Silliness prospects just got exponential with Artsense Productions announcing a follow-up to its runaway 2024 hit, H.R. The Musical: the no-nonsense (which means all kinds of nonsense) H.R. The Musical #2.
 
CEO Richard (“Dick”) and his band of generic employees return to Q Theatre, from 25 Nov – 6 Dec, with a completely new show of riotous musical sketch-comedy.

Bach Musica NZ has announced the retirement of Rita Paczian from her position as Music & Artistic Director at the end of the 2025 season.

The capital’s premier open mic comedy competition, the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest, returns for 2025. A stepping stone for many New Zealand comedians, the Raw Comedy Quest offers the chance to witness the rising stars in stand-up comedy before they hit the big time. The first heat kicks off in Wellington on 3 July at Fringe Bar, MC’d by 2020 Quest finalist and 2025 Billy T nominee Lesa Macleod-Whiting.

Which one are you? The tutu, the peacemaker… or the odd one out? SIBLINGS is a bold, genre-defying new theatre work exploring the messy, funny, profound world of siblinghood - a story as old as time but told in an entirely new way. This world premiere plays for a limited 5-performance season at Te Pou Theatre from 24-28 July.

Te Wehi Ratana’s story takes centre stage in ration the Queen’s veges following a theatrical act of redaction, resistance, and reclamation, playing to Circa Theatre, Wellington from 16 August – 13 September. 

New Zealand’s best loved UK comedian is back with an all-new show touring this October and November.

From the minds of award-winning playwright Jess Sayer and director Oliver Driver,comes MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein - a blood-drenched phantasmagoria that reimagines the infamous stormy evening when Mary Shelley, the mother of gothic horror, conceived Frankenstein. Auckland Theatre Company proudly presents this world premiere, playing at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 19 August – 7 September. You’d kill to get a ticket. 

NZTrio He Taonga Wairere, a leading force in New Zealand chamber music, is pleased to announce the second instalment in their 2025 series with Fantastique, a captivating programme set to tour to seven centres around Aotearoa in July and August, before also heading to Australia.

This Takurua (Winter), Stardome Observatory & Planetarium is the go-to destination for out-of-this-world fun! 

After a sold-out national tour in 2023, media personality, entrepreneur and beloved over-sharer Abbie Chatfield is taking her brutally honest and wildly funny live show The Trauma Dump Tour to New Zealand for the very first time this September.

Opening next month, the prestigious international World Press Photo Exhibition returns to showcase the world’s most compelling photojournalism from around the globe. Following the closure of Smith & Caughey’s at the end of July, the exhibition has a new home for 2025 thanks to the generosity of the owners of 131 Queen Street and the team at Krukziener Properties. The exhibition will run as scheduled from 26 July – 24 August, with tickets available online via Eventfinda or at the door.

This Matariki, Karangahape Road invites you to Whāia Te Waiora — a vibrant and deeply grounded Matariki celebration led by our people, for our people. 

Doc Edge, New Zealand’s premier international documentary festival and an Oscar®-qualifying event, is proud to announce the finalists for the Doc Edge Awards 2025. The Awards will be held on Thursday, 3 July, at the Grand Millennium Auckland and will be co-hosted by respected broadcaster Neil Waka and beloved cultural icon Geeling Ching.

Auckland’s baddest, booty-shaking, big-hearted dance-comedy maniacs, Dynamotion, are back to wreak merry havoc on your holidays with A Christmas Crisis — burning up the floor in Q Theatre from 10 – 20 December.

After a month of side-splitting shows from the very best local and international comedians, the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo wrapped up this evening at Last Laughs. After the performances, the New Zealand Comedy Trust honoured the brightest comedy talent of this year’s festival with multiple awards, including the coveted 2025 Fred Award for the Best New Zealand Show in the Festival and the 2025 Billy T Award for a comedian with the most outstanding potential.