Saturday 10th August 2024, in Community Events

Show your support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Stop the War on Children. At least 16,000 children killed and many more maimed and now starving.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

March from 1903 Square. This is part of a nationwide call out against the civilian loss of life in the War on Gaza.

Wednesday 14th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Sicily’s beloved King Enzo is dead. Now Princess Rosa, a stroppy spinster, must navigate the tempestuous waters of belching Step-Fathers, lusty suitors, popping cod pieces and menopausal witches, to face her destiny.

Award-winning comedian Penny Ashton (Promise and Promiscuity, Olive Copperbottom, Austen Found, The Panel RNZ) presents her latest literary solo musical with this Shakespearean frolic. She’ll spark 11 characters into life in an Elizabethan tale of magic, meddling and puffed bull’s pizzles.

“Incredibly clever, the script is just so smart.” RNZ

“She’s such an entertaining storyteller and huge fun. The audience loved it.” Theatreview 2024

“…an excellently written script that Shakespeare himself would be proud of. There’s no need to be intimidated by the use of Shakespeare’s language for Ashton is clearly a master of it. She cleverly weaves modern phrases into the style of Elizabethan speech with precise comic timing, and hides lines ripped straight from Shakespeare throughout this new text. Every line is clear and each character is distinct – which is saying something, considering Ashton brings to life no less than eleven over the course of the story.” Theatrescenes

Thursday 15th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Flautist Tony Ferner joins cellist James Donaldson and pianist Kyoko Takashima in two varied, fun and energetic Trios.

The staunch baroque-era Lutheran J.S. Bach wrote his Sonata in E Major while visiting his son in the 1740s.
The free-wheeling Ukrainian jazz pianist Nikolai Kapustin wrote his Trio between gigs for the Oleg Lundstrem Big Band in 1998.

Their lives could hardly have been more different, but both men shared a lifelong fascination with capturing folk music and dance in structured musical forms.

Thursday 15th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Bachian Elegies: Capriccios, Sonatas, Concerti by J. S. Bach and C.P.E. Bach
(And works by Prof. Joan Josep Gutierrez Yzquierdo, Prof. Aspasia Nasopoulou, Prof. Leonardo Coral, Prof. Diana Blom)

Thursday 15th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Rockshop Bandquest is a performance platform for the next generation of contemporary musicians, powered throughout Aotearoa by NZ Rockshop.

Young musicians have the chance to step out and perform in a supportive and encouraging competition format, with a focus on education, inspiration and entertainment.

GENERAL ADMISSION - seats are not allocated.

2024 Bands
Obsidian - St Joseph’s School Nelson
Jawz - Te Kura Tūwaenga o Whakatū, Nelson Intermediate
Cosmic Eclipse - Te Kura Tūwaenga o Whakatū, Nelson Intermediate
Velvet Knights - Bohally Intermediate School
Brand New Second Hand - Bohally Intermediate School
The Saints of Rock - St Joseph’s School Nelson
TBC - Nelson Central School
Solar Flare - St Joseph’s School Nelson
The Cookie Champions - Tāhunanui Primary School
The Night Lights - Tāhunanui Primary School
Quest - Nelson College Preparatory School
After 8 - Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School
Twisted Tongues - Waimea Intermediate
Electrified - Waimea Intermediate
Eloquence - Waimea Intermediate
Starfish and Coffee - Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School

Friday 16th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

NZ’s award-winning hit tribute show Elton John vs. Billy Joel returns to the Theatre Royal in Nelson, after a stellar sold-out performance there in 2023, as part of a NEW NZ-WIDE TOUR 2024!

After wildly successful sell-out shows across New Zealand, join Cam and Sam as they wow audiences both young and old, performing the greatest hits of Elton John and Billy Joel LIVE! ‘Piano Man’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, ‘We didn’t start the fire’, ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘She’s always a Woman’, ‘Crocodile Rock’ and many more.

Your favourite Elton and Billy songs are in safe hands with Cam and Sam. These professional touring NZ musicians have performed on live television, commercial radio and featured in the NZ Music Charts in careers spanning more than two decades.

This amazing Piano Man vs. Rocket Man extravaganza features astonishing costumes, two grand pianos in black and white, a world class lighting show, plus plenty of banter and all the songs you love!

Friday 16th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

It has been 4 years since the groups last NZ tour was unexpectedly cut short due to Covid19, forcing the trio to cancel its remaining shows and scramble for the last seats on the last flight out of the country back to India.

In the interim the trio has maintained a distant working relationship and there have been reunions in India for tabla player Saptak’s marriage and in 2023 for a successful tour of India.

For those who are new to the group, this will be a chance to experience two of India’s top young Hindustani Classical musicians melding their ancient style together with Western Classical, Folk and modern Singer songwriter traditions.

Consisting of Saptak Sharma (2019 All India Tabla Comp. winner) on Tabla and percussion, Mayank Rainer on Bansuri (Flute) and Sitar, and Mike Hogan (NZ) on Guitar and Vocals, PANGAEA covers a wide range of styles in their shows. From Indian Classical through to Irish, South American, Bollywood, Blues, Folk and more, the group showcases the diversity of its musicians and follows the ethos of PANGAEA, a universal musical continent where all genre of sounds can reside.

Saturday 17th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

The Cat Video Festival is back!!
It’s fun, it’s weird, it’s the Cat Video Festival Fundraiser for NCMA.

Join us for a paws-itively hilarious evening as we showcase the internet’s most a-meow-zing cat videos and help raise funds for NCMA. Expect non-stop giggles with live entertainment, spot prizes, exciting raffles, a fabulous costume parade, Flossie Balloons, and so much more!
It’s a night of feline fun that’s simply purr-fection for the whole family!

Event Details:
5pm Doors, 6pm Videos
$1 from each ticket donated to SPCA Nelson

Sunday 18th August 2024, in Community Events, Conservation & Environment, Workshops & Retreats

Come and be part of a Repair Movement!

Repair cafes are community events which match people with broken household items with skilled volunteers or specialists who like fixing things. We're fixing items and building community. Come along and you might pick up some new fixing skills.

You will be able to bring household items for smaller repairs – examples include:

- Electrical repairs (no large appliances, microwaves and electric blankets)
- Small furniture or miscellaneous household items
- Toys
- Clothing
- Bikes

One item will be accepted per household, although if it’s not too busy, additional items may be repaired. It will be at the discretion of the Repair Café and the volunteers as to whether an item is suitable for repair, and you’ll be encouraged to observe and engage so that you can pick up new skills too. No charge but koha appreciated

Whilst you’re visiting, it’s also a great opportunity to browse the library. Run with the support of the Nelson City Council and the Rethink Waste initiative.

Wednesday 21st August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

The Kids Sing is a festival of song for primary and intermediate students.

Students learn some new vocal warmups before they do their school performances during the day with a Guest Adjudicator.

Family and friends are invited to this Evening concert to hear the individual school and massed choir performances.

Thursday 22nd-Friday 23rd August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Gillian Francis’ Nelson Academy of Dance presents an evening of delightful, enchanting dance.

Young Marie, with her brother and mother, visit a Doll Shop to see the dolls dancing. The children have a wonderful time watching all the different dolls; Drummer, French, Poodle, Fairy, Can Can dancers, and many more. However, they cannot decide which one they would like, so go home empty handed.

Later, Marie dreams about the dolls and suddenly finds herself back at the shop, having a splendid time dancing with all the dolls. But really it was all a dream.

Join Marie and all the other young dancers for an enchanting, not to be missed evening.

Thursday 22nd August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Nelson Youth Choir is an independent, auditioned choir of young people from the ages of 12 – 23 years old from schools in the Nelson/Tasman area as well as home schooling, NMIT and paid employment, and sings a mixture of songs in three or four parts.

Their programme includes After The Wind by Canadian composer Nicholas Ryan Kelly, a song about finding peace amidst change, and Marta Keen’s gentle, nostalgic anthem Homeward Bound. A change of mood follows with songs from Jekyll & Hyde, a 1990 musical loosely based on the 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, and Found/Tonight, a mash-up charity single of two popular musical theatre tracks from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. Proceeds from the single were donated to the anti gun violence movement. The choir sings the lively gospel song By an’ by, and the haunting Frozen Choral Suite of Heimr Arnadalr, Vuelie, The Great Thaw, used in the Disney animated film Frozen, together with other favourites.

Saturday 24th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

After a sell-out show in Nelson last year, the Hot Potato Band returns to the Theatre Royal with a show that’ll have you smiling, off your feet and feeling good!

The larger-than-life brass collective is a breath of fresh air, setting new heights for energetic and interactive musical performances. Finding home in Sydney, Australia, their positive coastal energy pushes euphoric boundaries in their bold quest to reignite acoustic instrumentation. HPB is un-bound by genres, stages and audiences. They have reinvented the traditional brass band as a modern day dance machine and visual spectacle to complement their strong sense of pride for their fun-loving, organic, and quirky musical nature.

Please note, this show is General Admission and the seats will be removed from the flat section of the stalls (downstairs) to make room for dancing. This means that not everyone will have a seat.

Saturday 24th-Sunday 25th August 2024, in Community Events, Music & Performing Arts

CHORAL MAGNIFICENCE:
The 18th century was a turning point in how choral music was written and performed and the Nelson Civic Choir in their concert programme Choral Magnificence shares with us some of history’s most magnificent and exciting examples of choral music by some of the greatest choral music geniuses of all time. The exuberance and vitality of choral music is on full display in a programme of music by JS Bach and his son CPE Bach as well as choral excerpts by Vivaldi, Pachelbel and others.

Opera and oratorio both went through a huge transformation as composers used existing genres of the Mass setting as well as Passions and sacred texts such as Magnificat and Te Deum to push out the boundaries of choral music and open up magnificent and thrilling opportunities which were to unfold over the next 200 years.

The 18th century witnessed an exciting development in both choral and orchestral music. Composers were intent on getting more sound out of orchestral instruments both in range and timbre and this was accompanied by a development in homophonic choral sounds as well as more complex polyphonic choral writing to match the exuberance and complexities of orchestral music.

Saturday 24th-Sunday 25th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

The 18th century was a turning point in how choral music was written and performed. In their Choral Magnificence concert, the Nelson Civic Choir shares with us some of history’s most magnificent and exciting examples of choral music by some of the greatest choral music geniuses of all time. The exuberance and vitality of choral music is on full display in a programme of music by JS Bach and his son CPE Bach, as well as choral excerpts by Vivaldi, Pachelbel and others.

Opera and oratorio both went through a huge transformation: composers used existing genres of the Mass setting, as well as Passions and sacred texts such as Magnificat and Te Deum, to push out the boundaries of choral music and open up magnificent and thrilling opportunities which were to unfold over the next 200 years.

The 18th century witnessed an exciting development in both choral and orchestral music. Composers were intent on getting more sound out of orchestral instruments, both in range and timbre; this was accompanied by a development in homophonic choral sounds as well as more complex polyphonic choral writing, to match the exuberance and complexities of the orchestral music.

Sunday 25th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Nelson’s longest-standing world music choir, Mosaic has been bringing a cappella pleasure to audiences for over 20 years with their high energy and vibrancy.

This 45-strong choir is directed by Shannel Courtney and has been described as one of Nelson's hidden treasures. Their repertoire covers most the continents of the world, including songs from the Pacific, with a special focus on African music with its uplifting harmonies and rhythms.

The inspiration that drives Mosaic is the sense of community that singing fosters and the privilege of experiencing the diversity of musical cultures through song.

Thursday 29th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

We are thrilled to welcome Artist in Residence, Prof. Michael Tsalka – CUHK, SZ back to NCMA this year.
Acclaimed pianist and early keyboard performer, Michael is currently an Assistant Professor of the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.

For this Lunchtime Concert, Michael Tsalka is joined by Fleur Jackson (violin) and Lissa Cowie (cello), and will perform piano trios by L. v. Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio, Op. 70, No. 1, and J. Haydn’s Piano Trio in XV: 18.

Friday 30th August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Vast Dance Festival is a dance festival for high schools across Te Tau Ihu, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their choreographic and technical skills.

The Festival fosters the dance community amongst high school students and celebrates a wide range of dance styles.

Saturday 31st August-Sunday 1st September 2024, in Visual Arts & Crafts, Workshops & Retreats

TEXTILE COLLAGE STITCH WORKSHOP - weekend workshop tutored by Sally Reynolds

Be inspired by plants and nature and create a unique handstitched textile collage with printing techniques incorporated.

This two-day workshop is designed to explore your creativity to create a hand-stitched textile collage artwork(s).

Sally is an experienced painter and textile artist who enjoys passing on her knowledge to others. Using recycled and repurposed fabrics, along with Gelli-plate printmaking techniques, you will create unique fabrics to incorporate into your own work.

Taking inspiration from nature and plants, Sally will guide you along the process from designing your collage to incorporating various stitching techniques using embroidery cottons.

The workshop is suitable for everyone from experienced textile artists to beginners.

$15 small materials charge paid directly to the tutor at commencement of the workshop.

Saturday 31st August 2024, in Music & Performing Arts

Nelson, are you ready for The Ultimate Drag Show? Get ready to sashay, shante, and slay with the most fabulous drag performers from coast to coast. The Ultimate Drag Show is hitting the road, bringing you an unforgettable extravaganza of glitz, glamour and jaw-dropping performances that will leave you begging for more!

RuPaul's Drag Race has brought Drag into the spotlight and we're here to show that New Zealand Drag talent is not to be overlooked because we can twirl, kick and SLAY just as hard as the rest of the world!

Join us for a night of dazzling entertainment, fierce competition and unforgettable moments as drag performers from across the country showcase their talent and creativity on stage. Whether you're a seasoned drag fan or new to the scene, The Ultimate Drag Show promises to deliver an experience like no other, featuring a lineup of the most talented drag kings and queens in the industry.

From high-energy lip-syncs to stunning runway looks, prepare to be amazed as our queens and kings bring their A-game to each and every performance, leaving you on the edge of your seat and cheering for more.

PG: Coarse language may be used throughout the evening.