Jelly or Jam is a fun-filled family show – the ‘gooeyest’ kids’ show at the Auckland Arts Festival in March.

Have you ever seen a giant block of jelly – wobbly, jiggly, and strong enough to stand on? From award-winning circus creators, Jascha Boyce and Joren Dawson, Jelly or Jam takes audiences on an acrobatic adventure into the brains of young humans. Guided by interviews with kids about what emotions are and how we feel them, this New Zealand premiere of the hit Australian family show examines the control we have over our individuality through testing the physical limits of two giant blocks of jelly.

Don’t miss this rollercoaster filled with real stories about being a kid, and plenty of squishy, messy jelly that will inspire people, young and old, to ask the question, “What makes you, you?”

A morning of theatre that has been described by one parent as “G-rated jelly wrestling”, this 50-minute show is sure to be everyone’s jam. It plays two performances at the Speigeltent at Aotea Square on 16 and 17 March.

Tickets are on sale now.

“They say you can get lost in a good book. But it’s worse to get lost in a bad one …”

From award-winning company Trick of the Light Theatre, The Bookbinder weaves shadowplay, paper craft, puppetry, and music into an original fairytale in the vein of Coraline and Neil Gaiman – a delightfully dark and imaginative theatre gem for curious children and adventurous adults.

First performed in the back room of a secondhand bookshop, The Bookbinder has toured across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and USA, and finally comes to Auckland. Acclaimed through sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 and 2016, it has received many accolades including Best Theatre, and Best in the Fringe at NZ Fringe 2014, the International Excellence Award at Sydney Fringe 2014, and the Children’s Theatre Award at Fringe World 2015.

The Bookbinder will play the Loft, Q Theatre from 21 – 24 March 2019 as part of Auckland Arts Festival.

Tickets are on sale now.

For ages 8+

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

THE KUIA AND THE SPIDER, ON STAGE FOR ONE AND ALL Performed in te reo Māori

Inspired by author Patricia Grace and illustrator Robyn Kahukiwa’s classic children’s book ‘The Kuia and the Spider’, Te Kuia Me Te Pūngāwerewere is a delightful, comedic prequel that takes audiences on a journey into spider world.

In this beloved tale, the kuia (female elder) argues with a large spider living in her kitchen and competes to see who can do the best weaving. While in the midst of their daily bickering, Kui and Pūpai are suddenly thrust from their home in Paekākāriki and into spider world. There amongst the spiders, they must work together to save the habitat from human destruction.

Performed entirely in te reo Māori, but full of gestures and movement so that everyone can follow along, this splendid show breathes new life into an iconic Kiwi story cherished by children and parents all over Aotearoa.

Te Kuia Me Te Pūngāwerewere is a free event, but registrations are recommended via Auckland Arts Festival.
Recommended for ages 5+, 50 minutes no interval

Part of Whanau Day at Auckland Arts Festival.

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English

A LIVELY, INGENIOUS RETELLING OF THE ADVENTURES OF KUPE IN AOTEAROA

Be swept along by the voyage of Kupe, the great Pacific explorer and navigator, in this richly imagined solo show by writer and poet Apirana Taylor.

Ka Tito Au celebrates the long ago exploits of a man many believe was the first visitor to these shores. Tracing Kupe’s whakapapa and his connection to the islands and the ocean, his dramatic expedition on the waka Matahourua, and his climactic battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, this thrilling odyssey, conceived as an epic poem by Taylor, spans myriad narratives ripe for rediscovery.

A charismatic and amiable orator, actor Tola Newbery makes every episode come to life. He infuses his extraordinary performance with creative modern flourishes and stirring waiata tawhito (traditional Māori songs). Mixing history, mythology and symbolism, Ka Tito Au is Kupe’s legend as you’ve never heard it before. A marvel of storytelling everyone should experience.

Recommended for ages 8+
Performed in English