Artists from across the motu are aligning this Winter/Matariki season at Basement Theatre to give us all a much-needed dose of what’s good in the world - Live connections! Creation! Joy! Exploration! Artistry! Humanity! Community! Say it again… COMMUNITY!!!!
22 shows are on the bill this Winter/Matariki season, 2 June to 29 August. What can you expect to see?
⭐ Vital conversations and wicked fun parties from the multiple communities that call Basement home
⭐ Cosy and celebratory poetry evenings
⭐ The 16th anniversary show from award-winning Hobson Street Theatre Company
⭐ Crack-up comedy and improv
⭐ Unearthed plays and artistic deepcuts
⭐ A bold remount of an Irish classic
⭐ Energising street and interdisciplinary dance works
⭐ Award-winning Fringe Fest works and makers
⭐ Gen Alpha making their Basey debut
⭐ Political clowning
⭐ Artform shifters and tastemakers
⭐ New plays and solos from emerging talent
You can count on Basement to keep glowing every week over Winter/Matariki. We’ll see you and your people together at Basey xx
Unconquerable, 2-6 June
Disco Pigs, 9-13 June
Yellow Lamp Poetry: Vol. Basement, 11-13 June
Step into the Fire, 16-17 June
Babyface, 18-20 June @nickp.tipa
Firing the Canon: Act Two, 23-27 June
Mic Drop, 23-27 June
Oranges, 30 June - 4 July
Collision, 2-4 July
Nature Brain, 14-18 July
Honey Kaha Returns, 14-18 July
WOOOF, 21-25 July
James Roque: Mano Po, 23-24 July
Single Handed, 28 July - 1 August
Ngaro/Ertach, 30 July - 1 August
On Purpose, 4-8 August
El Diván, 6-8 August
Memory of a Honey Bee, 11-15 August @connormagatogia@katherinedewar
Hood For Sale, 11-15 August @tj.snowz
The Meeting, 25-29 August
Exquisite Corpse, 28 August @h4lf_thai_thiccy@sean.dioneda.rivera@auntie.rev
The Ruckus, 29 August
As the year comes to a close, here’s what Basement looked like in 2025.
Act II: The Community.
The parties, the workshops, the fundraisers, the celebrations, the “one quick drink” nights that turned into hours.
Basement was a place to gather this year, loudly, softly, and everything in between.
Thanks for pulling up. Always.
🖤
As the year comes to a close, here’s what Basement looked like in 2025.
Act I: The Work
New stories, artist-led visions, and work made with care, trust, and a willingness to take risks.
These production stills hold moments from shows that were bold, tender, messy, political, funny, and deeply personal, work shaped by the people who made it, on their own terms.
We’re proud to be a space that backs artists, centres care, and makes room for experimentation, failure, and growth.
Thank you to every maker who trusted Basement to hold your stories.
🖤
Last call 🗣️ We’ve got three EOI’s live right now:
• Test Fest (Closes TOMORROW, Fri, 15 May)
• Spring Hire-for-Nothing Season (Closes Tues, 26 May)
• Time and Space Residency (Closes Tues, 26 May)
Lesssgeddit ⚡️
✨2026 TIME & SPACE SPRING RESIDENCY EOI IS NOW LIVE✨
Calling all makers, dreamers & worldbuilders! We’re so excited to announce another residency opportunity: EOIs are now live for our Spring Time & Space Residency for 2026! 🌿 🌻✨
These are designed as a week-long incubation period for an artist OR collective of any practice, medium or background that is looking for additional support; to either breathe new life into pre-existing work or as a pivotal moment in your process before your work is ready to be premiered. Whichever season you find yourself in, we want to hear from you!
🌼Basement Theatre’s 2026 Time & Space Spring Residency EOI submissions will officially close on Tuesday, 26th May, 11:59 pm🌼
This residency will commence during our Spring season, which will run from September through to the end of November. Check out our submission form for more information - link in our bio! 🔗
📸 Ankita Singh for ‘Gay Death Stocktake’ (2022)
🌸🌸🌸Basement Theatre’s submission window for our Spring 2026 season is open!🌸🌸🌸
The air is warmer, the beautiful kōwhai are in full bloom and life just feels a little bit sweeter. The Winter winds might be quickly approaching, but we can always cast our minds forwards and dream of the gentle breezes of Spring to come. You couldn’t ask for a better setting to create and share work with our communities here in the melting pot of culture & arts that is Tāmaki Makaurau - so come out and play! And tell us all about what you'd like to share.
🌼Basement Theatre’s 2026 Spring season EOI submissions will officially close on Tuesday, 26th May, 11:59 pm🌼
Check out our submission form for more information - link in our bio! 🔗
📸 Jennifer de Koning for ‘Little Gay In’ (2025)
Heading to a show at Basement Theatre for the NZ International Comedy Festival THIS MONTH?!
Follow AB around to learn your way around or refresh that memory!
Get your tickets NOW at comedyfestival.co.nz
Basement Theatre is excited to announce Test Fest! A festival dedicated to experimentation across all disciplines of live performance, 7-10 October 2026. Test Fest is a stepping stone for artists to road-test a work in progress, new material, or just discuss new ideas you’ve got brewing in front of an audience of peers, the general public, and invited arts leaders.
We want to see you at your most raw and unpolished - anything and everything is welcomed except for fully-fledged, full-length works.
Basement Theatre’s TEST FEST submissions will close on Tuesday, 12 May, 11:59 pm.
Check out our submission form for much more exciting info about what we’re looking for - link in our bio!
Image created by @onedesign_nz@bomverkade
Calling all of our beautiful artist friends and wider Basey community! The stars are aligning, and tawhirimatea’s bite is swift. Come cozy up with us, have some kai, and celebrate our gorgeous offerings to usher in the Winter/Matariki season with a special live performance from ‘VITINIA + FRIENDS’.
Fri, 24 Apr - 7:30pm
Basement Bar
Free event
AUCKLAND! Want a little taste of what’s to come this May? 👀
We’re super excited to present the Tāmaki Makaurau Preview, your first look at the laughs coming your way at the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival🔥.
Hosted by 2025 Billy T Award winner, Hoani Hotene and featuring must-see sets from:
Courtney Dawson, Barnie & Ella, Anthony Crum, Liv McKenzie, Courtney Dawson, Annie Guo,, Marshall Lorezno and Renee Church.
Plus 2026 Billy T nominee Joel Vinsen.
📍Basement Theatre
🗓️ Wed 29 April | 7pm
This show will sell out, so don’t sleep on it!
Grab your tickets now at edyfestival.co.nz or in the link in our bio!
#NZComedyFest #nzicf26 #BestComedyFest
