wednesday Adams with a microphone. Her show Cursed is all about the contradictions of what it means to be a woman in her girl boss era who also struggles with the desire to people please. Imagine a queen who wears her crown high and proud but also feels the need to apologize to the wall she just accidently walked into. Her jokes are all about dismantling the double standards and expectations women are cursed with.

Aimee Thorne brings her grim observations to the stage that draw on her experiences surviving the trauma of misfortune. She likes to conjure laughs from the depths of her despair for the audiences amusement, because she is generous this way. Her show is also about finding the fun in funeral. It's giving Elvira meets the Spice Girls. It's giving Siouxsie Sioux in pastels. It's about putting her foot down in her disco ball studded Doc Martins. It's a show about the transformative power of finding humour in the darkest of corners. It's about turning her ashes not into dust but into glitter.

Content warning: This show includes dark and challenging themes that may be confronting for some audience members. To avoid spoilers, these themes are not described in detail here. If you would like a more detailed content overview, please feel free to contact Aimee Thorne at thornyaimee@gmail.com.

"D' Things N Such" is Wellington's freshest, wildest and most unhinged theatrical experience since someone slapped corned beef and Nutella on toast. This absurd, high-energy, non-linear show is a chaotic collision of physical theatre, nonsense comedy and emotional whiplash. Five fearless FOB clowns with a broken compass lead audiences through a never-ending game of theatrical tag, where intense moments are created and then gleefully abandoned.
Born from a desire to rewire how we experience theatre, DTNS blends live theatre with the rhythm of TikToks and reels, bringing the energy of your screen to the streets and stages of Pōneke.
This is a disaster on purpose. Get lost with us and maybe leave with abs.

Bring spice.

Goodnight Kiwi. Bird of the Year. The hoiho on your fiver. Hatupatu and the Birdwoman. The kākā screaming outside. A silly show with real bird facts. Fringe 2015's Best Newcomer finally hatches a new show - a love letter to Wellington and manu we share the city with.

This live presentation combines facts, jokes, video, prizes and songs into an engaging slice of science storytelling. Bird numbers are way up all over the city - it's a great time to be a bird or bird fan. Learn about the wildlife swooping past you and get excited for a Wellington that becomes wilder every day.

Free Fact - most kākā are left-footed.

David's last Fringe outing was Towards a Better Understanding of the Universe. Theatreview said, "This is an autobiographical journey told through the Universe. Yes, the goddam amazing universe that we're all a part of. I'm hooked." The show also popped over to Melbourne Fringe where reviews glowed it was "almost as perfect an hour as you could have."

Towards evolved into Tour de Science - a science storytelling show. The Tour was on a bike and pedalled all around Aotearoa (down to Rakiura and up to Kaitaia!). Across 60 towns and cities, audiences loved David's easy-going yarns that sneakily piled on some real education.

Most recently, David branched out and became Plant Man: a show for children that wondered, "What would it be like to be a plant?" Kim Hill asked him about trees and vegetables and described him as "cool as a cucumber."

Be cool, get hooked and squawk about this new show. The title says it all - David Klein presents: Birds

Award-winning Kiwi comedian Marshall Lorenzo (Canada's Drag Race) is back with a brand new sketch comedy extravaganza, 'Decadunce'. Fresh off of winning the 2025 NZ Fringe International Exchange Award, 'Decadunce' is the third chapter in the eight-time NZ Fringe award-nominated 'Baby Gorgeous' sketch comedy trilogy. While 2024's 'Baby Gorgeous' was the amuse-bouche and 2025's 'Build Ups' was the main course, get ready to eat good in the decadent and dizzying dessert of the Baby Gorgeous trilogy: 'Decadunce'.

Now fully committed to living a lifestyle outside of his means, 'Decudunce' is a brand new show about fraud, excess and stupidity. Let's just say we're a gun law away from finally eating the rich, and Marshall Lorenzo is ready to pull the trigger. Decadunce is about finding loopholes in the capitalist snake oil; to fight for bargains and blow off steam around the cost of living.

Featuring various unforgettable characters, including the Briscoes lady, and biting commentary on the dilapidated state of it all! Come see the sequel to the comedy show audience members called 'freakin hilarious', and 'on another level'.

***** - Now Magazine

"Roars of laughter" - Theatreview

"Devastatingly funny" - andrewwhiteside.com

Compelled to prove the past wasn't so prudish, Ms. Weeds will take you on a sonic ride with some of the dirtiest songs from blues history. Uniquely qualified for this task, burlesquer come blues musician, she will perform songs for your pleasure while telling you the stories behind them. In 2024, she co-produced her first ever Fringe show, Burlesque and Blues, the Devil's Own, which was nominated for the NZ Fringe Festival awards for Momentous Movement. Dirty Old Songs will be Ms. Weeds' first ever solo show!

Ms. Weeds is a retro weird singing burlesque darling from Pōneke, Wellington and has been performing around Aotearoa New Zealand since 2011. She's a multi-instrumentalist and with a voice that packs a punch, lovingly referred to as the human fog horn. Winner of numerous awards such as:

You can find her most weekends either backstage or on stage in the various cabaret shows of Pōneke or playing blues music with other local mischief makers.

Kick off Lunar New Year with a flavour explosion of laughs!

Dirty Rice is serving up an all-Asian comedy showcase that's bold, spicy, and absolutely unforgettable. This variety show is packed with razor-sharp punchlines, outrageous stories, and cultural twists that will leave you hungry for more.

Starring a powerhouse lineup including Lily Catastrophe, Chen Wang, Elliott Lam, Ralph Hilaga, and more incredible Asian talent from across Aotearoa and beyond, this is your chance to experience comedy that's as vibrant and diverse as the Lunar New Year itself.

Expect a night of sizzling humour, unexpected surprises, and a celebration of voices that deserve the spotlight. Whether you're here for the fiery jokes, the cheeky banter, or the sheer joy of live performance, Dirty Rice promises a feast of funny you won't forget.

About the performers

Driving me crazy is a no-brakes comedy collision starring real-life married comedy couple Mo Munn and Q Potts -- and yes, they're still together... somehow.

This fast-paced, unfiltered blend of stand-up and sketch dives head-on into the chaos of co-piloting a life -- and a car -- with your partner. From white-knuckled driving lessons to petty habits that spark full-blown meltdowns, nothing is sacred. Refusing to drive a manual? Refusing to wipe the bench properly? Buckle up, because it's all going under the microscope.

With razor-sharp wit, undeniable chemistry, and just the right amount of road rage, Driving Me Crazy swerves through the hilarious potholes of modern relationships -- where love, frustration, and GPS miscommunications collide.

Expect rapid-fire banter, brutally relatable stories, and sketches that hit a little too close to home. Mo and Q are living proof that marriage is messy, weird, and completely worth mocking on stage.

Perfect for date night, mate night, or when you just need to laugh at someone else's dysfunction for once -- Driving Me Crazy is a comedic car crash you'll be glad you didn't miss this Valentine's weekend!

Mo Munn is a multi-award-winning comedian, recently named Best Newcomer at the 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival. Q Potts is a rising star on the scene, and a 2025 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest Finalist.

Relationships don't come with a manual. But this show? It's the next best thing.

After selling out in Auckland, Rachel Brebner brings her smash-hit debut solo show to Fringe!

It's 2017 -- Stage Challenge is on its last legs, and Bloomdale High are heading from Tauranga to Auckland to claim the crown. There will be blood. There will be sweat. There will be confetti.

Jacinda Ardern's just been elected, girl-power anthems are blasting -- what could possibly go wrong?

One performer. Five characters. All told through a hilarious mockumentary format.

Early Midnight Circus is a chaotic late-night talk show staged as a theatrical spectacle, hosted by a desperate showbiz clown, Aaron James Douglas, clinging to a dying format he'll never control. Each night, Fringe Festival performers join as "guests" to promote their upcoming shows - only to be ambushed by rotating set pieces, absurd challenges and a crew determined to derail everything.

Featuring some of Wellington's top aspiring comedians, including award winners and nominees from the NZ Fringe Festival, NZ International Comedy Festival and the Billy T Award, the show is a curated madhouse of the city's wildest. It's a late-night gateway to the most absurd, experimental and ambitious shows of the season - with live music, sketch chaos and improvised mayhem in a format that's part cabaret, part meltdown, and all circus.

Leaching off of the human healthcare system isn't a hobby, it's a full-time job...

Welcome to MED INC, a.k.a 'The Monetisation of Earthly Diseases, Incorporated'. Founded in 1353 by the Black Death upon his retirement from freelance field-work, we provide the world's substantial array of diseases with both a workplace and a home.

In this nauseating tale, three conditions residing in the lower 'atopic' suites - Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever - find themselves with a desire for more recognition for their services to MED INC. Upon an optimistic meeting with the organisation's CEO, the Black Death informs the trio of what must be done in order to climb up the capitalist ladder: ensure a client's life is a personal hell for one week and finish by killing them on the 7th day. Murder can take a mental toll on a disease only known for its irritating symptoms, how will our sickly crew deal with this challenge?

After a successful development in Toi Whakaari's 2025 Whanake Festival, Society for Little Ugly Girls (S.L.U.G Theatre) presents the debut season of El Colibrí - Written and directed by Puerto Rican artist Elia Correa, with directoral support from Molly Macalister.

Three sisters reunite at their family home in Puerto Rico. Tensions rise as they try to hide from the memories that fill the house, each other, and the circumstances that brought them together, and are left to discuss their connections to language, culture, and family.

Also... There's frogs!

A lecture-performance following a stolen video down the rabbit hole of internet creeps -- the true story of five nude minutes sparking years of obsessive sharing, bizarre commentary, and surreal online encounters. A darkly humorous dive into consent in the digital age.

In 2020, during the first Covid lockdown, I made my solo show "The Sensemaker" temporarily available online.
Strangely, the video quickly became highly sought-after in certain corners of the internet -- all because of the five minutes of nudity it contains. Years later, I'm still having to take it down from various adult forums where it keeps resurfacing without my consent.
In trying to track where it had been shared, I stumbled into a bizarre world of posts and comments.
Let me read you a few.

"Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity)" has won the Virtuoso Award (Stockholm Fringe Festival 2025) and the Hot Potato Award (Gothenburg Fringe 2025).

This show is presented in tandem with "The Sensemaker".

Emerging from a place of stillness, reflection and sonic exploration, F R I D A explores a world of harmony, textures, and colour. Moving between jazz, meditative folk, and improvisation, inspired by the likes of Lianne Le Havas, Billie Martin and Melody Gardot. She weaves these influences to create a sonic landscape that reflects the beauty of the world around her.

Joined by a band of many talents, F R I D A and Friends invite you on a sound journey building together a sonic painting of colour, peace and acceptance.

This is music to meditate to, to breathe, and to be lost in. An intimate concert that blurs the lines of sound and spirit.

You're invited to Bain's 3 Year Intervention Anniversary!

Three long years sober! Can ya believe it? Come celebrate Bain's journey with an evening of heartfelt reflection - his one man show. What could possibly go wrong?!

Bain is desperate to keep control of Bain's sobriety, but Bain is fully committed to the lifestyle Bain is trying to escape.

F.ART! is a poetry-based variety show exploring the seductive grips of addiction. This spiritual clash of the divine and demonic forms a dichotomous spectacle of poems, arguments, shanties, and choreographed (un)professional wrestling, as Bain confronts his conflicting approaches to life and art.

Who will prevail? Will Bain drink again? Will Bain bring the pain? Will Bain awaken? Who's talking right now? How did you get in here? Who am I?

All these questions and less will be answered in this thrice-in-a-fringe festival theatre show extravaganza opportunity!

Come see the one man show in three persons! It's the Wellington premiere for Bain's sakes!

CALL NOW!

Are you a fan of Tiny Desk Concerts?

Calling out to anyone who loves going to a causal gig, and having a drink with friends. 

Come visit us at FATG for the launch of our new offer of acoustic sets this Fringe. Housed in our foyer, this free event allows for anyone to pop in for good music. 

Grab a mate and enjoy live music from outstanding local artists.

Look out for FATG Unplugged on your social media channels as we announce our artists and special offers. 

FRANK. The Musical

A Bold New Musical Inspired by True Events

What do we fight for? and at what cost? Set against the backdrop of WWI, FRANK. The Musical tells the powerful story of Karl Frank, the son of a German immigrant who chose to fight for Aotearoa, New Zealand in a time of deep national and personal conflict.

Rose Ellis alongside her love Karl, witness a generation torn apart by war and bound by love, duty, and hope. Travel from the shores of Te Whanganui-a-Tara to the brutal trenches of the Western Front in this gripping original production.

Featuring a cast of 10 actors and a live 5-piece band, FRANK. The Musical combines the intimacy of chamber theatre with the emotional scale of musical storytelling. With a sweeping original score blending early 20th-century sounds and modern folk influences, this is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring power of connection.

The journey begins here.
Join us for a powerful first look at FRANK. The Musical.

What if love songs grew up with you?

In this intimate one-person show, award-winning songwriter, poet, and performer Ravi the Poet invites you on a journey that's as real and nuanced as love itself.

Forget clichés. These are more than just your typical "I miss her" songs. Ravi blends music, poetry, and storytelling to explore every aspect of love--from first crushes and starry-eyed beginnings, to heartbreak, healing, and what it means to find love after "happily ever after."

Weaving gentle acoustic music, beautiful melodies, thoughtful spoken word, and storytelling rap, you can expect laughter, tears, and moments of connection. Audiences call Ravi's shows "uplifting," "tear-evoking," and "extraordinarily positive," leaving people ready to hold hands with someone special--or perhaps with themselves. There's no cynicism here, just honest, unguarded art shared from the heart.

Throughout the night, crowd work and storytelling gently invite you to reflect on your own journey--where you met your first love, the reasons you care for yourself, and the green flags you've found along the way. It's a night that's part concert, part poetry, and part conversation.

Held at The Undercurrent, the beautiful secondhand bookshop with immaculate vibes, this intimate evening will remind you that every act of love, given or received, finds its way home.

2025 Billy T Nominee Jak Darling puts it all on the table with Floozy. Darling has courageously slept around so you don't have to. Unapologetically queer and unabashedly promiscuous, Floozy explores themes of lust, longing and loneliness. After some determined field work they've closed their legs and opened their heart for a solo comedy hour of intellectual intercourse, intimacy with no intermission. 

"Charming, sensuous and cheeky" This Floozy is on the loose!
Theatreview

"It's amazing how much naughtiness you can get away with. Darling ought to teach it." The birds and bees are quaking in their boots
Theatreview

"Jaw-dropping and hilarious... Darling has got to be one of the funniest people in the city" The walk of shame has never looked so glamourous.
Art Murmurs

Four-year-olds ask the biggest questions. As we grow, the answers get tangled--gender, identity, belonging, the slow loss of magic. In this contemporary dance work, a community cast explores moments of wonder, confusion and discovery--reminding us how it feels to see the world again with fresh eyes. Four Questions moves through the stretch and the ache of becoming, and finds, somewhere in the mess, a spark still glowing. Is this proof that the magic never really left?

Can't decide what to see this Fringe? Fringe Bar Comedy Club presents Best of the Fest. This stand-up comedy show features the best and brightest comedians from the NZ Fringe. Every Wednesday brings a fresh line-up and guaranteed midweek laughs. Come along and enjoy the festival's funniest acts in one night.

Gabby is not afraid of hard work - she'll happily sit next to others doing it. Now her notebook is overflowing with ideas, so it's time to hit the stage and work. Expect jokes written, rewritten, and possibly unwritten, as Natasha Bedingfield intended. A joyful work-in-progress you won't want to miss.

"Anderson has a sharp mind and sharper wit" - NZ Herald
"Captivating energy" - Theatreview
"Wholesome and insightful" - Spinoff

Gabby Anderson is an award-winning comedian based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. She burst onto the New Zealand comedy scene in 2018, winning the National Raw Comedy Quest. Since then she has been nominated for the prestigious Billy T Award (2023), toured nationwide, moved to Australia, and returned to bring the laughs back home. 

15 Episodes of beautifully produced, highly infectious audio comedy, inchworming into a mind near you....

Giant space worms are invading Earth, and their wormy hive-minds are driving people Normal!

To save humanity from all that is conventional, amorously-awkward Gemma and loveable loafer Fabblestitch must take the ultimate trip: a kaleidoscopic adventure deep into the bowels of the Lost Worm Galaxy -- where the normal rules don't apply, but the Normal Worms do...

Gemma vs The Normal Worms is about holding your own when you're different, deviant, and diverging from the conventional, in a crazy world where everyone must submit to The Normal Thing to Do.

Warning: Contains 420% references to sex, drugs, & psychedelic worms.

4 hours and 20 minutes of raunchy, whimsical fantasy, inspired by Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the nostalgic, old-timey radio storytelling of Spike Milligan's BadJelly The Witch.

Cosy up with your fav snacks and your best bud(s) and get ready to laugh your ass off! Hi-fi sound gear recommended.

Early Birds can catch our Worms at SPECIAL prices! Sign up to our socials/website to learn more!

Or listen for FREE at our charming Listening Post installation at Hannah Playhouse!

Are you a skeptic or believer?

Get in bros we're going hunting for ghosts! As night falls the GhostBros team embark on another jam-packed night of paranormal investigation. Orbs, cold spots, and mysterious creaks meet their match with the Bros whose gadgets, experience and teamwork mean they're ready to take on any spooky dwelling be it a house, manor, or shed.

Ghost Bros is a show about friendship, fear, and purpose. Exploring the massive popularity of ghost hunting media and a worldwide obsession with the strange and unexplained.

From the team who brought you Goths Against Classical Music and Our Place, Ghost Bros is Curtain Call Company's third NZ Fringe Festival show, and one not to be missed.

Who knows maybe this will be the night the Bros finally capture an actual real life ghost...

Like, comment, and subscribe for more!

Wellington chamber pop orchestra the Sven Olsens return to the Fringe with another sonic slice of life in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The 18-strong collective has spent the past 15 years recording over 100 songs about what makes people in this country tick. They are still none the wiser but now twice the poorer.

This band presents material others sensibly avoid. They've created an 'ear-worm' farm using topics as varied as: the Fencing Act 1979, ever-elusive Hasting's tagger Kron, Huka Falls' boogie boarding dare devil Dr. Bubbles, the perils of kung fu dancing on top of chicken restaurants and the influence of 19th century painting on the hangovers of local librarians.

The Svens will sing 70 mins worth of material from their endless 'magnum 'opeless'. This show will be a celebration of national quirks, perks and potholes, baffling and fascinating in equal measure, gloriously short and to the point. There'll be strings, choir and a band. There'll be a multimedia extravaganza. There'll be merch. And there'll be you. This Svens' motto is 'one last shot at obscurity'. This is your chance to prove them wrong.

Three great small venues.

Te Hapori/ Newtown Community Centre Theatre,

The Tararua Tramping Club,

bookhounds come to our Friday night show at Undercurrent.

Four nights to choose from. Entry is free/koha.

Wellington chamber pop orchestra the Sven Olsens return to the Fringe with another sonic slice of life in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The 18-strong collective has spent the past 15 years recording over 100 songs about what makes people in this country tick. They are still none the wiser but now twice the poorer.

This band presents material others sensibly avoid. They've created an 'ear-worm' farm using topics as varied as: the Fencing Act 1979, ever-elusive Hasting's tagger Kron, Huka Falls' boogie boarding dare devil Dr. Bubbles, the perils of kung fu dancing on top of chicken restaurants and the influence of 19th century painting on the hangovers of local librarians.

The Svens will sing 70 mins worth of material from their endless 'magnum 'opeless'. This show will be a celebration of national quirks, perks and potholes, baffling and fascinating in equal measure, gloriously short and to the point. There'll be strings, choir and a band. There'll be a multimedia extravaganza. There'll be merch. And there'll be you. This Svens' motto is 'one last shot at obscurity'. This is your chance to prove them wrong.

Three great small venues.

Te Hapori/ Newtown Community Centre Theatre,

The Tararua Tramping Club,

bookhounds come to our Friday night show at Undercurrent.

Four nights to choose from. Entry is free/koha.

Wellington chamber pop orchestra the Sven Olsens return to the Fringe with another sonic slice of life in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The 18-strong collective has spent the past 15 years recording over 100 songs about what makes people in this country tick. They are still none the wiser but now twice the poorer.

This band presents material others sensibly avoid. They've created an 'ear-worm' farm using topics as varied as: the Fencing Act 1979, ever-elusive Hasting's tagger Kron, Huka Falls' boogie boarding dare devil Dr. Bubbles, the perils of kung fu dancing on top of chicken restaurants and the influence of 19th century painting on the hangovers of local librarians.

The Svens will sing 70 mins worth of material from their endless 'magnum 'opeless'. This show will be a celebration of national quirks, perks and potholes, baffling and fascinating in equal measure, gloriously short and to the point. There'll be strings, choir and a band. There'll be a multimedia extravaganza. There'll be merch. And there'll be you. This Svens' motto is 'one last shot at obscurity'. This is your chance to prove them wrong.

Three great small venues.

Te Hapori/ Newtown Community Centre Theatre,

The Tararua Tramping Club,

bookhounds come to our Friday night show at Undercurrent.

Four nights to choose from. Entry is free/koha.

Jack Gerards knows better than most that life has it's crappy moments. One moment the sun is shining, the birds are singing and you haven't a care or a worry in the world, the next the spicy vindaloo curry you had the night before makes a sudden reappearance and there isn't a restroom in sight. You're never quite as prepared as you think you are, but it's these trying times that show the true extent of your gastro-intestinal fortitude and just how resourceful you can be when you're under pressure.

"Hook, Line And Sphincter" is a series of half-baked and fully formed movements: one half is work in progress material that is still in the process of being digested, the other half is tested material that has completed it's long and laborious journey into the a(n)nals of Kiwi comedy. Whether this dark matter will reach it's ultimate destination or be prematurely ejected into the universal sewer of space and time remains to be seen. Hold your nose, take the plunge and come experience it for yourself... if you have the stomach for it, of course.

Adrift at sea, Richard and Luigi brave the seasons and days together as they progressively make their way toward the horizon. Will they give into the waves and let the ocean consume them or will they push through to see another day?

HORIZON is a brand new aburdist-comedy play written by NZ playright Nathan King and directed/performed by Rose McKenzie and Charly Baker. The show takes typical absurdist tropes and flips them around from fatalism to hope. HORIZON is an attempt to be a voice in the dark, a sunset on the horizon (HA!) for people who feel they're lost, drifting in a sea they have no say over.

It's a crying call to the void saying, "You matter, this matters, we matter, love matters, and you are worth the effort, time and energy it will take to get better."

If we have any strong testimony, it's the truth that it does get better. Everywhere. Always.

Liza has always been the smartest person in the room, especially when she's alone... at least she used to be.

A chronic overachiever and textbook narcissist with a caffeine addiction that would rival most Starbucks card holders, she's built her entire identity around being exceptional. So when she's chosen to spearhead a cutting-edge AI project, it feels less like an opportunity and more like a gift-- no, a prayer from God.

But exceptional though she may be, she's still human, and still has those human needs we hate to ignore. So when a hot neighbour comes knocking, she just can't run from temptation. Too bad that neighbor might be a little closer to home than she thinks?
Extra cupa sugar, anyone?

As her creation begins to outsmart, out-feel, and out-moral its maker, Liza finds herself asking the one question she never thought she would: what happens when being "the best" means you've made something better?
Fresh off the finale of Soho Playhouse Lighthouse series in New York, How to Build a Gate is back in New Zealand bigger and better than ever!

Featuring Kate Low and American actor Megan Piggott, How to Build a Gate is a razor-sharp new comedy about control, competition, and the illusion of perfection. In a world that worships innovation though it has long forgotten why, the play takes ambition, ethics, and the burnout of trying to matter under a microscopic glass.

From playwright Electra Artemis--whose self proclaimed "hooker with a heart of gold" writing style will keep you laughing right til it doesn't--this Fringe premiere reimagines the God vs Man myth for the startup age. Equal parts satire, soul-searching and a heroine with rockin' a-cups, How to Build a Gate invites audiences to laugh, cringe, and maybe see themselves in Liza's heartfelt, heartless mania.

I Don't Know Much About Art But I Know What I Lick is a show about fine art for messy people.

The gallery is a space with particular rules of engagement. Young children do not know these rules and embrace art in the way that makes the most sense to them: physically.

In I Don't Know Much About Art But I Know What I Lick, Trick of the Light Theatre (The Bookbinder, The Griegol) join forces with internationally acclaimed performance designer Meg Rollandi on a new show for children (5 and under) and their accompanying adults. Guided by two performer attendants, audiences are invited to explore a gallery set up for kids, featuring satirical and interactive reworkings of iconic art pieces - The Mona Lisa with eyes that actually follow you, the Birth of Venus in a paddling pool clam shell...

Relatable sweaty chaos unfolds with humour and heart, exploring the cliched world of ADHD, mental health, and the inevitable imposter syndrome. A raw and uplifting look at disorder, anxiety, mixing laughs with insight and resilience.

He's here to kick ass and take kidneys. And he's all out of ass. And kidneys.

From the Tim Burton of Taranaki, The Most Haunted Comedian in New Zealand brings you a stand-up comedy show for anyone who's ever thought about donating a kidney, anyone who hasn't thought about donating a kidney, and anyone who might know a guy who knows a guy who does a sneaky cashie.

Callum's exhausted every possible avenue, from family, to friends, to strangers, to dead strangers.
He's explored the possibility of inter-species transplantation and technological imitations.

Dedicated to anyone that's ever dealt with the health system.

Best Comedian, Comedy Hub Awards, 2022, 2023, 2024
Best Out-of-Towner, Wellington Comedy Awards, 2024
Best Newcomer, DIY Awards, 2021
Best Newcomer, Comedy Hub Awards, 2021

Nominated Best Comedian, Nelson Fringe Awards, 2024
Nominated Breakthrough Act, Comedy Guild Awards, 2023
Nominated Best Newcomer, Comedy Guild Awards, 2022
Runner-up, National Raw Comedy Quest, 2022

A high-class dumpster fire re-ingnites.

Celebrate Jason's literacy AND a lifetime's investment in voice and speech training.

Luxuriate in his mellifluous, golden baritone voice as he reprises this 'un-award winning'*, least worthwhile, and most artistically dubious venture of his career.

From 'Aagesen' to 'Zwartz', embark on a declamatory odyssey!

This show premiered as one of many** global events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1921 deep sea telephone cable from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba.
**no other events known at time of publication.

Critical Praise:
"Ultimately forgettable."- an actual reviewer (we forget who)

"He studied acting. In New York. For this?" 

"You sounded like you were reading the telephone book." - NYC Acting Coach (If they could see him now... )

"I don't recommend it." - Jason Henderson

"...an insane and inconsequential farrago of sheer fantastic nonsense" - Anna Russell on Mozart's The Magic Flute

*NZ Fringe 2021 Awards - Nominated (Please note: This is NOT an award-winning show - it was *only* nominated)

Internationally touring comedian Jez Watts (AUS) returns to Wellington with a brand new hour. Hot off the heels of his first full-length special this show is all new dirty jokes, bits and stories from his time living all over the world.

Tour support for Sam Tallent, James Donald Forbes McCann, Duncan Trussell, He Huang and loads more - Jez has been seen on stages across 7 countries and 55+ festivals worldwide. Expect jokes from his time as a soldier, husband, international traveller and drug enthusiast.

****½ 'The blend of dark, satirical and proper naughty comedy does wonders to bolster his drug-fuelled and sexual encounter stories fittingly, leaving you on the edge of your seat as more outrageous details spill out. ' Fringefeed

****1/2 Perth Happenings **** 'Watts is a standout' The Music **** Fourth Wall **** "Hilarious" Whats On In Adelaide

"Hot, intelligent, and funny? Yeah Right."

Best Newcomer nominee (NZICF 2024) Joana Joy was crowned 'Miss Tui Whanganui 2009'. Fifteen years since winning the title and a cheeky pash out the front of Countdown, she's been pondering beauty, Kiwi culture, femininity, and the nature of attraction. Part small-town nostalgia, part cultural commentary, part series of hilarious stories from her past, this show is a time-traveling party packed with pub bangers, Joana's signature physical comedy, and razor-sharp wit. Directed by Fred Award winner Barnie Duncan, this show proves you can take the girl out of Whanganui, but you can't take the Tui crown off her head.

Wellington-based comedian and MC Joana Joy has rapidly established herself as a formidable presence in Antipodean comedy. With a unique journey from commercial dancer to cabaret performer to stand-up comedian, she brings physical comedy, easy charm and witty authenticity to every performance. With over 12 years as a professional performer, JJ has performed at large scale events such as WOMAD (NZ), Twisted Frequency Festival, Woodford Folk Festival (AU), Melbourne International Comedy Festival and on lineups alongside Ben Hurley, Joe Daymond, Justine Smith, Angella Dravid, David Correos.

"Wellington's best kept secret"- Art Murmurs
"She's that good a comic'- The Advertiser (AU)
"Fearless, intriguing and refreshing"- Theatreview
Spirit of the Festival - NZICF 2025 (Nominee)
Best Newcomer - NZICF 2024 (Nominee)
Wellington Pun Battle 2024 (3rd Place)
Australia's Funniest State/Territory - Adelaide Fringe 2023 (Winner)
Australia's Got Talent 2013 (Semi-finalist)
Sold out solo shows in: Wellington, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Raglan, Whanganui

Direction and dramaturgy by Barnie Duncan, who is a legendary AWARD WINNING comedian, excellent director and dramaturg. 

"Hot, intelligent, and funny? Yeah Right."

Best Newcomer nominee (NZICF 2024) Joana Joy was crowned 'Miss Tui Whanganui 2009'. Fifteen years since winning the title and a cheeky pash out the front of Countdown, she's been pondering beauty, Kiwi culture, femininity, and the nature of attraction. Part small-town nostalgia, part cultural commentary, part series of hilarious stories from her past, this show is a time-traveling party packed with pub bangers, Joana's signature physical comedy, and razor-sharp wit. Directed by Fred Award winner Barnie Duncan, this show proves you can take the girl out of Whanganui, but you can't take the Tui crown off her head.

Wellington-based comedian and MC Joana Joy has rapidly established herself as a formidable presence in Antipodean comedy. With a unique journey from commercial dancer to cabaret performer to stand-up comedian, she brings physical comedy, easy charm and witty authenticity to every performance. With over 12 years as a professional performer, JJ has performed at large scale events such as WOMAD (NZ), Twisted Frequency Festival, Woodford Folk Festival (AU), Melbourne International Comedy Festival and on lineups alongside Ben Hurley, Joe Daymond, Justine Smith, Angella Dravid, David Correos.

"Wellington's best kept secret"- Art Murmurs
"She's that good a comic'- The Advertiser (AU)
"Fearless, intriguing and refreshing"- Theatreview
Spirit of the Festival - NZICF 2025 (Nominee)
Best Newcomer - NZICF 2024 (Nominee)
Wellington Pun Battle 2024 (3rd Place)
Australia's Funniest State/Territory - Adelaide Fringe 2023 (Winner)
Australia's Got Talent 2013 (Semi-finalist)
Sold out solo shows in: Wellington, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Raglan, Whanganui

Direction and dramaturgy by Barnie Duncan, who is a legendary AWARD WINNING comedian, excellent director and dramaturg. 

Hastings Born, Wellingtonian, Jundas Capone, was a staple of the Berlin comedy scene for a number of years. Within a month of starting stand up, he won Wellingtons last comic standing competition, then went on to be a raw quest finalist. His style is alternative, going from one-liners, observations, and storytelling, to left-field surrealism. Accessibly random, surfing the awkwardness, which turns into waves of memorable and uncontrollable laughter. 

Puberty, periods, pregnancy, perimenopause, piss, processed meat and please be quiet.

In a bold and brave new solo hour of comedy, multi-award winning comedian Harriet Moir flips the bird to the patriarchy and the multiple ways it has tried to keep her small and keep her quiet. 

"Harriet delivers an hour of storytelling and musings focussing on the aging female body and the years of energy spent on bodily self-critique before arriving at a place of complete acceptance. This interspliced with many very funny references to felatio". - Flat City Field Notes

"It's a story of discovery, shame, confusion, hilarity, pride, sensuality and everything in between". - Theatreview 

"Harriet holds the audience in the palm of her hands from the get-go". - Theatreview

"A masterclass in kiwi comedy." - Flat City Field Notes

Harriet lives in Dunedin with her two daughters and their ginger pussy, where she works as a comedian, writer, wedding and funeral celebrant, MC, actor, singer, writer, producer and entertainer. Mercifully not all at the same time. 

Winner - Best Comedy - Dunedin Fringe Festival 2025

Nominated - Best in Fringe - Dunedin Fringe Festival 2025

Winner - Best Comedian - Dunedin Comedy Awards 2024

Winner - Phil Davison Memorial Special Contribution to Fringe Life Award - Dunedin Fringe Festival 2024

Oh, hello there. Are you ready to get up close and personal with renowned lounge singer Carl Poteraychke? Join us for a night filled with sensational music, impeccable vibrations, and unforgettable memories... just for an hour.
Winner: Best of Fest, Outstanding Comedy, World Premier, Cultural Exchange, and Artists' Pick (2025 San Diego Fringe).
Nominated: Top of Fringe, Adelaide Exchange, and Daredevil Award (2025 Hollywood Fringe).
Created and performed by Cam Poter (America's Got Talent, Ecole Gaulier, HBO's Silicon Valley, @CamOnCam69).
Co-devised with Jeremy Poter. Directed by Paulyboy and Shawn Stoner.

In the industry, a stoner chef is just called a chef.

Join Katy Borrows in her kitchen as she interviews local comedians about their favourite stoner snacks and herbal history, all while cooking an elevated version of their go-to munchies.

Grab a snack, pack a cone, and hit play.

You like standup comedy!? You like lemonade!? Join Kipling DC (and some special guest comedians) while they test all new jokes, and give you some sweet, sour, and fresh lemonade! (There will be actual Lemonade).

Kipling DC is the self proclaimed 'Big Dog' of Wellington comedy. This jack russell with a microphone uses his quick wit and killer crowd work to leave his audiences in stitches and constantly guessing about what's coming next.
Hailing originally from the mighty Whangārei, this award comedian has taken his jokes up and down Aotearoa and left nothing off the table. He's a little self deprecating, a little bit cheeky, especially silly, and most of all very very funny! Ngāpuhi, Te Hikutu.

2026 Billy T Nominee
Nominated - Best Comedian, Wellington Comedy Awards 2024
Nominated - Best Show, Wellington Comedy Awards 2024
Nominated - Best MC, Wellington Comedy Awards 2023

When finding love we're always told to "be yourself" but what if "yourself" is chronically comical? Two time Best Comedian winner Booth the Clown is seeking answers.. and a little kiss..

"Booth plays with us, the audience, in a fun and inclusive way which is exactly what we want from a clown." - Emilie Hope, Theatreview

"A brilliant embodiment of mime and a fantastic exploration of the clowning medium, a truly skillful performance" - Issac Andrews, Artmurmers

An evening of opinions and ideas from a diverse group of speakers, hosted with an irreverent deft touch by comedian James Nokise, all centred around a simple question: What's wrong with Wellington?

No idea is too small, no concept too big, the premise is simple, the answers as complicated as the guests require. A different lineup each night, for a colourful collection of insights.

James Nokise is an award winning Comedian, Theatremaker, and Podcaster with a history of innovative work in the NZ Fringe Festival, including Rukahu, Faovale Imperium, We Built This City, and Puppet Fiction. Shows he has either created or been involved with have gone on to international success in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

"Liar , Liar your pants are on fire" is what my 5 year old self used to shout at others , who I thought were being boastful or making shit up! - One of many memories that form the basis and the focus of this show. I came to relaise that a lot of my writing is inspired by memory, the trouble is my memories are not linear or logical , more a random collection of pictures,smells and sounds, many of mine are distorted by time or even false! So which ones are true? Liar Liar Pants on Fire is 50 minutes of spoken word, story telling and song based on my own writing/collaborations. All written over the last 50 years spent performing across the globe. You get to decide which ones are a fiction 

Lily Catastrophe, Wellington's Burlesque Princess and star of comedy cabaret BOTTOM SURGERY, brings the Dionysian art of burlesque to the Gods at Paramount Theatre. 

Join Lily--described as an "it girl" and "one seriously amazing woman"--in her returns to New Zealand Fringe 2026, as she summons a shimmering pantheon of New Zealand's finest burlesque performers in an opulent, rhinestoned evening filled with classic tease, divine performances, and glamorous sensuality. Burlesque at the Gods is sure to be a monumental event, hosted by one of Wellington's most exciting rising stars.

Come worship at the seat of the Gods.

Our raunchy 4h 20m audio comedy Gemma vs The Normal Worms will be playing on demand for FREE at our charming audio installation at Hannah Playhouse.

Featuring headphones and craft supplies — stop by anytime to cosy down, doodle a worm, and allow yourself to inch deep into the bowels of the Lost Worm Galaxy...

Check out our trailer here.

… The Normal Thing to Do would be: Listen to Gemma vs The Normal Worms …


Supported by Hannah Playhouse and the Wellington City Council.

The Listening Post will be available from Feb 13 to March 8th: 5-9pm Tuesday-Friday, 3-9pm Saturday, 5-9pm Sunday.

WHO ARE YOU IN RELATION TO ME?

Exploiting what it means to be a Mother,
when you are still a Daughter.
Birthing art as a result of fermentation.
Inducing labour in the hope of catharsis.

Mother. Daughter.
Pulsing to the tune of destruction and restoration.
A portrait of life creation.
Or is it art creation?
Probably neither.

MDM is a bold, multimedia, multidisciplinary exploration of being a mother while you are still a daughter, an artist, a woman, a body (amongst other things). Using distorted language, movement, paint, ritual and an exercise in Hushing The Baby, MDM longs to confront and cradle, searching for the framework to talk about the outside concepts of Motherhood and Art.

Local tour guides Marc & Marisha work for Time Tours, the best (?) time-travelling tour company in Wellington. The kicker? They don't just talk about the history, they take you to it. Download these three self-guided audio tours, wander the streets of Wellington (or listen from home!), and learn about the places that made us and what we'll become. All of it's true. We promise.*

Marc & Marisha Time Travel Wellington! - Feuding divorcees Marc & Marisha are forced together for their final historical time travelling tour. Join them as they tell you about the history of Courtenay Place and definitely don't rekindle their love...

Marc & Marisha Time Travel The Theatre! - Marc & Marisha find themselves in a moralistic crossroads with the advent of AI. And they also tell you about some of the history of Wellington's best theatres. 

Marc & Marisha Begin Again! - Join Marc & Marisha back where it started for the very first time...

*We can't confirm or deny that. 'Cause some of it's not happened yet. 

Me vs Myself dives into the mental struggle between the side of the mind that colors inside the lines, and the side that scribbles over everything. Gerard Dougherty returns from last year's critically acclaimed Hang in There! with an hour of sharp, unpredictable comedy.

"Nothing short of brilliant, deeply introspective, and undeniably authentic. His preternatural, almost ungodly comedic talents can only be explained through some Faustian bargain." -- Theatre Review

Expect premeditated visual metaphors, carefully plotted jokes, and absurdly precise punchlines,
intertwined with improvised detours and audience-fueled chaos.

After all, it's an argument with myself -- and I'll need you to back me up.

Me vs Myself dives into the mental struggle between the side of the mind that colors inside the lines, and the side that scribbles over everything. Gerard Dougherty returns from last year's critically acclaimed Hang in There! with an hour of sharp, unpredictable comedy.

"Nothing short of brilliant, deeply introspective, and undeniably authentic. His preternatural, almost ungodly comedic talents can only be explained through some Faustian bargain." -- Theatre Review

Expect premeditated visual metaphors, carefully plotted jokes, and absurdly precise punchlines,
intertwined with improvised detours and audience-fueled chaos.

After all, it's an argument with myself -- and I'll need you to back me up.

Flatmates Gracie, deep in therapy and retail work, and Freya, accidental drug dealer, "barely" an artist, struggle with the psychological toll of their art degree and navigate life post-uni.

Gracie's rage gets the best of her, and Freya is losing hope. The play speaks to how tough it can be not to give up on the arts industry and how necessary mental health support is for our resilience.

Messy is a dark comedy; quippy with fast intellectual dialogue. It pokes fun at the mundane drudgery of life, and highlights the beauty of creating art and leaning on your artistic community for support.

Bringing together four of Pōneke's funniest comedians for a night of laughs, new jokes and silly times, Most Likely is the comedy treat you deserve!

Gabby Anderson - Most Likely to Make a Classics Reference
> 2023 Billy T Award Nominee

Clarissa Chandrahasen - Most Likely to Slay
> "The perfect writer" - ArtMurmurs

Samantha Hannah - Most Likely to Crash Out On Stage
> 2026 Billy T Award Nominee

Hosted by Lesa MacLeod-Whiting - Most Likely to Go Off-Piste.
> 2025 Billy T Award Nominee

Internationally acclaimed physical theatre company, a2 - guide you through the potential cosmic ends of the universe.

This is an hour of urgent electronic music performed live by Toby Leman (Earl Green, HUMMUCIDE, Revulva), and a sharp new text written and performed by Ben Ashby. It's an exisistential crisis at the rave, it's a cathartic hour of fear, rage and hope, scored by an overwhleming and hypnotic AV design by Asha Barr. 

Please take a second to think about the ever-expanding blackness of space, about the vastness of the deep ocean. Consider that human history is only 0.007% Of the earths history. 

While we watch the rise of divisive, fascist policy at home, and genocidal war crimes overseas, scientists are predicting the end of the cosmos, and the end might be closer than you think. To be a tiny part of a massive universe is not the same as being insignificant.

Awards
Winner - Melbourne Fringe 2024 - Best in Theatre (for Running into the Sun)
Winner - Melbourne Fringe 2024 - The Emerging Company Award (for Running into the Sun)
Winner - The Emerging Artist Award - PAYPA Awards 2021 (Ben Ashby)
Winner - The Community Award for Artistic Leadership (Ben Ashby) - Wellington Theatre awards 2021

Get your best gig gear on and join indie-pop artist Hannah Virk for the premiere screening of the Musos Club music video from her sophomore album Pocket Clocks, including an exclusive live performance, behind the scenes stories and more.

Hannah Virk is an independent musician based in Wellington, New Zealand exploring music on guitar, ukulele and keyboard. Hannah uses her own beats and layers instruments and vocals to create upbeat and captivating songs. Hannah's songs bring together electronic, folk and pop styles to create a truly unique flavour. Described as both quirky and like poetry to music, Hannah's songs are set apart by their vivid imagery and explorative sounds, surprising listeners with every note and melody.

Musos Club is the first single from Hannah's sophomore album Pocket Clocks. The album is an exciting step for Hannah - who began here musical career as an independent artist and producer after getting a guitar at age 30 and letting her creativity bloom. Musos Club dives into the live music scene and her experiences growing up around 'the cool kids' before she started her own musical journey and found her 'wild and free' pathway.

You can find Hannah's music here: https://linktr.ee/hannahvirk

Music video credit: Kobenaboo Productions: @kobenabooproductions2912

A painfully honest solo show about depression, mothers, and why love and like aren't the same. 

At eleven, Joyann confessed her suicide ideation for the first time out loud, not knowing her mother could understand more than she let on. 

Now, Joyann is unpacking the generational sadness and the uneasy gratitude of a Black woman who both wants to defund the police and thank them for holding space while she open-mouthed sobbed in their faces.

Through humor and honesty, Joyann attempts to turn grief into punchlines and healing.

"My Mother Should Have Had an Abortion" is not a tragedy -- it's in the grand tradition of blaming our parents for everything wrong in our lives. 
A meditation on depression, migration, and the absurd ways we survive ourselves, this debut one-woman show finds humor in heartbreak, tenderness in shame, and connection in the messiest corners of being human.

Joyann is a Toronto-born writer, teacher, and performer who has lived, volunteered, and worked worldwide -- From Canada to Cuba, China, Germany, Korea, Spain, and Antigua (where her family is from). A former morning show cohost and stand-up dabbler, Joyann blends personal storytelling with observation and radical vulnerability.

A painfully honest solo show about depression, mothers, and why love and like aren't the same. 

At eleven, Joyann confessed her suicide ideation for the first time out loud, not knowing her mother could understand more than she let on. 

Now, Joyann is unpacking the generational sadness and the uneasy gratitude of a Black woman who both wants to defund the police and thank them for holding space while she open-mouthed sobbed in their faces.

Through humor and honesty, Joyann attempts to turn grief into punchlines and healing.

"My Mother Should Have Had an Abortion" is not a tragedy -- it's in the grand tradition of blaming our parents for everything wrong in our lives. 
A meditation on depression, migration, and the absurd ways we survive ourselves, this debut one-woman show finds humor in heartbreak, tenderness in shame, and connection in the messiest corners of being human.

Joyann is a Toronto-born writer, teacher, and performer who has lived, volunteered, and worked worldwide -- From Canada to Cuba, China, Germany, Korea, Spain, and Antigua (where her family is from). A former morning show cohost and stand-up dabbler, Joyann blends personal storytelling with observation and radical vulnerability.

After an enthusiastically received development season in BATS's Studio, My Puppet Who Sighs in Pearl Shavings returns for its premier season.

My Puppet is an intimate confessional that blurs narrative modes from conversational anecdote, to spoken word, to grand myths of creation. Blending the tragic, the comic, and the surreal, the voice of the sole performer constantly shifts and switches.

Cass, an anxious-avoidant trans person relating stories of her life in Wellington after the onset of a slow, and fairly boring, apocalypse. The Oracle, one of the few who still hold separate the aspects of both mind and body, so cruelly stitched together. The Monarch of Lambs; The Dog of Kings;  that which was before, and will be after.

My Puppet is a design-forward, multidisciplinary collaboration brought to you by Landfish, a collective of emerging and established artists and designers.

 Written and spoken by Raven Harvey-Lomas 

Set and costumed by Anne Amber 

Lit by Gabriella Eaton 

Scored by Scarlett Peckham 

Detective Constables Mike McNally & Hughie Rothman have eradicated crime in New York, and now they must go to the one place where corruption and crime reign terror upon every city.. New Zealand.

After being voted as the winners of their November 2024 Late Night Knife Fight in Tāmaki Makaurau, Improvisers Izzy Renton and Bridie Thomson are now ready to unleash their absurd moider (murder)-solving, donut-dunking, justice-fighting duo upon the world.

This is a highly interactive, fully improvised, murder-mystery style show where members of the audience play everyone from witness, to perpetrator, to the manager at Animates in Palmerston North.

Justice has never been so hard.

Mmmpop Improv presents: New and Mmmproved!

This show is the culmination of improvizers from Mmmpop skill building workshops. All put together for a show with the theme of improving... things! 

WARNING: DREAMLAND WAITS FOR YOU.

Fall into the liminal levels of your mind with the "help" of your wide-eyed dream guide mog.

It feels familiar but it's not.

Night ferals: a comedy in dreamland is a 50-minute surrealist sketch, clown and improv show that blends elements of weirdcore, experimental visceral comedy, and just good old fashion absurdity.

Expect otherworldly characters, uncanny environments and nonsensical situations that make you question a whole lotta things but mainly... What is the point? (there isn't one)

Be careful, this dream watches you back.

If you like Adult Swim, Aunty Donna, Portlandia, Tim Robinson, Sarah Squirm, Stath Lets Flats, insane deep web reel pulls and Cat in the Hat (2003), you'll love this show.

Mog (Megan Connolly) is an award-winning comedian, performer and writer based in Poneke. Typically the 'Minge' in comedy duo 'Ginge & Minge', this is Mog's debut solo hour. This work combines their love for surrealist humour, multiple disciplines and unearthly vibes.

Directed by award-winning performer Daniel Nodder (Only Bones).

"Chaos Goblin" - Theatreview
"Charisma unmatched" - Wellyott

A dice roll of cosmic proportions sets ONE and TWO on a sprawling journey through the depths of philosophy as they try to decipher meaning in a mystically chaos-ridden world that keeps throwing problems, questions and people at them.

What is the meaning of life? What controls our lives? What is time? What is free-will? Is it real? What if it is all just unbridled chaos? What if God really is real? Can we break the cycles that stop us from experiencing life fully and flourishingly?

Perhaps the most prominent question this show poses is: "Does it ever get better?"

If you're ready for an absurd night jam-packed with chaos, free-will and divine interventions, "ONE-TWO" is for you.

Oliver Pol is a silly goose.

After years of overthinking and self-doubt, he's embracing it. The human brain can be a difficult thing to inhabit. Maybe, existentially, geese have had it right all along.

So Oliver's going to honk and flap his way over to the lighter side. It's time to make peace with having an algorithm irrevocably overrun by hairless cats. To swap alcohol for family-sized apple and rhubarb pies. To realise that giving yourself hickeys is cool and fine actually.

Join Oliver in his energetic solo standup comedy debut as he swaps introspection for silliness. Expect a playful, sharp, and surprisingly uplifting hour of comedy.

The sacred texts have been discovered. Did you know that some of Hollywood's most iconic movies were gay gay gay? Our intrepid researchers have discovered the original scripts of Titanic (with lesbians), Sunset Boulevard (with a trans woman) and The Social Network (with kissing) before the Hollywood suits forced the straight agenda on them. For the first time in history, these seminal texts of queer culture have been discovered and read aloud in front of a bunch of gays. Expect true love, divas, sexual tension and many euphemisms. Discovered and edited by playwrights Cassandra Tse, Jamie Cain and Matthew Loveranes. Presented by With Our Powers Combined.

A cocoon bursts open into a fever dream.

Operamoth is a two-act contemporary dance that negotiates the ebbs and flows of holding things dear and allowing oneself to let go. Cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction are upset by dissonant gestural embroideries. Contorted postures and lashing appendages permeate three bodies as they melt towards collapse. Against the backdrop of a world turned sideways, how much pressure can our natural flow of life withstand?

Operamoth pries open fossilised remains in a gathering of movement, wax, and sinew tethers. Exaggerated forms cascade through scenes of turbulence and harmony. This work presents a tangle of holding self, holding together, and holding none; folding audiences into a dreamlike vista. Meet us at the crest of growth and departure, where surreal pricklings scratch our tangible world.

Hailing from Tāmaki Makaurau, Ctenophora Co. is a group of dance artists interested in crafting nuanced and imaginative performance pieces. Their works span moments of extreme subtlety to visceral unwindings of movement.

Orin Ruaine-Prattley turns his back on the mainstream style that brought him early success and stumbles hairlessly into the world of alternative stand-up. He wrestles with politics and the predictability of mainstream comedy, finding humour in the cracks where stand-up falls apart. Critiquing comedians like Jimmy Carr, Joe Rogan, Chris Bishop and Elon Musk, Orin takes on figures who chase outrage and confuse controversy for substance.

Can Orin's "performative" comedy speak truth to power? Or will his act become part of the same circus he so pretentiously tries to expose?

Layered, experimental, and unapologetically satirically, Orin Performs Performative Stand-Up Comedy delivers a bold new voice in Aotearoa's comedy landscape.

Awards:

⭐ 2023 New Zealand International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer

⭐ 2023 NZ Fringe Most Promising Pasifika Artist Nominee

⭐ 2021 Wellington RAW Comedy Quest Winner

⭐ 2021 Wellington Comedy Awards Best Newcomer

Step into a world where dreams blur with reality, and beauty meets the bizarre. Our Dreaming Bodies is a surreal contemporary dance work weaving Victorian aesthetics with dreamscapes of queerness, kinship, and femme power.

Through lush imagery and raw physicality, three dancers embody stories of resilience, intimacy, and self-discovery -- revealing the body as both archive and dreamscape.

Visually striking and emotionally charged, the work invites audiences into a world that feels at once otherworldly and deeply human.

Created by Quiet Chaos Dance, Our Dreaming Bodies is an ode to connection, transformation, and the strange magic that lives in our collective dreaming.

The veil is thin here. Someone or something has been summoned, and it draws nearer, to bless or to bedevil. A fragment of an eerie old song blows in on the wind, you hear a voice in the next room of an empty house, the night brings strange dreams. Don't look over your shoulder, enter the hall of the old, haunted place on the corner. Follow the music, a weird cantata - Out of a Dark Wood.

What would you do with a car park for a day? (PARK)ing Day has the answer.

(PARK)ing Day is an annual global event where creatives take over middle Cuba Street to engage, entertain and ask how we can better use public spaces.

Now in its 13th year, Wellington Sculpture Trust turns the meters off for one day.

Cuba Street will come alive as participants temporarily transform 30 carparks with performance, art and entertainment from 10am-5pm. Seven hours of family friendly fun for everyone, come on down!

Petit ChouX is a French-born singer- songwriter who weaves romance and reflection into her music.
Based in Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, her performances blend acoustic simplicity with emotional depth, inviting listeners to be present and immerse themselves in the beauty of her multilingual lyrics. She composes music in French, Spanish and English. Her music creates a gentle and unforgettable atmosphere.
She released her first EP in May and music videos recently.

Winning in life isn’t about the size of your balls.
It’s about how you spin them.

Wouter Moerloose presents his debut stand-up hour about the triumph of attitude over accolades.

This Belgian raconteur spins sharp, self-aware stories from his chaotic journey towards the only thing he never knew he wanted: to make you laugh!
Expect crying on planes, poorly chosen hobbies, and an unhealthy obsession with celebrities’ wealth – featuring (without their consent) an AK-47 hoarding grandfather, Latvia’s worst kidnapper, and some surprisingly horny sea mammals.
PING PONG BALLER: the nearly-award winning show where almost does count!

Wouter’s accolades (just in case):
* Raw Comedy Quest 2025: Canterbury Finalist / Auckland Semi-Finalist
* Winner, Good Times Comedy Club 2025 “Goodest Newcomer” + Nominee, “People’s Choice”
* Nominee, Best Newcomer South Island, 2025 NZ Comedy Guild Awards

With support from Ōtautahi-based Jarrod Cook (Winner, 2025 NZIF Pearls of Wisdom Award and Nominee, 2024 Best Newcomer South Island, NZ Comedy Guild Awards)

BALLERS BONUS (because why not):
• Every ticket goes into a nightly raffle to win a SMASH ROOM + axe-throwing session for two (worth $120). Buy a “Ticket + 10” and double your chances!
• First 8 ticket buyers each night get a free drink ($12)

Greek mythology's most fateful moment: Pandora opens the box. In this circus spectacular, the evils of the world spill out as the lid lifts, but hope remains within. Journey through an acrobatic exploration across myths as mortals confront the darkness unleashed upon them.

Fear. Fear of loss. Fear of the dark Fear of everything you can't see. As Valerie combs through her increasingly erratic boyfriend's studies into fears and phobias, she begins to uncover secrets and horrors that should have stayed in his records. But the nightmares get worse and the shadows get closer. With every tale of things unknown, reality seems to slip further and further from Valerie's grip.

Follow a struggling mind as it attempts to grapple with loss, its own greatest fears and shadows that seem to lurk behind every door.

Please Let Me Remain, is A/Motion's debut work as an emerging project-based contemporary dance collective, founded by Aylin Atalay. The work is an intimate exploration of sisterhood through the lens of Aylin's roots and identity as a Turkish/Pakeha woman.

Five dancers will explore how sisterhood affects the individual and the group as one entity. Women together in comfort, sharing the same mundane experiences.

The games we make up, the‬ ‭future we see together, the life we romanticise. The culture we are all at the root of, and the‬ hope there are better days ahead.

Taking influence from Turkish traditions and Aylin's interest in reflecting the human experience, the audience will witness intertwined female connections that hold up the group and carry stories, memories and values. Viewers will observe how this culture stays rooted in the individual while they are alone and how sisterhood is a bond that keeps things moving. 

It is a journey of surrendering to the space together and enjoying simplicity, nostalgia, and the tangents relationships have. In contrast to this, it holds a melancholic quality when a dancer is alone. We are a result of the women who raised us. How do we continue to carve this path for others?

"Please adjust your G-string" is a theatrical memoir at its zaniest! Writer and performer Margaret Austin, in partnership with director and dramaturg Ralph McAllister, gives us an intriguing and wryly funny take on the experiences of the innocent New Zealander abroad. 

There was nothing about Austin's conservative upbringing in 1950s Palmerston North, complete with a stint as Sunday school teacher, that gave any hint of the life of adventure that was to follow. 

If there's one thing that bugs her about being a woman, it's the attention that big tits get! "I was teased by my school mates in the swimming pool dressing room for not needing a bra," she says. But twenty years later, during her OE in Paris, her very small breasts proved to be a godsend and the reason why she got a job in the most famous music hall in the world. Legs mattered! That meant a year in the chorus line appearing topless before an audience 1,600 onlookers six nights of the week, 52 weeks of the year. 

Armed with the lessons of the dressing room - how to apply full body make up, get false eyelashes into place, and of course master the art of wearing a G-string - further adventures took her to the Cannes Film Festival as a rookie reporter. Brushing shoulders with fame at interviews and celebrity parties meant contacts with the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Catherine de Neuve and Christopher Reeves. 

Once back in New Zealand in the late eighties, adventuring took a very different form. Or maybe not. Find out! 

Elections are right around the corner, and only Politician Sam is fighting for the change you want to see! Join him at his latest rally and see for yourself that Politician Sam isn't like other politicians; he supports what you support (whatever that may be).

Politician Sam is excited to meet his constituents and publicly announce his candidacy. This will be a night that you will not easily forget, and a rally that, like Politician Sam's plan for New Zealand, will stay entirely on track (mostly).

So join Politician Sam, where you'll laugh, cry, and ultimately decide to #votesam.

This message was endorsed by the office of Politician Sam

From that girl who did the Twilight show - Prophecy Girl is Maeve's new solo stand-up show about signs, experiences and clocking a gag !! 

See you there on Friday 13th (Ahh, scary) or 14 of Febuary (Valentine's Day, special)

Ikaiti is a truck driver and minor gangster, trying to make a living in 1940's Pōneke by acting as the criminal underworld's delivery boy. However, after discovering the true nature of his latest gig, he abandons the job and runs off into the night. Now he has just a few hours to right his wrongs, with the help of some local allies, before his former employer's operatives catch up to him.

This performance shows its love of Wellington and explores several iconic locations as well as references to local history. A heavy focus on Māori identity is showcased through the various characters, who different different aspects of tangata Māori and the various personalities among our community who inhabit our urban centres.

Three empowered women. Two brilliant nights. One powerful conversation.

Join Katy Borrows and Emma Jean for Quite a F.E.W. (Funny Empowered Women), a show that mixes stand-up with real talk about womanhood, resilience, and joy.

Emma and Katy share insights from their personal paths toward empowerment, providing candid and hilarious reflections on their families, values, and individual growth. Cocktails in hand, they encourage thoughtful exploration of personal experiences using the medium of comedy, feminine rage, and PowerPoint.

Each night, the two comedians will be joined by a different expert guest, discussing their field of interest, women's issues, and sharing their journey to empowerment.

An evening of fresh stand-up and honest conversation, all rooted in celebrating the real stories and resilience of women. Laugh, think, and leave a little taller.

The end is close, but it's medication makes it hard to come.

Raw Nerve is a surreal stand up comedy/horror show about time running out and wanting to be more than you already are.

Come along if you dare but remember: if you laugh in the theatre, you laugh in real life.

Chaos. Carnage. Courage. REDEMPTION.

Local chaos magnets, Ginge & Minge (Nina Hogg & Megan Connolly) are here to give failed comedy ideas a second chance.

REDEMPTION offers hopeful 'redeemables' a chance to direct their dream sketches, improvised formats, scenes or comedic characters that haven't worked, been rejected, or just didn't receive the love they deserve.

Prepare for epic flops and surprising superstar successes during this 50 minute special that combines Ginge & Minge's love of sketch and improv comedy with a cast of ready and game comedians from across Pōneke.

BUT THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS.

Only YOU, the audience, gets to decide what will be REDEEMED and what was better left in the BIN.

If you love witnessing magic moments being made right before your eyes, commitment to big stupid ideas, gambling or just a good spectacle, this show is for you.

We can promise it'll be a show you can't forget.

Ginge & Minge are a comedy duo from Wellington. They have worked together for four years creating and touring improv and sketch comedy. Recently they were awarded Most Spectacular Organised Chaos at the NZ Fringe Festival for their sketch show House of Ick. However, Ginge & Minge cite their most important achievement as the fact they still like one another.

"Ginge & Minge are experienced performers, and it shows [...] they know how to play the audience and each other."
Art Murmurs

"...The duo's chemistry, creativity and charisma ushers in a new era of comedy"
Wellyott

The award winning Renegade Cabaret returns to Wellington! After 2 smash hit seasons in 2025, we're bringing the sequins and sleaze back to the Pōneke Fringe with ten wild shows. Circus artists, burlesque babes, and cabaret queers from around Aotearoa are descending upon Pōneke to serve up the fringiest bits of the fest.

Enjoy a celebration on the strange at Whisky & Wood. We're serving up a buffet of scandalous stunts, death defying acts, and idiotic party tricks. Roll the dice, spin the wheel, and mix the metaphor as experienced artists offer us their oddest acts. Each night promises a lineup that's unrepeatable, unpredictable, and potentially unmentionable.
This will get weird. . .

The award winning Renegade Cabaret returns to Wellington! After 2 smash hit seasons in 2025, we're bringing the sequins and sleaze back to the Pōneke Fringe with ten wild shows. Circus artists, burlesque babes, and cabaret queers from around Aotearoa are descending upon Pōneke to serve up the fringiest bits of the fest.

Enjoy a celebration on the strange at Whisky & Wood. We're serving up a buffet of scandalous stunts, death defying acts, and idiotic party tricks. Roll the dice, spin the wheel, and mix the metaphor as experienced artists offer us their oddest acts. Each night promises a lineup that's unrepeatable, unpredictable, and potentially unmentionable.
This will get weird. . .

We Creatives hereby present our 10-minute utopia. Conflicts? Promptly resolved. Characters? Fully evolved. Musical numbers? Not shoehorned in the slightest.

But here come real Critics, slinging minor notes with butterfly effects - will our magnum opus survive literal live critique? Depends on your point of re-view...

Hate the status quo as much as us? Bethany and Logan imagine the best-of-all-possible-worlds-Aotearoa in a mini musical theatre capsule. But don't just leave it to us. Just as theatre is critiqued and constantly developed, we're bringing in a real Wellington reviewer each night to review live onstage, and you'll get to witness the results, over and over again.

Logan and Bethany have done a new musical comedy each year since 2023, complete with biting social commentary, witty lyrics, and loveable/hateable characters. Logan loves to write, Bethany loves to improvise. Finally, they've agreed to do both! At the mercy of live reviewers.

Ever wanted to watch reviewers you know in action? This is your chance!

__________

About Bethany Miller and Logan Hunt:

Bethany and Logan have been making zany and punchy theatrical musical comedies since 2023: Goody Goody Glam Pop (NZ Fringe & Auckland Fringe 2024), Nominated for "Momentous Music" (NZ Fringe), Touch Grass (NZ Fringe 2025), and Battle Riffs (NZ Fringe 2023).

Alongside his tight composing and songwriting, Logan Hunt is a music director, performer and band musician for various musical theatre shows in Auckland.

Bethany has produced and performed in all sorts of other shows, including her multi award-nominated 2019-2020 solo "Waste Not Want Not: Bethany's Guide to the Thrift Life" that toured to NZ Fringe, Nelson Fringe, Dunedin Fringe, Little Andromeda (Christchurch) and the NZ Improv Festival. She has also produced larger scale works with companies Potentially Playing Productions and Toi Ngākau Productions.

B

2 years ago my mother decided it was time to exit this life. The ensuing turmoil was well worth writing a play about!

Big topics surface in this dynamic, often humorous, attempt to make sense at the periphery of life and death.

SAFA is a global citizen and musical storyteller based in Aotearoa. She composes and sings in French, Spanish, English, and Tarifit -- a Tamazight language spoken in northern Morocco. Her music draws from a rich tapestry of cultural roots, creating a sound that feels both grounded and borderless. A passionate multi-instrumentalist, SAFA brings a captivating live experience to the Fringe, crafting layered soundscapes with a looper pedal, a variety of flutes, hand drums, accordion, and more. Her performances invite listeners into music that speaks across cultures and carries the soul of many places.

It's a Boy Band Murder Mystery Musical! After the tragic death of their leader, Scott, SKWERT is reuniting for one massive memorial tour. However, not is all as it seems as the show is taken over by a mysterious force that exposes the band's secret: one of them killed him. Can the band pull themselves together and solve the mystery before SKWERT is destroyed forever?

SKWERT: The Reunion is an original musical featuring music and lyrics by local Wellingtonians, Elliott Lam and Finn McKinlay.

to: snart@university.edu

from: lukapiripi@gmail.com

re: Fringe Festival

Kia Ora Snart,

I don't really mind how this email finds you (well, sickly, etc). I'm just writing to let you know I'm going to be putting up the show about you again. It'll follow you during that time you fell in love with that portrait... of yourself. Yes, we all remember. I'm going to play you, despite how it may reflect on my character. We're going to be using projected animation to display the world around you, because we don't want anyone to take you particularly seriously. I think it will be fun. I hope anyone like you can learn something from it. By the way, can I please have $20? 

Ngā mihi and reluctant love,

Luka. 

Saddle Up & Set Sail is an exciting, swashbuckling adventure featuring the magical pirate Jack Albatross and "The Fastest Pun In The West... Coast" Silly The Kid. Our two heroes clash as both are searching for the same treasure, but over the course of the show learn to appreciate each others skills and learn about the value of teamwork and friendship. This show contains amazing magic, terrible jokes, line dancing, shoe-based combat and heaps of interaction with the kids.

Steve Wilbury is Jack Albatross. Steve is a globe-trotting entertainer whose journey began on the streets with a deck of cards, a few circus props, and an irrepressible grin. Over the past twenty years, he has taken his unique blend of comedy, circus, and award-winning magic to audiences across five continents. Career highlights include five star reviews and festival awards, multiple international tours, and countless unforgettable performances at events ranging from street festivals to corporate galas.

Taylor Ruddle is Silly The Kid. A multi award-winning Christchurch comedian, Taylor is known for his friendly, relaxed delivery. He performs a mix of storytelling, one liners and satire in his cheeky pop-culture and wordplay-laden style.Taylor has been performing since 2015 and has opened for such acts as Aunty Donna, Joe Daymond and Blake Pavey. Taylor's most recent theatrical performance was as Papa Bear in the completely sold out 12 show run at The Malthouse Theatre in Christchurch.

Saddle Up & Set Sail is aimed at children 5 and up, and promises to be an interactive experience full of mind blowing magic and belly laughter that you won't soon forget

Saddle Up & Set Sail is an exciting, swashbuckling adventure featuring the magical pirate Jack Albatross and "The Fastest Pun In The West... Coast" Silly The Kid. Our two heroes clash as both are searching for the same treasure, but over the course of the show learn to appreciate each others skills and learn about the value of teamwork and friendship. This show contains amazing magic, terrible jokes, line dancing, shoe-based combat and heaps of interaction with the kids.

Steve Wilbury is Jack Albatross. Steve is a globe-trotting entertainer whose journey began on the streets with a deck of cards, a few circus props, and an irrepressible grin. Over the past twenty years, he has taken his unique blend of comedy, circus, and award-winning magic to audiences across five continents. Career highlights include five star reviews and festival awards, multiple international tours, and countless unforgettable performances at events ranging from street festivals to corporate galas.

Taylor Ruddle is Silly The Kid. A multi award-winning Christchurch comedian, Taylor is known for his friendly, relaxed delivery. He performs a mix of storytelling, one liners and satire in his cheeky pop-culture and wordplay-laden style.Taylor has been performing since 2015 and has opened for such acts as Aunty Donna, Joe Daymond and Blake Pavey. Taylor's most recent theatrical performance was as Papa Bear in the completely sold out 12 show run at The Malthouse Theatre in Christchurch.

Saddle Up & Set Sail is aimed at children 5 and up, and promises to be an interactive experience full of mind blowing magic and belly laughter that you won't soon forget

Art is pain. Pain is art. Two "definitely not masochistic" artists take on the challenge of a lifetime: to create musical comedy with feeling--while feeling the real pain of electrocution.

In what may be their worst idea yet, veteran musical improvisers Lee Apsey ('CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation,' 'Your Flaws: The Improvised Musical') and Jayda Fogel ('Bird & Tax Collector,' '¡Horario Estelar!') weave hilarious and sincere songs, sketches, and stories with the inspiration of the audience and the threat of being shocked, shackled, dunked, and beaten by an elderly woman with a stick.

You'll be shocked, and so will the players--literally.

From the award-winning co-creator of multiple Edinburgh Fringe sell-out hit 'CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation.'

Artist Praise & Accolades:
WINNER - The Comedy Award - Colchester Fringe 2024
WINNER - Best Improv/Musical - Leicester Comedy Festival 2023

"A truly fantastic show that you will talk about for years to come" ***** THEATRE AND TONIC

"So funny it would be a crime to miss it!" ***** CURTAIN CALL REVIEWS

Saksham is one of the fastest-rising stars in the magic world, with over 6 million YouTube subscribers and millions of views worldwide. Known for blending cutting-edge technology with jaw-dropping illusions, Saksham has captivated audiences with levitations, teleportations, and stunning transformations. His innovative approach has earned him acclaim on Australia's Got Talent and a reputation as a trailblazer in modern magic.

Having performed for Hollywood celebrities including Liam Neeson, Mark Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger, and David Dobrik, as well as Bollywood stars like Rani Mukerji, Saksham brings a unique energy and charisma to every stage. His shows combine powerful storytelling with dazzling visuals, creating immersive experiences that ignite wonder and inspire belief in the impossible.

After sold-out performances around the globe, Saksham is bringing his groundbreaking live show, Saksham Magical Madness, to the NZ Fringe Festival for the first time. The show is a spectacular fusion of technology and magic, designed to thrill audiences of all ages.

With a high-energy performance style and mesmerizing illusions, Saksham is redefining what magic can be for a new generation. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to magic, this is an experience you won't want to miss.

Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and completely captivated by Saksham Magic--where dreams come alive in spectacular fashion.

- Australia's Got Talent Performace

- Studio 10 Magic Performance 

I love a catchy show title. I've been collecting them forever. Some have potential; some are clearly 3am half-asleep-reaching-for-the-notebook-by-my-bedside-often-completely-unreadable-in-the-morning unhinged drivel. Which to make into shows, which ones to chuck in the bin? (where the current coalition of dunces should be tbh). Coalition of dunces, lol. Wait, ffs, is that ANOTHER show title? This is getting out of control. We've got 55 minutes to sort out how to stop hoarding all the useless things in our lives.

Here's things people have said about other shows I have made...don't take them too seriously, it's just individuals, with individual opinions. You might have different ones (but you'll have to come to the show to find out)
'Astonishing, and frequently violent... ' The Independent, UK (I particularly like this one)
'Funny, fiery, brave and true.' Herald, Scotland
'Humour in every strand' The Latest, Brighton
'Fluency, intensity and vivacity... 'The Age, Melbourne
'... smart and sharp... a breath of fresh air... ' Nicholas Holm, The Post, NZ
' ... the wittiest and sassiest lady I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Move over Kitty Flanagan.' Buzzcut, Perth
(Honestly, this one's a bit over the top- Kitty Flanagan is amazing and absolutely not moving over for anyone)

CONTENT NOTES
This show is accessible to Blind/Low Vision folks without audio description.
No loud noises or flashing lights. I will occasionally raise my voice
Adult content and coarse language. It's work in progress, so I may sail close to the wind in terms of pushing boundaries. You are encouraged to practice self care by stepping away if needed, returning if and when desired, being mindful of the rest of the audience who are still in the room.
Some direct chat with the audience- if you look away or shake your head, I will not speak to you.
Queer friendly.

Lights are low, tunes are pumping, and we're stocked with Jolly drinks! Join us for the biggest night of the year, the School Disco! Neon lights, slow dances, choice beats. Bring your mates, your groove, and don't forget your pocket money for the tuck shop. See you in the hall!

Created and performed by the ensemble of Wellington Young Actors.

Begin with a circle. Work your way up, slowly. Bravely. The Macarena happens to completion. Scream.

This is how you summon Sexy Ghost Boy, the award winning and hilariously f***able spirit haunting Whiskey & Wood this Fringe.

The show dissects the unspoken rituals and micro neurosis we have around sex and the presentation of ourselves as sexual agents. Satirical in its burlesque and invigorating in its clown, this wordless performance inspires the audience to heroically rebel against insecurity.

Described by witnesses as a hot mess mash up of Mr Bean and Marina Abramović, it has split the sides of audiences across New Zealand and is boldly propositioning Wellingtonians to have an unforgettable evening of Theatre.

"A theatrical alchemist, Fenn has the rare talent to create something ridiculous yet very clever." - Rosheen Fitzgerald, Theatreview

"I left with a sore throat and vaguely manic euphoria from laughing so uproariously" Ellen Murray, Theatreview

"we both feel so... I don't even know how to describe it. I feel like I'm floating while simultaneously feeling grounded, I'm ecstatic while also very chill. Maybe it's the full moon, or maybe I'm just a little bit possessed by the Sexy Ghost Boy" Laura Ferguson, Art Murmurs

Sexy Ghost Boy is also on at Sweet Axe Throwing Co. from the 25th - 28th of February.

Begin with a circle. Work your way up, slowly. Bravely. The Macarena happens to completion. Scream.

This is how you summon Sexy Ghost Boy, the award winning and hilariously f***able spirit haunting Whiskey & Wood this Fringe.

The show dissects the unspoken rituals and micro neurosis we have around sex and the presentation of ourselves as sexual agents. Satirical in its burlesque and invigorating in its clown, this wordless performance inspires the audience to heroically rebel against insecurity.

Described by witnesses as a hot mess mash up of Mr Bean and Marina Abramović, it has split the sides of audiences across New Zealand and is boldly propositioning Wellingtonians to have an unforgettable evening of Theatre.

"A theatrical alchemist, Fenn has the rare talent to create something ridiculous yet very clever." - Rosheen Fitzgerald, Theatreview

"I left with a sore throat and vaguely manic euphoria from laughing so uproariously" Ellen Murray, Theatreview

"we both feel so... I don't even know how to describe it. I feel like I'm floating while simultaneously feeling grounded, I'm ecstatic while also very chill. Maybe it's the full moon, or maybe I'm just a little bit possessed by the Sexy Ghost Boy" Laura Ferguson, Art Murmurs

Sexy Ghost Boy is also on at Whisky & Wood from the 13th - 15th of February.

The Shift of Tides
Created and performed by Karolina Gorton and Pipi-Ayesha Evans

In the windows of Graphic Comics at 105 Cuba Street.

Step into a powerful physical theatre experience that explores the unpredictable nature of beginnings and endings - fluid, nonlinear, and often beyond our control. The Shift of Tides invites audiences to witness shifting states of emotion and movement, challenging perceptions and embracing the beauty of transformation.

Karolina Gorton and Pipi-Ayesha Evans guide you through the circle of life - from the first breath to the last - navigating the spaces between yesterday and tomorrow, joy and sorrow, presence and absence. It's a journey of memory, resilience, joy, and rediscovery, where we carry our burdens and find the strength to lift them. We are not helpless... are we?

Developed as an incubator performance with support from the Viewfinder window gallery in Whakatū, Nelson, this striking work unfolds across two windows, two spaces - where reality bends through glass and connection is tested. The performers explore the boundaries between these spaces, revealing the tension, intimacy, and distance that shape our human experience.

A visceral, poetic, and visually striking performance that resonates deeply with the rhythms of life and the tides of emotion.

Early-bird Comedy! Wellington's fantastically funny comedians, all over the age of 50, storm the stage with an evening of entertainment. A fast paced and sharp-witted showcase of stand-up comedy showing that the silver haired are also silver tongued.

A crew of die-hard skater boys get sucked into the video game Skate or Die. At first, it's all sick tricks, banter, and bros, until the game starts to glitch. Hard. To escape, they'll have to do more than land a clean ollie. This game is wired to force a reckoning with their past, their egos, their fragility and fears. 

Created by Ōtautahi artist Millie Hanford and performed by five powerhouse women, Skate or Die fuses satire, movement, and gaming culture in a bold theatrical collision of comedy, chaos and actual skateboarding. Expect laughter, discomfort, and the kind of truth that hits like a fall from a halfpipe.

"I felt so seen, like I knew each of those guys."

"I can't believe you had Grizzly grip tape on your board!" 

From Pretty Little Sweethearts, this is the feminist revenge fantasy of your dreams, disguised as a video game. Funny, furious, and unflinchingly relevant.

Come on down to Slimey's Slimetastic World for a Slimetastic time with everyones favourite host: Slimey the Slime! Slimey has been feeling a little bit sad and doesn't know why! Is it because they haven't eaten enough Ice Cream? Or is it because of late stage capitalism? Join them on a song filled adventure with friends such as Sally the the Socialist Sock and Monsieur Sticky. Hopefully Slimey doesnt have an exsistenal crisis on stage the night you come because that keeps happening and it gets a bit awkward. 

The story follows Tevita, John Boy and Manase, three friends who reunite after a year to embark on a pub crawl. What seems like three guys catching up over a few drinks quickly turns into confronting yet necessary conversations that the group must have. Inspired by true events, Sōsisi Tales explores the concept of 'boys will be boys' and how that excuses detrimental behaviours that society turns a blind eye to.

Ah, the humble kitchen spoon. So soft, so harmless, so simple.

A spoon can become many things. An airplane, an embrace, a swip-swap creating willy sords or perhaps two swords? A loved one, an enemy, a catapult, a shamefully niche musical instrument. Can a clown be a spoon? What actually IS a spoon, really? Does a spork count? Ponder these deep questions and more as Fumble the Clown explores the infinite comedic potential of cutlery.

It is unclear where the clown got so many of these metal wonders, or for what purpose. But with a fool's brain, a dancer's body and a determination usually reserved only for the truly idiotic, this charming clown jokes, dances, juggles, sings and invites their audience to join the show, creating an unforgettable hour of ridiculous comedy.

Spoon Show is the sophomore solo work created by Aotearoa-based dancer-turned-clown Daniel Nodder (Only Bones, ratKing, World of WearableArt 2025), whose work has been described as a "tour-de-force", "beyond human" and "pure artistry". After developing this new work at École Philippe Gaulier, Daniel brings all of their absurdist comedy and multi-award-winning movement skills to this performance. Performing alongside quirky sound design & composition by Ben Kelly and clever technical design by Rebekah de Roo, this production is a perfectly balanced spoonful of comedy soup.

Be delighted by the simple stupidity and ironic inventiveness of a show about spoons.

WINNER: Outstanding Performance Award - Dunedin Fringe 2025
WINNER: Dance / Physical Theatre Award - Dunedin Fringe 2025
WINNER: Artist's Pick Award - San Diego International Fringe 2024
WINNER: Outside the Box Award - San Diego International Fringe 2024
WINNER: Outstanding Solo Performance - New Zealand Fringe 2023

Strawberry Baby is a bold, camp, and colourful solo dance-theatre work, and the debut choreographic piece by Fiona Saunders. After a wonderful and successful premiere season in Auckland, this vibrant new work is heading to Wellington to delight new audiences.

Set in a chaotic, bright pink bedroom, Strawberry Baby invites audiences into an intimate, immersive world that captures the messy, playful, and deeply personal experience of growing up and discovering one's identity.
Blending contemporary dance, storytelling, and humour, the work follows a young girl navigating the pressures of beauty standards, neurodivergence, and queerness -- and the universal desire to belong.

At its heart, Strawberry Baby is a joyful act of rebellion against societal expectations, celebrating authenticity, imperfection, and the power of self-acceptance.

Playful yet raw, funny yet deeply sincere, Strawberry Baby is a love letter to anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit.

Peggie and Ava are putting on a variety show but neither of them know what they are doing. It's okay though, because neither of them realise that they don't know what they are doing. And we aren't going to be the ones to tell them.

Besides, it's super easy and fun putting on a variety show with your best friend! Definitely a surefire way to strengthen the friendship: commiting to unrealistic deadlines, spending all free time together, holding each other to excessive standards, and agreeing to never, ever fight. 

Some people are tops, some are bottoms but here at PopRox we're all switches. In the age of Tik Tok and Reels, our average attention span has maxed out at 7 minutes so PopRox has crafted a show where everything swaps on a buzzer. The cast, the musician and even the tech operator swap roles with each other after just 7 minutes. It's a character based, high-speed romp pushing top improv comedians to the brink of their skills and their sanity. If you don't like what you see, you'll have the chance to change it up and swap it around.

Expect huge characters, heaps of laughs, stitch-ups and people so far out of their skill zone it'll remind you of the coalition government. No night is the same. Not even every quarter hour is the same.

PopRox is a professional improv theatre company entering its 5th year of operation. Having dazzled audiences across Te-Whanganui-A-Tara, the motu and even the world, PopRox's slick and stylish improvisation has received critical acclaim and delighted sold out audiences.

PopRox is:

Tara McEntee
Austin Harrison
Dylan Hutton
Jed Davies
Lesa Macleod-Whiting
Lia Kelly
Mamaeroa Munn
Millie Osborne
Nina Hogg

Wellingtons hit new quarterly comedy variety show has lined itself up nicely for FRINGE!

Featuring your favourite recurring cast of clowns, comedians and improvisors THIS SEASON the Devils are focusing on games to play WITH THE AUDIENCE (think of the infamous watermelon smash).

Te Aro Zero Waste in conjunction with ULTRAUPCYCED 

Present:

"THE ECO FASHION RUNWAY "

M.C.: QUEEN Olivia III

V.J. RASKAL 

D.J. PANDA

Kia Ora

For the FRINGE FEST 2026 & Valentine's Day Te Aro Zero Waste and Ultraupcyced (formerly HAND SEWN) will be transforming the Space into Glamourous Eco Runway with 4 continuous runways "Spotlighting" local Eco Designers and Garment stores that you may not have been aware of or get to view their garments.

The venue and carpark will be lit up for the models to walk from the interior to the outdoors and back again with seating surrounding four runways sew that participants can view the Garments at any angle. 

Sew come along and Experience something new and different 

(Please note: on the night we are asking for Adult only attendees as there will be the serving of alcohol but that leaves you free for the night to celebrate Valentine's Day)

An eve of sacred sin and stage, with Fringe's finest on parade. Some bards may sing, our FOOLS shall play - and THE GODS alone shall light your way. We welcome you to Pōneke's hottest new venue: THE GODS! You are invited to join THE FOOLS for a night of dionysian delights, whether you be a sinner, saint, swain or sage.

The stage is ours, yet power thine - we, the Fools; you, the Gods divine. THE FOOL'S CABARET is a delicious taster flight for Fringe's feast of talent. We FOOLS wait in the wings with offerings for you, our Gods!

We're The Goodmans, America's favourite family! And you're invited to the season finale taping of everyone's favourite family sitcom. When new neighbours Hannah and Barnaby arrive for dinner, it's up to the family to make a strong first impression, get Noble a date for the prom, and round everything out with good old fashioned American family values. At 'The Goodmans' every story has a lesson! And we're all family here!

1977, Georgetown, Georgia, USA. 'The Goodmans' offers a peek behind the scenes of America's favourite primetime sitcom. Featuring the infectious nostalgia of 1970s music and aesthetics, and intertwining horror, comedy and musical theatre. Two brand new neighbours arrive at The Goodmans' humble abode for dinner, and hijinks ensue as the Goodmans put out fires to ensure a pleasant dining experience. The question on the newcomers mind: is this picture of a perfect family too good to be true, or is there something more sinister lurking behind the TV camera? Inspired by classic sitcoms such as 'Full House', 'Happy Days' and 'All In The Family'. Get ready to be transported, excited and disquieted; featuring irrisistable musical numbers, and audience participation, with comedy, suspense and surprise at every corner. So if you're in Wellington this February, why not come over and grab a plate; it's always time for dinner!

TNT! is a musical project incorporating the explosive power of big band jazz with the mana and beautiful lyricism of te ao Māori.

It features Wellington's Capital City Big Band and a team of top-notch musical personalities, led by Vaughn Roberts, fronted by Lisa Tomlins, Greg Crayford, and special guest Jeremy Hantler -- combining to do something creative and new, where big band meets te ao Māori.

The programme features bespoke musical arrangements, presented bilingually and sung in Te Reo Māori in a friendly and accessible format. It involves newly commissioned works, stage music, kaupapa Māori, big heart, and great excitement!

Noah Levinson (US) brings his immersive storytelling style to Aotearoa in Takesie-Backsies, an original piece of absurd and darkly comic fiction. In 2024 he delighted audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his original story, "Of Course You Are, We All Are," lauded as "witty, wise, touching, [and] indelible" by Ashley Ramsden, author of The Storyteller's Way.

"Takesie-Backsies" is told in two parts with a brief intermission. The show:

Jordan Dimo lives with a debilitating fear of making major decisions. At each turn, he does everything within his power to keep all of his options on the table for as long as he possibly can, and only when the time to take one course of action or another is undeniably upon him and can not be deferred even a second longer, does he ever choose a path--and then, each time, immediately regrets it.

When Jordan stumbles upon an explosive secret at US Army Corps of Auctioneers, he is suddenly faced with the most impossible decision of all. In the balance hangs the fate of his impulsive older brother, the environmental activist on whom he harbors a hopeless crush, a Quixotic attorney, a megalomanaical colonel, the migratory ducks of North Carolina, and the entire international order. The only thing Jordan knows for sure is that whatever he decides, he'll regret it, immediately, and for the rest of his life.

Tap Fusion is a high energy, percussive Tap Dance show that fuses with Street Dance, Contemporary Dance and Live Original Music.

Creators Brandon & Cameron Carter-Chan, Director and Co Director of Tap NZ, are some of New Zealand's top Choreographers with Brandon winning the National Tap Dance Championship in 2014.  Brandon & Cameron have taught and choreographed in the dance community winning awards across New Zealand, Australia and the United States for over 10 years.  Their Tap Dance Company Tap NZ focuses on Tap Innovation and has recently been invited to perform in Los Angeles and Melbourne to stage their creative works.

Tap NZ is very proud to present Tap Fusion, a show that champions Tap Dance Innovation. The audience are taken on a journey that begins with the roots of Tap, to a future of endless creative possibilities.

Tap Dance originated in the 19th Century with history dating back to 1840's New York, USA. Rhythm and sound have been the foundation as Tap Dance changed and evolved over the years. Tap Fusion is a show designed to push the boundaries of the Tap Dance discipline as well as acknowledging its foundations of exceptional sound and rhythmical composition.

Inspired by famous shows such as Tap Dogs, Riverdance and STOMP, Tap Fusion is a sound and percussion show at the core, designed to entertain the audience through a multi-layered sensory experience.

Tap Shows are rare in the entertainment world with so few that champion Tap Dance at the forefront of the show. Tap Fusion is a platform that showcases Tap as the leading voice of the story where audiences will experience a fresh perspective on what Tap Dance truly represents.  Music of the Sole.

Don Luchito opens studio doors to welcome another year of NZ Fringe guests. Get the details on shows and creative talent every weekday, 10am. Tune in and let The Don help you decide what shows to attend. Listen on 88.6fm in Wellington & 'radioactive.fm' online.

A special DJ set showcasing The Fab Four like you've never heard before!

DJ Chris Arnold takes you on a magical mystery tour of his collection of covers, remixes and tracks that sampled arguably the greatest band that ever existed - The Beatles. Expect to hear plenty of reggae, ska, latin, hip hop, dub, funk, house and even drum & bass takes on the wonderful music created by John, Paul, George & Ringo.

Since its explosive debut in 2021, The Beatles Dub Club has packed out stages at Glastonbury, Boomtown, Latitude, Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival, Green Man and far beyond.

The show has been championed by Fatboy Slim, who personally invited Chris to perform with him, and was tipped by Far Out Magazine as one of Glastonbury's "Top 20 Alternative Acts to Watch".

The Beatles Dub Club has since gone truly international, with acclaimed tours across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Bali, while continuing to light up festivals all over the UK & Ireland - including standout sets supporting UB40, Craig Charles and The Wailers.

"If Sergeant Pepper had been a DJ, this would have been his set..." - Fatboy Slim

"Far from pure novelty, it is a wonderful way to celebrate music in all of its connective guises" - Far Out Magazine

"Loving it!" - Mary McCartney

"Something so effective, and seemingly obvious, that it feels as if it should have existed for much
longer than its inception just a few years ago" - The Fix Magazine

There's no business like show business, and there's nobody who knows that better than Tāmaki Makaurau's hottest new chaotic, queer, comedic duo, Bridie and Rebecca!

Comedy Culture NZ presents "The Bridie and Rebecca Variety Show, (But It's Just Rebecca and Bridie)"! Bridie Thomson and Rebecca Mary Gwendolon are two outrageously silly, queer, multi-faceted performers who extend their funny bones from fast-paced improv to the delights of sketch comedy and beyond. As Rebecca and Bridie establish themselves as a comedy double-act, they're taking inspiration from some of the great dynamic duos of popular culture. This show will be funny, silly, and loose as they prepare to unleash joyful chaos within the NZ comedy scene in 2026.

Bring some pals, come make some new ones and laugh your way through the night with your favourite new duo.
Witness the chaos and tell everyone you were there to see it first!

Thoroughly relatable humour, staggering humanity...and pushy Aunties from the ancestral plane!​​

​

Engulfed by nostalgia, a woman stands at the funeral of a primary school friend that she hasn't seen in years. As she remembers her 90's childhood in a close-knit suburban Catholic community, she questions how their lives diverged.

When two peculiar beings disrupt her sense of reality, she is forced to re-evaluate her understanding of everything she thought she knew.

An unlikely coming of (middle) age story about facing the uncomfortable realities of the past and living in the present.
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Concept /Co-writer/Performer Rose Maher​​

Director Ali Gordon​

Producer Alex Travers​

Co-writer/Performer Alison Bennett​

Performer/Devisor Jane Phegan​

Production Designer Andrea Espinoza​

Lighting Designer Chloe Weeks​

Sound Designer Gail Priest​​​

Movement Director Cloé Fournier

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Content Warnings: this show infers suicide and child sexual abuse.

Directing a struggling new circus act is hard work, the financials, the festivals, the venues, the murders. When director Sam arrives for a show, only to find the star act have been slaughtered in their caravan, she comes to the grizzly conclusion that the murderer must be in the building (tent).

There's no other option than to press on with the rag-tag remains of her cast and keep the audience enthralled until the police are done chasing sheep off the highway.
This circus-murder-mystery-comedy, has all the elements of show-must-go-on style play, folded into a real time whodunnit. The small cast create an immersive experience that blends comedy with mystery and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

Brought to you by the team behind Rubber Gloves, the multi award winning Nelson Fringe Festival show 2025.

*Not a Circus. 

So, you hate improv? Tell us why... then be forced to watch it.

From the unhinged minds of Wellington's most insane comedy trio comes an original improv format that is so boundary-breaking and genre-defining that it made Van Gogh s**t his pants.

What begins as punishment becomes prophecy, as Catfish Trifecta performs relentlessly, defiantly and with far too much commitment, finishing towards an unholy finale nobody asked for.

You won't be ready, but you're coming anyway.

ABOUT CATFISH TRIFECTA

Catfish Trifecta (Mo Munn, Ralph Hilaga, and Joel Luscombe) is a Wellington-based comedy trio. The group formed after training together at the iO Summer Intensive in Chicago in 2024, and have since produced a new experimental concept show each month. Together they fuse experimental improv and devised comedy with general chaos into live comedy shows that are as sharp as they are unhinged. Catch them at the Circus Bar every last Thursday of the month.

The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement characterised by reason, tolerance, progress and scientific method.

Now that's all turning to shit.

Not a high-brow evening of erudite and political discourse, but merciless mockery of a bunch of dicks and absurdities where we might try to answer such deep, existential questions like:

Has the world reached peak stupid yet?
Can a Kiwi be persuaded to eat the world's worst pie?

Featuring President Donald Dump and other deplorables.

All profits from ticket sales will be donated to local food banks as will 100% of all donations collected at shows. Please bring some cash to tip your talent.

The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement characterised by reason, tolerance, progress and scientific method.

Now that's all turning to shit.

Not a high-brow evening of erudite and political discourse, but merciless mockery of a bunch of dicks and absurdities where we might try to answer such deep, existential questions like:

Has the world reached peak stupid yet? Yeh, nah! 67!
Can a Kiwi be persuaded to eat the world's worst pie?
Are we heading for 1984, Black Mirror and A Handmaid’s Tale, or just Idiocracy Live?
Who will win medals in the See You Next Thursday World Championships?
Can you finish this sentence: Donald Trump is a ...? (Best answer wins a prize)

Featuring President Donald Dump and other deplorables.

All profits from ticket sales will be donated to local food banks as will 100% of all donations collected at shows. Please bring some cash to tip your talent.

The Fijian Flying Circus is Fiji's first circus -- a breathtaking fusion of aerial acrobatics, daring stunts, vibrant island storytelling, and cheeky slapstick humor. Performed by the world-toured VOU Dance Company, it's a magical, high-energy celebration of Fiji's mana, spirit, and joy.

The Geoffrey Beaver Podcast - LIVE! is a new contained podcast-style comedy show featuring the grand return of the disgraced (he would prefer 'misunderstood') television personality (he would prefer 'journalist') Geoffrey Beaver. Coming back from a disastrous documentary in which Beaver falsely accused an aerobics club of being a Satanic cult, Geoffrey is once again trying to rectify his reputation in the viral podcast format. A self-proclaimed seeker of truth, he sees himself as a figure like Louis Theroux or David Farrier, when in reality, he is more akin to Alan Partridge and Sean Plunkett.

Undoubtedly, Beaver's grand return will be met with none of the enthusiasm he expects, and the podcast landscape contains far stranger people than he could possibly imagine. From Prank calls, infuriating elders, conspiracy nut jobs, and an unusual autobiography reveal this return to the 'journalistic stage', may not be as grand as he hoped. 

We are everything and nothing. Plagued by Lynx-Africa.
She is a woman.
Tap dancing. Plastic. Lana Del Rey. And how to cook the perfect roast.
Death is inevitable. The Jellyfish is immortal. Coriander tastes like soap.

Does it even matter?

Grace and Sugar invite you into their kitchen. Sarah will also be there, but don't worry she's not cooking. 

Join us for one night only, for an intimate event filled with food, warmth, stories and stangeness. 

A kitchen is a world of its own, filled with rules, systems and dynamics that are familiar but completely unique to each individual. To each house. And to each kitchen. 

This kitchen is its own ecosystem. This kitchen does not make sense. This kitchen is trying to talk to you, and Grace, Sugar and Sarah are its mouth piece. 

S.L.U.G Theatre Company is back for NZ Fringe 2026 but this time we're doing something a little different. We're inviting you into our home for a theatre experience to give you a story of food, farewells, laughter and ceremony. As always, S.L.U.G aims to make work that is brash and beautiful.

It's the distant year of 2030, the "tolerant left" have released the Woke Mind Virus upon an unsuspecting Wellington, turning the population into the Woking Dead. Only Josh Franken, the last straight man standing - who is very straight and normal and definitely not gay - can put a stop to Big Woke and their legion of Diva Police, who seek to infect the rest of the nation and then the world with their sick agenda. 

The Last Straight Man on Earth is brought to you by an ALL QUEER production team that was featured in 2025's Murder on the Dance Floor. We're back again to bring you over the top insanity and the occasional political commentary.

John Filmmaker presents: The Lizards Lie Within: A lizardmen Movie Play Musical. 

Part time spy/super model, Pogolo Vaunslaught is trying to hunt down the Lizardmen who secretly rule the world, mainly through the power of their hips. After 11 years, he finally has a lead but no idea what he's in for.

One woman, seven characters: an explosion of satire and hilarious farce.

"Suddenly [she] bursts out, capturing the audience with her vibrant energy" Lisa Allan, Flat City Field Notes

A top secret, future-defining meeting is about to take place. Everything falls on an overworked cleaner, three bumbling P.A.s, and a paranoid secrete agent... Subversive and snappy, the circus of civil affairs in Aotearoa is brought to life with humour and vitality in this farcical one-woman political satire The Meeting.

From two vibrant seasons in Otautahi to an international Commedia dell'Arte festival in Italy, The Meeting is making a debut season in Wellington before continuing to spread its chaos across Aotearoa.

This project was created by Lola Houghton, with and directed by Pedro Ilgenfritz, as part of Hagley Theatre School's Six Month Theatre Creation Course in partnership with Isaac Theatre Royal.

Join local artist-absurdist-comedian & Tiktoker Daniel McClymont as he explores and plays with one of the country's most regal traditions:

The National Anthem

The Night Ali Died is the second multi-award winning solo thriller by Christopher Sainton-Clark (A Year and a Day).
Ali is wanted dead by a vicious London Gangster and is placed under police surveillance for the protection of him and his family, yet for some reason, on one night, Ali decides to sneak out into the night and leave his family behind, sparking a bloody domino effect that ricochets through the sleepy streets of Norwich, UK.

Through the brutal accounts of Ali, a henchman, a detective and a mob boss, find out what on earth happened on the night Ali died.

The Night Ali Died premiered at Prague Fringe 2025 and won three awards in its first ever run including a vote as audience favourite. Described as 'like watching a Tarantino film onstage' by Theatreandartsreviews.com, its cinematic style and bold and punchy soundtrack took over the Prague festival with an electric buzz.

'BLOODY, GRIPPING AND EXCITING' Binge Fringe
'SAINTON-CLARK GIVES AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE' Theatre and art reviews
'LIKE WATCHING A TV CRIME DRAMA CONDENSED INTO ONE HOUR' Broadway Baby

WINNER OF THE PRAGUE FRINGE PERFORMANCE AWARD
WINNER OF THE PRAGUE FRINGE AUDIENCE AWARD
WINNER OF THE BROADWAY BABY PICK OF THE FRINGE AWARD
NOMINEE FOR THE PRAGUE FRINGE INSPIRATION AWARD
NOMINEE FOR THE NEW YORK SOHO PLAYHOUSE FRINGE ENCORE SERIES

Five girls. each with her unique background and struggles, have spent the past five years living together in a boarding school. They've shared everything from laughter to tears, faced challenges, and formed a bond that sometimes felt unbreakable. But as they approach their final weeks together before they go their separate ways, buried secrets begin to surface, testing their relationships and understanding of each other.

The Remaining is a new theatre work created by Waikamania Seve, drawing from her lived experience of adolescence in an all-girls Māori boarding hostel. It's raw, funny, and unflinching, exploring friendship, resilience, and the messiness of growing up. Dedicated to all the boarding school kids. 

Experience the uplifting journey of "The Rocking Rainbows," a band of talented musicians who embrace their disabilities with unwavering passion and exceptional skill. The band emerged four years ago at Evaro, a service for adults with disabilities situated on Cuba Street.

They showcase the limitless potential of music and made their appearance at schools, Thistle Hall, for The NZ Fringe Festival, Newtown festival and also appeared on radio and TV shows.

The event will be opened by the soulful singer songwriter Zeeva. 

Slip into something a little scandalous with The Ruby Revue -- This isn't your average cabaret; it's a high-voltage celebration of burlesque brilliance!

Expect jaw-dropping striptease, powerhouse vocals, circus sirens, and more sparkle than a champagne-soaked midnight. Every act oozes charisma, confidence, and a wicked sense of fun that will leave you breathless and begging for more.

Brought to life by Red Right Hand Entertainment -- the creators of the award-winning Red Light Confidential -- The Ruby Revue turns up the heat for New Zealand Fringe with fresh line up each show so you can come back again!

'All of our collaborators are currently busy. Please wait, thank you'.

Have you ever waited on the phone for too long, with a muzak playing on a loop and an irritating robotic voice telling you endlessly that your request is being processed?
Yes, you have... And so does the protagonist of solo-show 'The Sensemaker' until she is gradually stretched beyond her limits. 

With its razor-sharp humour and its unclassifiable genre, this multi-award-winning solo stages a dystopian battle between a woman and an answering machine. Returning to Wellington after a hit run at NZ Fringe 2023!

'It is a dance show in which the protagonist spends much of the time standing still. It is a piece of mime which can get very noisy indeed. It is both a dream and a nightmare' - The Peg Review

'A one in a thousand performance' Theatreview

Winner of 16 international awards, 'The Sensemaker' has been performed over 130 worldwide since 2018.

Presented alongside "Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity)".

The only sci-fi comedy radio drama about troll-nappings in the Tararua district being recorded live this Fringe.

From the creators of "Night of the Silver Moon"

Starring Teag Mackay, Phoebe Caldeiro, and friends. 

The silver slipper is a cabaret curated for the lovers of dance, music, story, and maybe a little bit of drama if you choose to indulge.Join the five ladies of the Silver Slipper as they host you for one night while they perform some of your favourite hits! Post Modern Jukebox are a group that samples modern songs and puts an old school twist on them! Their style suits creator Mila Te Whare-Manson perfectly. She was heavily inspired by jazz clubs, underground speak-easys and movies like Chicago and Burlesque. This idea came to her while sitting on a bus in the summer of 2023 while listening to the burlesque soundtrack, and she ended up curating a small 10 minute piece for an assessment at her time at Te Auaha. She has been developing and refining the show since. Now graduated, she is finding her spark for creating and making opportunities for herself and her friends and wants to debut her own piece of work this year! Although her original idea was plot heavy, this new and improved version has been revamped for a more refined storyline that still brings the drama, romance and scandalous stories of the club.

Steve Wilbury navigates the ups and downs of his life, the audience witnesses how he uses humor and magic as tools for coping with adversity. Each surgical scar becomes a symbol of strength, and every setback becomes an opportunity for transformation. Steve's witty banter and awe-inspiring illusions not only entertain but also inspire, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can find the magic in life's challenges. "The Unluckiest Magician" is a celebration of the human spirit's ability to triumph over adversity, showing that our most difficult circumstances can empower us to see life as it truly is.

Steve Wilbury navigates the ups and downs of his life, the audience witnesses how he uses humor and magic as tools for coping with adversity. Each surgical scar becomes a symbol of strength, and every setback becomes an opportunity for transformation. Steve's witty banter and awe-inspiring illusions not only entertain but also inspire, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can find the magic in life's challenges. "The Unluckiest Magician" is a celebration of the human spirit's ability to triumph over adversity, showing that our most difficult circumstances can empower us to see life as it truly is.

The Rebel Alliance have adapted the stage production of their award-winning space adventure, The Valentina, into a radio play with pictures!

Join 8-year-old Ellen and her trusted crewmembers Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova and Laika the space dog on an extraordinary journey, past the edge of the unknown, and onto the surface of the mysterious and dangerous planet, Vitanonan X.

A family friendly adventure for anyone who's looked to the stars and imagined the cosmos.

About The Rebel Alliance

The Rebel Alliance is an independent Auckland based theatre company. Founded in 2006 they have,to date, presented 11 works, 7 of which have been premieres of new New Zealand plays. They also started off the development of Centrepoint which co-won the Adam Award for best new New Zealand play in 2015.

Often solidly planted in real life the works they present prove that truth often surpasses fiction. Extraordinary life stories move, provoke, inspire and put our own lives into perspective. They can anchor us in turbulent times.

In 2024 they premiered their 11th play, The Valentina, as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

TheRebelAlliance.co.nz

Experience a night of big laughs and queer joy at the Wellington Comedy Club Rainbow Showcase. Come see line-up of talented comedians who will share their unique perspectives, hilarious stories and well-crafted jokes. We promise an evening of joyful entertainment that is as diverse as it is fabulous.

"Raw Comedy Quest - 2023 Semi Finalist"

Lucy Gardner is a Wellington based comedian, with her signature deadpan, dark and delightful humor, It's funny till it isn't, then it's funny again.

"I don't want to include reviews and quotes about how funny I am, come and see my show or do not." - Quote by me. 

D, Muss & JLaw is a jazz trio that embodies the spirit of creative rebellion, their music a potent fusion of genre-bending experimentation and emotional intensity. Comprised of pianist James 'Muss' Illingworth, drummer Darren 'D' Mathiassen, and bassist Johnny 'JLaw' Lawrence, this trio has forged a unique sound that defies categorization. Soundscapes oscillate between heavy jazz and thumping hip-hop beats, soaring to emotionally powerful improvisations and dissolving into moments of sublime euphoria.
Their compositions are a testament to their collective creativity, weaving together intricate polyrhythms, hypnotic melodies, and explosive improvisations that conjure the raw energy of a live performance. Illingworth's piano playing is a masterclass in dynamic range, shifting seamlessly from delicate nuance to thunderous crescendo, often augmented by his deft use of synthesizers and electronic textures. Mathiassen's drumming is a force of nature, his polyrhythmic wizardry propelling the music forward with unstoppable momentum, while Lawrence's bass lines provide the foundation, his earth-shaking tones anchoring the trio's sonic explorations.
The trio's connection is palpable, their synergy born of years of collaboration and experimentation. They've worked with some of the biggest names in music, from Shapeshifter to Bliss n Eso to Louis Baker to Allen Stone, and their experience has honed their craft, allowing them to push the boundaries of jazz and beyond.
When D, Muss & JLaw takes the stage, the energy is electric. Their performances are a testament to their deep connection, their music a living, breathing entity that evolves and adapts in the moment. They're not just playing notes - they're conjuring emotions, telling stories, and transporting their audience to a realm of sonic wonder. This is their Third Chapter.

Crime. Comedy. Chaos! Kevin Orlando, Charlie Potter and David Bowers-Mason join forces for a newly devised comedy of errors like no other! 

A crime spree of epic proportions lead to Danny and Millie covering their tracks with a fantastical childrens theater show! Little do they know that a police officer is hot on their trail...After stumbling in on the live performance, Officer Cummings needs to decide what is more important, arresting the crooks? Or keeping the audience of children happy...

Eight of Te Whanganui-a-Tara's most acclaimed emerging playwrights (Rachel Atlas, Rachel McLean, Campbell Wright, Zachary Klein, Viki Moananu, Amy Wright, Sophie Maree, and Matt Loveranes) tolerated one another, as they paired up to create four short plays on the theme of Tolerance. Come witness the result, an eclectic work about the ways we should (and shouldn't) put up with those around us, as the world burns down.

"Compromise was something special; I'm genuinely grateful that I got to witness this nexus of talent. Varied and out-there, yet restrained and expertly-crafted, it had it all. " - Salient

Tolerance is the continuation of a project started last year with Compromise (Nominee, Best Organised Chaos NZ Fringe 2025) focused on bringing together playwrights to collaborate, build community amongst writers and supply a little bit of creative chaos. It is once again directed by Lia Kelly (Most Original Production Wellington Theatre Awards, One Night Band), and features a cast of vibrant local talent.

Featuring plays about self care at the end of the world, the power games of celebrity power couples, office politics, and interventions gone awry, Tolerance is bursting at the seams with ideas, laughs, and fluids of all varieties. Make sure to "witness this nexus of talent" (Salient), only in NZ Fringe.

From the frozen tundras of Canada to the blazing stages of New Zealand, Tor Snyder has landed and she's here with one mission: jokes. Armed with wild stories, bad impressions and her favourite weapon of all, crowd work, Tor is a high-energy comic force unlike any other.

Don't be fooled by the polite Canadian accent. Tor is a cyclone of sass and silliness, crassness and charm, equal parts loveable and unhinged. For over 12 years, she's stormed stages across Australia, leaving audiences gasping for air and clutching their ribs. Now, for the very first time, she's unleashing a full hour of power on Kiwi crowds.

Tor de Force is a laugh-a-minute spectacle riot where no one is safe from her mischievous eye. It's stories spun into absurdity, impressions that hit too close to home, and off-the-cuff crowd work that makes every show different, dangerous, and deliciously fun.

This is not polite, sit-and-nod comedy. This is a stand-up storm. Tor sweeps through with the kind of chaotic joy that'll have you wondering if you've witnessed a show, survived a sugar-high goose stampede, or met your new favourite cult leader.

Whether you're a seasoned comedy-goer or just wandered in for shelter, Tor de Force will leave you breathless, broken with laughter, and asking the most important question of all: is Tor Snyder here to save comedy... or destroy it?

Three of Wellington's sharpest comedians come together for 60mins of guaranteed laughs!

Line up to be announced soon. Keep an eye on this listing, or @monplaton_productions for updates. 

"Triple Threat stands out as a reliably great night in Wellington's crowded comedy calendar."- Theatreview

Two teams of music lovers battle it out in musical comedian Troubadette's brand new game show Tune in a Bucket.

Led by team captains Clever Hansel and Cordy Black, our contestants go head to head in a series of musical challenges, inspired by a bucket full of bangers. Who will hit the high notes? Who will fall flat? Which team will come out on top in all-out acapella war?

Two teams of music lovers battle it out in musical comedian Troubadette's brand new game show Tune in a Bucket.

Led by team captains Clever Hansel and Cordy Black, our contestants go head to head in a series of musical challenges, inspired by a bucket full of bangers. Who will hit the high notes? Who will fall flat? Which team will come out on top in all-out acapella war?

Miranda Camden's on a mission to get unstuck.

She's undertaking an ill-conceived self-improvement journey she describes as "throwing sh*t at the wall to see what sticks". Desperate for change, she's willing to try anything once (or twice) depending on the circumstances. But it depends. Is isolation the same thing as self-care? Does exercise have to be part of the journey? Would I be happier if I break-up with New Zealand? What is the best rebound country? Come along for this work-in-progress show about finding the humour in being imperfect.

Since 2018, Miranda has been a regular MC and headline act. Her style of comedy has been described as unapologetic, which to be honest is a pretty amazing feat for a Canadian. A Wellington comedy staple, with Best MC and Best Up & Comer nominations in 2020 at the Wellington Comedy Awards, she's ready to do what it takes to get the life she wants...if only she knew what that was or how to do it.

"a snappy, fast paced delivery that has you sitting up in your seat" - Theatreview
"Her material is funny, feminist, at times absurd and often relatable" - Theatreview

NZ Fringe wants to pay homage to everyone's best friend, THE DOG, with Walk the Walk. Bring your best buddies to Cuba St, Wellington, meet outside Midnight Cafe during our NZ Fringe Summer Series, when we will be closing the St and walk in a DOG PARADE to Glover Park for doggie activities. We encourage dogs in their fanciest dress!

Crows Feet Dance Collective and Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand present WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM a free outdoor dance & music protest event. We come together

to raise awareness about women's and human rights violations in Iran, to stand in solidarity with Iranians resisting authoritarianism, gender apartheid, and state violence. Through public protests, cultural events, exhibitions, and advocacy, the Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand aims to amplify Iranian, in particular women's voices and support political prisoners.

WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM is the second collaboration between Crows Feet and Iranian Solidarity Group, and follows the critically acclaimed performance at the Hannah Playhouse in 2024 where Crows Feet performed WLF, a full length work to Goretsky's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. In this new 2026 outdoor event we perform with the Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand to contemporary Iranian protest songs.

Crows Feet director, Jan Bolwell, says "we are thrilled to be presenting this free outdoor event with Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand. We believe in the power of the arts to expose and comment upon injustices in the world - indeed, we see it as our responsibility, living as we do in Aotearoa New Zealand, in a free democratic society. The bond we have formed with Wellington's Iranian community is a very special one, and the Crows Feet dancers lives have been enriched through this partnership. We hope to attract a good sized audience to our outdoor performances. And may the weather gods be with us!!

A world-first theatre project entirely devised by members of the Ace/Aro/Aspec community. This is a joyful and insightful exploration of our varied experiences and identities, brought to the stage for our community, friends, the curious and kind.

Brought to you by the creative teams behind Ungartered Territory and the Dr Drama Trilogy- We're Weird for Other Reasons promises to be fun, theatrical, enlightening and a celebration of an emerging identity through performance. 

Supported by Wellington City Council and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

"it's also so powerful to be able to watch a piece and feel represented in a way that I've just never felt"- Theatreview (Ungartered Territory)

Brought to you by LT McGuinness Ltd and Laughs on Tour

Saturday Laughs is a two hour comedy showcase of some top NZ and international talent, right in the heart of Petone at Abandoned Taproom.

Each show features a changing line up of your favourite comedians, and up-and-coming talent.

A whimsical show centered around the elements: earth, air, water, fire, and the sun and moon! Something that we ALL have in common is the natural world we exist in... which we tend to forget or take for granted, however we have our own unique relationships with it. By exploring these connections and broadening our understanding through research, storytelling, and play we will bring these elements to life by personifying them in a theatrical sense. Here we will create our own narrative where we can tell a story that is important to us. We shall build a physical and mental space where our cast, crew, and audience can escape and delve into their inner whimsy while grounding themselves in the natural world around them.

'Yours Truly' will be a visually striking show with movement/physical theatre, lots of colour and fun costumes which will help us as a team explore and portray our story of the natural world. As for emotions there will be love, yearning, laughter, sadness, nostalgia, basically a place where everything can exist at once. We will bring attention to the small things in life that we forget to notice/feel while also being big and expansive in our imaginations to tell a story that is larger than us.

Zach Mandeville has a long and storied history in comedy, one that's largely unknown to New Zealand. In this hour, he tells the stories behind his most beloved jokes. It is a rare look behind an oft-misunderstood man, and a survey of the strange and serpentine history of alternative comedy. .

Zach is a standup comedian who has performed multiple award-winning shows at the Fringe and is the co-producer of Airhorn, one of the town's best loved montly shows. This will be a new hour of fresh takes on older sets and a dose comedy history that is all about the past but also, in it's own way,  all about today.  It'll be edge of your seat fun!

Praise for Zach Mandeville

"a genuine thrill...a marvel"

- wellyott.com

"Zach has a true talent for world building, and his characters have a wonderful sense of humanity to them even if they aren't human"
- theatreview.org.nz

"So well honed, so sharp, so funny...the type of comedy I love - a fantastical thread of storytelling that was all at once cerebral and absurd"

- Simon Sweetman

Wellington based singer songwriter Zeeva debuts her first show of intimate folk/pop at this years Fringe. With her delicate lyrics, earworm melodies, and warm acoustic vibes, Zeeva invites you into a world of vulnerability, hope, and connection.