Michele Griffin 10/8/25 Michele Griffin 10/8/25

Centre stage

Tauranga Arts Festival will come to life with a dazzling circus, bold beats, sharp wit and homegrown brilliance.

WORDS Monique Balvert-O’Connor

Internationally acclaimed circus performers, musicians, authors, actors and comedians will be amongst those set to thrill at the 2025 Tauranga Arts Festival. Taking to our stages will be the likes of Cirque Bon Bon, Tami Neilson, Hayley Sproull, Rhys Mathewson, Te Radar, Chelsea Winter and Catherine Chidgey to name but some. It’s an impressive line-up that also includes plenty of local talent keen to delight the crowds at their city’s flagship art festival event, kicking off over Labour Weekend.

Ayesha Kee doesn’t plan on raising the roof of the Carrus Crystal Palace, but she’s sure hoping she’ll have that glorious tent rocking.

The Tauranga DJ queen can’t wait to “slay the disco way” during the Tauranga Arts Festival where she’ll help fulfil many a dazzling disco dream. Ayesha will team up with powerhouse vocalist Lisa Tomlins to deliver a Queens of Disco event. Expect the most iconic disco anthems ever to hit the dancefloor. Think Diana Ross, some Pointer Sisters, Bee Gees… feel good music, Ayesha says, that’s likely to seduce many, of varying age groups, onto the dancefloor.

By day Ayesha is a community development manager at Kaiwhakahaere Whakawhanake Hapori. By night, well, that’s alter ego time.

“I have always loved music but never learnt an instrument, so I got into deejaying about 20 years ago. I love it so much as there’s the opportunity
to take people on a musical journey, and you just make people happy,” she beams.

Tauranga’s proud to claim her. While Ayesha’s only been Tauranga based for 10 years, Ngāti Ranginui is her iwi and Ngāi Tamarāwaho her hapu.

She will be one of an array of local talent in the spotlight over festival week.

UNO is proud to be sponsoring what’s expected to be a hugely popular festival event: comedian Hayley Sproull’s show The Baroness. It’s so named as Hayley is The Baroness sky-rocketing towards 40, with a “happily untenanted” womb and a life of love, leisure and lingus. Hayley feels less barren and more Baroness.

As a Baroness, her focus is on making “martinis, not milk. She changes her mind, not nappies. She wants durries, not diapers.” Tauranga Arts Festival attendees can rest assured she’ll be delivering not a child, but copious amounts of chuckle-worthy moments.

Tauranga Arts Festival general manager Sarah Cotter says this year’s event will be full of fun, magic and vibrancy, with world-class performances, thought-provoking conversations and experiences to stir the senses and soul.

Local creatives playing a part in delivering all that wonder include the festival team’s very own content creator Fabio Camera, who, like Aeysha, cannot resist the call of music when his day job is over. Aptly, he’s a musician in a band carrying a name meaning work and happiness - Ozi Ozaa. This Afrofunk band will perform on the Tauranga Waterfront in the Carrus Crystal Palace Spiegeltent.

Still on the music front, local talent will also be showcased during two of the festival’s free events - Opus Pocket Orchestra Concert and Undergrand.
The former is focused on little listeners and will feature 30-minute concerts offering young ones a joyful, interactive introduction to orchestral music. Undergrand, meanwhile, has been dubbed “a piano
in the wild”. Imagine stumbling upon a baby grand piano in the most unexpected places, like Mount Main Beach at Sunrise, Tauranga’s waterfront after dusk, and in a city park by day. This roaming, open-air musical experience will include a line-up of up-and-coming Tauranga students and seasoned pianists playing everything from classical to jazz
to improvised soundscapes.

Playing a key, guiding role in two events is award-winning Tauranga born and raised Jason Te Mete (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi), a freelance actor, singer, dancer, director, pianist, and playwright/writer. His festival babies are Battle Chorus – where two choirs go to war — and also Waiata Mai, a free-to-all sing-along (watch out for some local legends, like a free-to-all sing-along that closes the festival on Sunday November 2.

The final days of the festival, in early November, involve Escape, with its focus on the literary. In amongst the major New Zealand fiction writers is Tauranga’s own Anne Tiernan, author of bestselling novel The Last Days of Joy (partially set in Tauranga), and (recently released) The Good Mistress.

Less joyful, but inarguably good, is the demise of the New Zealand media, and Tauranga’s investigative journalist Jared Savage will speak to this in Media Madness. Jared will join a line-up of journalists in unpacking and debating the media landscape of 2025.

Sarah Ell will also offer learning opportunities. Sarah’s recently published book The Spirit of a Place, is a new history of The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga, recognised as one of New Zealand’s most significant heritage sites. Sarah’s talk promises a rare glimpse into Tauranga’s layered past.

This part of the festival will honour the late, great Tauranga writer Sherryl Jordan who wrote beloved novels for children and young adults, including:
Rocco, The Wednesday Wizard, The Juniper Game, and Winter of Fire.

Escape invites people to “sit back, relax and immerse in a suite of scintillating conversations”, says former Tauranga resident Claire Mabey. She would know - she devised the programme. Claire, who is of strong literary pedigree, has strong ties to the festival, having been part of the organising team on previous occasions. Amongst her accomplishments,
Claire is The Spinoff’s book editor, the founder of Wellington’s Verb Festival, and author of The Raven’s Eye Runaways (and its just-completed sequel).

To end with a Z… back by popular demand is Tauranga Zinefest. This popular independent publishing event that celebrates creativity on
the fringe returns.

FREE EVENTS

The festival excitement includes a diverse range of family-friendly and free events offering the chance to be wowed, to sing your heart out, get creative and to have a giggle or two, says its proud and excited general manager.

“This is Tauranga’s festival, and we want to make it as accessible as possible to as many Tauranga people as we can,” Sarah says.

Some of the free events (Undergrand, Zinefest, Opus Pocket Orchestra Concert) are mentioned above. Add to that Waiata Mai, Obelisk Natura and CAR-A-OKE!

For show times and tickets, visit taurangafestival.co.nz

Michele Griffin 10/17/23 Michele Griffin 10/17/23

Change of art

Tauranga Arts Festival is renowned for bringing the world to the city’s doorstep but for this year’s October 19-29 extravaganza, the new team at the festival’s helm are embracing the moment.

Words Sandra Simpson

Taking on the mammoth project that is the Tauranga Arts Festival is beyond exciting for the new festival organisers.

“In building this year's programme, we're reflecting a need to provoke joy and belonging for our audiences – as well as undertaking necessary conversations with the vital voices of Aotearoa,” says artistic director Shane Bosher. “We'll be staging some out-of-the-box experiences, including an interactive work for families, which we are super excited about.”

The superb travelling venue, the Carrus Crystal Palace, will be at the southern end of The Strand waterfront for music, a night of comedy and all the fun of a poetry slam, with other performances and events unrolling throughout the city.

Our place on the planet is Oceania, borderless and vast, ranging from the fiery volcanoes of O'ahu to the wild tides of Rakiura. It’s a place rich with story that UPU brings to roaring theatrical life with an all-star line-up of Māori and Pasifika performers who will invigorate the words of Oceanic icons as well as writers transforming Aotearoa today, including Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Briar Grace-Smith, Apirana Taylor, Tayi Tibble,
Selina Tusitala Marsh and Hone Tūwhare.

Tusiata Avia, whose work features in UPU and is the author of a previous festival hit, Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, is the first female Pasifika poet to win the Ockham Award for poetry. The festival is delighted to feature the ferocious stage adaptation of that award-winning 2021 collection, The Savage Coloniser. Avia’s unapologetic examination of race and racism is full of bold humour and lacerating truths. “This is a red-hot festival ticket that audiences should fear missing out on,” Shane says.

The Haka Party Incident brings the events of a more-recent history – the “last New Zealand war” in 1979 – to the stage in an award-winning production. Resurrected is the eventful day when a group of Auckland University engineering students rehearsing their annual tradition of a mock haka are confronted by the activist group, He Taua. Provocative, resonant and unforgettable, this is a not-to-be-missed theatre event from writer and director Katie Wolfe.

Laughter is an important component of any Tauranga Arts Festival and, thanks to an evening exploring questionable dating choices and romantic misadventures with Mr Wrong, the Carrus Crystal Palace will be a rollicking place to be. He’s a Rebel is a playful cabaret performed by The Up-Doos, actress-singers Liv Tennet, Esther Stephens and Aria Jones, who feature the music of Dionne Warwick, Shangri-Las and The Chiffons, among others.

Meanwhile, in her new solo show Mean Mums, actress Morgana O’Reilly wants to tell you Stories about my Body, some not-so-funny, but some definitely funny, and with the healthy reminder to be more gentle and kinder to ourselves. Warning: There will be nudity (and you will love it!).

Do you love to sing, but only when no one’s listening? Two of Aotearoa’s musical heavyweights – award-winning musical director Jason Te Mete
and Rutene Spooner, a member of the Modern Māori Quartet – will tempt out your inner star and let you enjoy the thrill of a collective performance. In Battle Chorus, the maestros divvy up their audience and fight it out in a social singalong. With a complimentary drink to loosen the vocal cords, audience members will learn harmonies to great Kiwi hits, then join forces in a fun sing-off.

A rising star with a voice born in the rushing mountain streams and placid green bush of Te Wai Pounamu is singer-songwriter Jenny Mitchell, who blends folk, alt-country and Americana into her own captivating style. Just as her songs speak to the family ties that bind, so too does her backing band that includes her identical twin sisters, Maegan and Nicola, accomplished performers in their own right.

Festivals encourage innovative art and Kiwi singer/songwriter Finn Andrews, lead singer of the rock band The Veils, does just that by joining forces with the luscious sounds of violin, cello and piano of NZTrio’s contemporary classical musicians Amalia Hall, Ashley Brown and Somi Kim to perform songs from One Piece at a Time, Andrews' first solo album and previously unreleased material.

*Finn Andrews, Amalia Hall, Ashley Brown and Somi Kim*

As well as top home-grown talent, the festival is thrilled to welcome Gráda, a five-piece Irish folk band (albeit one with a Kiwi member) that has reunited in 2023 especially for a New Zealand tour. Said to be to its genre what Arcade Fire are to indie (a big compliment), Gráda has appeared multiple times in Ireland’s top 10 music charts.

Thought-provoking conversations are guaranteed with a Speaker Programme that includes novelist Emily Perkins, Jared Savage (Gangland), writer and director Katie Wolfe, comedian and writer Michele A’Court, children’s author Dame Lynley Dodd, and while playwright Nathan Joe, who also performs his Scenes from a Yellow Peril as a spoken-word event.

Another high-impact performer sharing stories from a life that straddles two cultures is Sameena Zehra, an award-winning performer, writer, director and blues singer-songwriter. Before moving to Aotearoa, Sameena lived in Britain where she performed at the National Theatre and toured internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her show, Tea with the Terrorists, confronts everything, whether sombre or silly, with a light and insightful touch.

A Seat at the Table is one of the visual art installations in the central city during the festival. Attempting to rebalance the voices at the table of contemporary fine art, this intriguing work asks spectators to move around a large dinner table, with each place occupied by work from a diverse point of view. Pull up a seat and taste a more balanced contemporary art diet. Like the festival itself, everyone’s invited to this party!

Tickets from ticketek.co.nz or the Baycourt box office in Tauranga. See the full Tauranga Arts Festival programme at taurangafestival.co.nz

Michele Griffin 10/6/22 Michele Griffin 10/6/22

For the love of arts

The new artistic director of Tauranga’s flagship Arts Festival brings passion and experience to the event.

The new artistic director of Tauranga’s flagship Arts Festival
brings passion and experience to the event.

Words Monique Balvert-O’Connor Photos Jeremy Hooper

Gabrielle Vincent thinks she may have shed a tear or two upon hearing she’d got the job of Tauranga Arts Festival artistic director.

“I love programming live performance and really wanted to get into the festival world, so being given this opportunity was just so very exciting,” is how she explains her happy tears.

Renowned as one of the most exciting art producers in the country, Gabrielle has come to the Tauranga Art Festival job after six years leading Auckland’s Basement Theatre where she commissioned and produced some of New Zealand’s boldest and bravest new talents.

The new position she was so thrilled about came her way at the tail end of 2020. But because the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to the planned 2021 Tauranga Art Festival, and caused a pushing out of this year’s Escape festival (from June to October), there’s a sense among Tauranga’s art community that Gabrielle has yet to be properly introduced. The October 12 to 16 Escape – little festival with big ideas – event is about to change that.

“This will be the first festival I actually get to deliver. We did a lot of work and came up with an exciting programme for the 2021 festival – it was heartbreaking having to call that off. Now it’s really wonderful to be able to deliver something.”

While she has years of experience programming, Escape will offer Gabrielle (34) her first opportunity to programme a writers’ festival. And what an exciting journey it has already been, says this woman with great ideas and vision.

There’s much on offer to thrill, and Gabrielle selects News, News, News as an example – a television news show, made by children for adults, recorded in front of a studio audience and broadcast live from Baycourt. Children from Mount Maunganui primary will be involved, guided by Andy Field and Beckie Darlington – Gabrielle’s enticed both over from the United Kingdom. Andy and Beckie came up with the concept, and have worked with children across the world who have performed it.

“It’s going to be a really fun show. It’s incredibly informative and, of course, very funny and sweet and enlightening.”

Gabrielle is delighted the timing of Escape falls within the school holidays, and as a result the line-up includes many family-friend events and children’s work.

“I am passionate about art bringing family together and sharing moments that become memorable experiences,” she says.

Gabrielle’s daughter (she and husband Simon have a three-year-old named Edie) will grow up with a plethora of such memories, for sure. Before long she’ll be tagging along with her mother who loves to soak up theatre, dance and music performances. Perhaps, like her mother, Edie will be a “drama geek” at school, too.

Acting, singing – and a seventh form curriculum full of art subjects – filled schoolgirl Gabrielle’s creative soul with joy. As a school leaver, who felt “incredibly passionate” about theatre and live performance, Auckland Unitec beckoned with its opportunity to major in theatre directing.

During her third year of study, Gabrielle was seconded to Auckland Theatre Company, where opportunities included getting to assistant-direct a show. Then, when a stage manager position came up, Gabrielle – who thoroughly enjoyed being backstage – was the “go to”. Gabrielle spent the next six years as a freelance stage manager, working mainly for Auckland Theatre Company.

A keenness to get into the producing side of the business coincided with a six-month pilot producers’ programme on offer at Auckland’s Basement Theatre – the home of independent theatre.

“I got that, which was exciting. I saw many emerging artists come through and then head off and thrive
doing phenomenal things.

“I then realised I actually liked programming more than producing and I managed to get a programme director
job there for about five years.”

It’s been a career full of wonderful opportunities and adding the part-time Tauranga Arts Festival director job to the curriculum vitae is another highlight. Preparation for the next festival, in 2023, with its range of art forms are well underway. But first, Escape, with its writers, speakers, live theatre and more.

“Programming a writer’s festival has been a really exciting journey. It occurred to me that what’s different about this compared to other live performances is that none of the conversations are rehearsed. They are conjured up by people, places, ideas and we are seeing something magical unfold at the time. Conversations are unique and cannot be replicated,” she says.

When UNO chats to Gabrielle she’s not long off preparing to head to Tauranga (Auckland is home base) for a month, in readiness for, and for, Escape. She can’t wait!

Taurangafestival.co.nz