Jerome Chandrahasen brings his latest storytelling stand up show to Nelson for the first time. Born from a chance meeting at a dinner party, come take a lighthearted trip across the globe with this hour of friendly stand up. Why so many lakes? What's up with all the saunas? These questions answered and more, from someone who's never been there.

Jerome Chandrahasen brings his latest storytelling stand up show to Nelson for the first time. Born from a chance meeting at a dinner party, come take a lighthearted trip across the globe with this hour of friendly stand up. Why so many lakes? What's up with all the saunas? These questions answered and more, from someone who's never been there.

Delightful puppetry, comedy, masks and magic - Birdlife Productions are back this summer with an enchanting new puppet show for all the family.
Nominated for Best Theatre and Best Design awards at Dunedin Fringe for their play ‘Kokako’s Song’, and shortlisted for ‘Playmarket: Plays for the young, 2017’, Birdlife Productions are set to go places. Catch them while you can in Nelson and Tasman this summer holidays.

Delightful puppetry, comedy, masks and magic - Birdlife Productions are back this summer with an enchanting new puppet show for all the family.
Nominated for Best Theatre and Best Design awards at Dunedin Fringe for their play ‘Kokako’s Song’, and shortlisted for ‘Playmarket: Plays for the young, 2017’, Birdlife Productions are set to go places. Catch them while you can in Nelson and Tasman this summer holidays.

“Poetry is the clear expression of mixed feelings” - W.H Auden. Join Zoe Palmer and Yazzie Millener in their movement towards changing the negative stigma surrounding mental illness and the people who suffer from it. Hear powerful spoken word poems from Nelson youth as they share their extraordinary stories, fantastic ideas and honest opinions. Lets get a conversation happening, and together we can change the world. 

The People's Republic of Improv presents: Just the Two of Us!
There's just the two of us left. What has happened? You decide! Veteran improvisers, Glenn Cousins and Nikkie Karki perform a 2 person show bringing your silliest ideas to life about what happened to the rest of their improv troupe! Will they be stuck with each other forever or will the rest of the troupe emerge in February??? (They actually all will return in February... Wink.) Join this talented dynamic duo as they embark on an adventure of the unknown.

The final event in a week of masterclasses and workshops, this concert features performances by Summer Vocal Intensive Students and their Tutors, all beautifully accompanied by Francis Meria.

Join singer/songwriter/entertainer/massage therapist Gary Starlight ("Best of Fringe", Nelson Fringe 2016) in Gary Starlight Sings the Blues: an improvised musical comedy where not even the star knows what he’ll be singing next. Gary Starlight’s career has had it’s highs and lows. But there’s one time where everything that could go wrong, did. Following his mildly successful comeback performance Gary Starlight is back, and he’s feeling blue. Romantic disasters, musical misadventures and questionable lifestyle choices are all laid bare as Gary recounts the Worst Year of his Life and sings blues songs written about each catastrophic event - all of which are inspired by the audience’s suggestions. Veteran improviser Jeff Clark (Christchurch's Scared Scriptless) is accompanied by pianist Kris Finnerty and guitarist Brad Kang in a show that blends musical flair with skilled storytelling to create a truly unique mix of cabaret and comedy.
“delightful, smart, laugh-out-loud…  For there to be any empty seats at all, would be a crime.” - What’s Up NZ
“If you ever see the name Gary Starlight anywhere, you’ve got to go” - The Breeze
“a masterclass of musical comedy” - Nelson Mail
"Impressive angsty improv" - Theatreview

Join singer/songwriter/entertainer/massage therapist Gary Starlight ("Best of Fringe", Nelson Fringe 2016) in Gary Starlight Sings the Blues: an improvised musical comedy where not even the star knows what he’ll be singing next. Gary Starlight’s career has had it’s highs and lows. But there’s one time where everything that could go wrong, did. Following his mildly successful comeback performance Gary Starlight is back, and he’s feeling blue. Romantic disasters, musical misadventures and questionable lifestyle choices are all laid bare as Gary recounts the Worst Year of his Life and sings blues songs written about each catastrophic event - all of which are inspired by the audience’s suggestions. Veteran improviser Jeff Clark (Christchurch's Scared Scriptless) is accompanied by pianist Kris Finnerty and guitarist Brad Kang in a show that blends musical flair with skilled storytelling to create a truly unique mix of cabaret and comedy.
“delightful, smart, laugh-out-loud…  For there to be any empty seats at all, would be a crime.” - What’s Up NZ
“If you ever see the name Gary Starlight anywhere, you’ve got to go” - The Breeze
“a masterclass of musical comedy” - Nelson Mail
"Impressive angsty improv" - Theatreview

Our second Old School Movie is the 1954 Christmas classic, WHITE CHRISTMAS starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
Having left the Army following W.W.II, Bob Wallace (Crosby) and Phil Davis (Kaye) team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, as the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General.Bring your deck chairs, bean bags and pyjamas. We'll provide the film and the popcorn!

Dream Big is a workshop designed for aspiring actors (aimed for age 16-23) to learn how to embrace your own unique creativity and passions and develop a pragmatic way to look at a career in the performing arts. Clare Marcie (Wilson) was born and raised in Nelson, New Zealand. She is an international actor, writer and theatre maker. She graduated from the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCSformerly RSAMD) with an MA in Classical and Contemporary Text (Acting) in 2014. Her solo show What Would Kanye Do? which was developed with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, made it’s debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017 and was shortlisted for the coveted Scottish Arts Club Theatre Award.
$25 for high school students, $35 for aspiring actors outside of high school.
Email theatre@ghostlight.nz to book a spot.

Did you know the theme for this year's iconic Lantern Celebration is "Trail of Dreams"? After the walk up to the Centre of NZ, treat yourself to more dreamlike fun... The Dream Team is the show of your dreams. Literally. Brendon and Criss are experts on dreams: Brendon has read almost the entirety of the prologue to Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams, and Criss has had several dreams. Now, as the Dream Team, they will use the full power of spontaneously created theatre to investigate, interpret, and -if needed- fix your dreams. This is a show of joyfully improvised chaos, where your dreams can become reality. The Dream Team will also be joined by improviser and self-declared lifestyle guru, Laura Irish for show-within-a-show: Team Dream, where they will combine your ambitions with their improv to help you achieve your dreams (‘help’ is used in the loosest sense of the word).

The show of your dreams. Literally. Brendon and Criss are experts on dreams: Brendon has read almost the entirety of the prologue to Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams, and Criss has had several dreams. Now, as the Dream Team, they will use the full power of spontaneously created theatre to investigate, interpret, and -if needed- fix your dreams. This is a show of joyfully improvised chaos, where your dreams can become reality. The Dream Team will also be joined by improviser and self-declared lifestyle guru, Laura Irish for show-within-a-show: Team Dream, where they will combine your ambitions with their improv to help you achieve your dreams (‘help’ is used in the loosest sense of the word).

Join The People's Republic of Improv as they bring you a heartfelt celebration of holiday holiness and familial love … or is it? This holiday themed improv comedy show takes you back to a wholesome time of family, song, brandy, brightly wrapped presents, Santa suits, sibling rivalry and unwanted guests. A mesh of family sitcom, variety special, Christmas stress and suburban bliss.