A spell-binding tale of love, magic and courage.

Get ready for puppetry, dance and magic in Light Vs Dark: The Adventures of Rama. Based on the epic tale The Ramayana, Light Vs Dark is a captivating show exploring the importance of love, freedom and courage – all with a with bit of laughter thrown in!

“Beautifully staged moments of visual storytelling…” – New Zealand Herald

Workshop: Explore traditional mask making in a post-show workshop with the cast.
Performances start at 10am, followed by a workshop at 11am.

Auckland Live Pick & Mix events are free, however bookings are essential.

A spell-binding tale of love, magic and courage.

Get ready for puppetry, dance and magic in Light Vs Dark: The Adventures of Rama. Based on the epic tale The Ramayana, Light Vs Dark is a captivating show exploring the importance of love, freedom and courage – all with a with bit of laughter thrown in!

“Beautifully staged moments of visual storytelling…” – New Zealand Herald

Workshop: Explore traditional mask making in a post-show workshop with the cast.
Performances start at 10am, followed by a workshop at 11am.

Auckland Live Pick & Mix events are free, however bookings are essential.

Step into the World of the Wizarding Academy. An exciting train journey is waiting for you!

In the next term break the professors from Zealandia’s Saremcroft Wizarding Academy will be sent out on the school’s Magical Steam Locomotive to locate new magical talent to join the Academy.

It’s an immersive, interactive theatre experience for ages 5 – 105 aboard a moving steam train!

Your carriage is your ‘house’, there you’ll be joined by your House Captain and Professor to take part in a variety of magical lessons including spell casting, potions class and more. PLUS every passenger receives a small gift at the end of the journey.

So ready your wand and grab your owl because it’s time to uncover your wizarding talents and join our cast aboard the Wizarding Express.

DEPARTURE TIMES:    9:45am     11:30am     1:15pm     3:00pm

Bookings are reuired.

WHĀNAU DAY
Performances, storytelling, activities, kai and fun times

Performances include:
Dancing with Karetao – Atamira, Free
Taonga puoro (Māori instruments) played live by expert practitioner James Webster complements a moving feast for ears and eyes, as three Atamira dancers wielding karetao (Māori puppets) introduce young and old to the playful realm of Nga Atua Māori (the Gods/desses). Witness the epic heaven and earth embrace of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, the strong and proud Tānemahuta, or the mysterious and curious Hine Pu Te Hue, each atua revealed through magical storytelling and Māori contemporary dance. Dancing with Karetao is a whanau-friendly work that invites traditional and contemporary flavours of dance, haka, puppetry, drama and pūrakau to combine in a fun and quirky 45-minute performance!

Mahuika – Auckland Theatre Company, Free
Mahuika is a fun filled journey through the ngāhere to the underworld and back as two sisters must save their mum and re unite Mahuika with her long lost daughter while facing Māui’s old foes. Sparkling with light and laughter, blazing with music, dance and magic; MAHUIKA reignites this legend of old with the power of today’s brave, cheeky and caring young women.
By Amber Curreen; Commissioned and Presented by Auckland Theatre Company

Sofija’s Garden at 10:30am  – as part of Going West Festival, ticketed
Enter a magical tent where Baba Sofija is waiting to tell her grandchildren a story – with their help, of course! Fiesty Kosjenka yearns to travel far away from her home, so she rides on the back of the wind and befriends the shy giant Reygoch. Inspired by the oral histories of Dalmatian settlers, this story-within-a-story pays tribute to the pioneering spirit of these early families.
Director Tainui Tukiwaho (Cradle Song, Astroman) makes magic with masks, music and puppetry, and invites the audience to participate.For ages 5-12 and their grown-ups; Performed in English, Croatian and Te Reo Māori

Join Princess Aria & Twinkle Star at the enchanting, interactive 75 minute long musical experience of Princess Academy!

This original show teaches our precious girls what it means to be a TRUE Princess with 9 beautiful original songs, your little Princess will have a ball singing & dancing with ribbon wands whilst learning the important values we as parents want our daughters to hold with them throughout their lives. This experience includes Face painting, Cupcakes (all Vegan, GF available upon request) & Crafts as well as they will receive a certificate of completion & a beautiful Tiara to keep!  

All ages and genders are welcomed; however, the show is best suited for 3-8-year-old girls.

Adult entry is free and required; under 2 year is free with paid child.
Please come as you are or dress up in full Princess gear ready to shine!

Based on the series of children’s picture books about “The Little Yellow Digger” by Betty and Alan Gilderdale and adapted for the stage by Tim Bray. When the little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the job…plus other fun adventures of this tenacious machine.

Stories featured in the show are “The Little Yellow Digger saves the Whale”, “The Little Yellow Digger at the Zoo”, “The Little Yellow Digger”, “The Little Yellow Digger and the Bones”, and “The Little Yellow Digger goes to School”.

Costume Parade: Encourage your children to dress up as their favourite character from The  Little Yellow Digger for the onstage Costume Parade just prior to the start of the  holiday shows.

Recommended for children aged 3 to 10 years old.

Auckland Youth Orchestra (AYO)  free  concert. at the Auckland Town Hall.

Disappear down the rabbit hole into the whimsical, wacky and wild world of Alice in Wonderland! Join the curious and curiouser Alice on her madcap adventures as she meets White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and other quirky characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic story…

Leading children’s theatre producers, The Stage Company are renowned for their high-energy and hilarious musical pantomimes.

Celebrating the strange and revelling in the ridiculous, this original take on the classic will have kids aged 5-12 in stitches as they become immersed in a fabulous fantasyland where nothing is what it seems. Don’t be late for this very important date!

Show duration: 55 minutes