10 Whānau-Friendly Things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau this Spring
Published: Wednesday 6 September, 2023
With winter behind us and warmer weather on the way, it’s the perfect time to step out with the whole whānau. Your pepi, tamariki and rangatahi will love these events and activities happening in September and October.
Here are our top 10 things to do with the whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau:
The Madeleines
This vintage vocal trio shone at Auckland Live’s Cabaret Season. They will transport you back to a golden era of music at their Morning Melodies debut.
This trio is made up of Shannon Evison, Hannah Kee and Jess Rogers. These ladies have all worked internationally in musical theatre (West End, Hong Kong, Melbourne and International tours) however in the whirlwind of 2020, they returned to New Zealand and are now enjoying performing together on home soil.
This performance is part of the Auckland Live Morning Melodies 2023 season.
Star Wars & Beyond
Following on from our successful John Williams and Anime concerts, Orchestra Auckland presents more of your favourite movie soundtracks live in concert. Hear great film music performed by a full symphony orchestra in the comfort of the Bruce Mason Centre.
Word - The Front Line Grand Slam 2023
It is the 10 year anniversary of New Zealand’s only inter-high school Spoken Word Poetry Slam!
WORD - The Front Line showcases Auckland’s fiercest poets in a team slam extravaganza. Welcome to the poetry Olympics!
After making it through the gruelling semi-final heats, the top six high schools are set to share their stories in an explosion of youth expression.
Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat
Two bored kids (This was way before iPads). One rainy day (We’ve all had a few of those) And one crazy cat wearing a red-striped hat (Where was the background check for that babysitter?!)
The play was adapted for the stage in 2009 by the National Theatre of Britain. The Cat in The Hat interrupts this rainy afternoon with his unexpected visit to Sally and her brother's cosy home. Their outspoken and outraged pet Fish is astounded and concerned, but this cat will not be deterred. He will teach us all to make our own fun with nothing but a little imagination. "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." Along with Thing One and Thing Two, the cat will fill the theatre with mischievous humour and madcap style.
Toy Story in Concert
Ever wondered what toys do when people aren’t around? Toy Story answers that question with a fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys – Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger.
Experience the beloved Toy Story in Concert, featuring a screening of the ground-breaking complete film with Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Randy Newman’s musical score performed live by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Disney Princess - The Concert
For generations, the music of Disney’s princesses has been the soundtrack to our lives. Now, for the first time, these beloved songs come to life on stage in Disney Princess – The Concert!
Be our guest as a quartet of Broadway, television, and animated film icons celebrate the music from every Disney Princess in an unforgettable evening, alongside their magical Music Director and enchanting Prince. Songs to include “How Far I’ll Go,” “A Whole New World,” “Colors of the Wind,” “Part of Your World,” “Almost There,” “Let It Go” and more.
This production features Broadway performers appearing as themselves. Costumed Disney characters do not appear at this event. Casting is subject to change.
360 ALLSTARS
A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus. Boasting a stellar cast of World Champion and World Record-holding artists and athletes, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture.
The Music Man in Concert
One of the most beloved musicals ever written, The Music Man, is marching into Auckland this October.
This best-known work by Meredith Willson follows the tale of brazen swindler Professor Harold Hill who arrives in River City, Iowa, promising uniforms, instruments and lessons for a new town band.
In the role conman cum Casanova is one of our most in-demand leading theatre actors, Nic Kyle, who won rave reviews for his most recent performance as Charlie Price in the New Zealand premiere season of Kinky Boots. Playing Professor Hill’s love interest is Jess Rogers whose most recent credits include the New Zealand premiere and National Tour of Shrek The Musical and Madagascar The Musical. She is also a member of the vocal trio The Madeleines.
Heroes and Villains
Come and join the Auckland Symphony Orchestra as we celebrate music inspired by the good, the bad and the ugly characters of some of our most beloved stories. Presenting music from Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and so much more.
Tickets are free, but booking is essential | Tickets on sale Thu 21 Sep
Hocus Pocus in Concert
Accidentally brought back to life in Salem on Halloween night, three witches, known as the Sanderson sisters, attempt to steal the life essence from the town’s children so they can have eternal life. They are outwitted by Max Dennison, his little sister, Dani, his girlfriend, Allison, and Thackery Binx, who was changed into a cat for trying to interfere with the witches centuries earlier.
This spooky classic stars Bette Midler (Winifred), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah), Kathy Najimy (Mary), Omri Katz (Max), Thora Birch (Dani) and Vinessa Shaw (Allison).
Join the APO for Hocus Pocus in Concert featuring Emmy®-winning composer John Debney’s musical score performed live in sync with the film.
