Waiheke On Stage

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Waiheke On Stage We are a community theatre group on Waiheke Island.

Funds raised from our performances are donated to the Waiheke On Stage Foundation to support the Waiheke performing arts community.

ELLING opens October 29 – here’s our next Meet the Cast ‘mugshot’!Meet… Sam Downes, who plays Kjell Bjarne.Sam grew up h...
24/10/2026

ELLING opens October 29 – here’s our next Meet the Cast ‘mugshot’!

Meet… Sam Downes, who plays Kjell Bjarne.

Sam grew up hanging out in theatre green rooms around New Zealand, with Wellington’s Circa Theatre a particular favourite. But following his parents into the business? He wasn’t so sure.

Drama classes at Hagley High School changed that—as his mother suspected they would! Hagley Theatre Company, Toi Whakaari and the fast pace of internships at The Court Theatre in Christchurch and Downstage in Wellington followed.

Waiheke audiences may remember him from The Cripple of Inishmaan and A Wonderful Life, as the very mad Duke in Wyrd Sisters, Moley in Wind in the Willows, and Iago in The Shakespeare Conspiracy. And yes—he was the ‘turtle guy’ in Petty Crime!

When he’s not treading the boards, you’ll find him at the beach with Tiki, his little cavadoodle.

Next stop: Oslo, as Kjell Bjarne—one half of ELLING’s unlikely duo.

ELLING | 29 October–7 November | Artworks Theatre
Tickets https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

ELLING opens October 29 – Don’t miss out – Buy tickets now.Here’s the next in our Meet the Cast ‘ mugshots' seriesMeet… ...
24/10/2026

ELLING opens October 29 – Don’t miss out – Buy tickets now.

Here’s the next in our Meet the Cast ‘ mugshots' series

Meet… Kim Whitaker, who plays Alfons, the poet who has lost his muse.

Kim’s theatrical life has been a journey in two acts—with an interval of nearly half a century!

He first took to the stage aged eight as Robin Hood, then waited until he arrived on Waiheke to make his next entrance.

He’s certainly made up for lost time. Over the past 20 years, Kim has been involved in more than 25 productions, spanning everything from burlesque and stand-up comedy to Shakespeare.

Now he’s stepping into the shoes of Alfons—a poet whose friendship with Elling opens up new possibilities for them both.

ELLING | 29 October–7 November | Artworks Theatre
Tickets: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

ELLING opens October 29 – Don’t miss out – Buy tickets now!Here’s the next Meet the Cast ‘mugshot’Meet….Lucy SimpsonFrom...
22/10/2026

ELLING opens October 29 – Don’t miss out – Buy tickets now!

Here’s the next Meet the Cast ‘mugshot’

Meet….Lucy Simpson

From Waiheke’s eastern end, Lucy juggles full-time work, two teenagers, two dogs and three cats, with generous support from partner Steve.

Her island stage adventures have ranged from bouncing about as Puck in The Shakespeare Conspiracy to ruling the WI with an iron fist in Calendar Girls.

She calls line-learning the necessary evil, and says the joy is in the shared laughter, energy and teamwork. For her, theatre means creating something wonderful with people who become friends long after the curtain falls.

She certainly brings the joy to every rehearsal!

TICKETS: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

Elling opens October 29 - so it is Meet The Cast 'mugshots' time!Meet.... Cian Jones who plays social worker Frank ÅsliE...
22/10/2026

Elling opens October 29 - so it is Meet The Cast 'mugshots' time!

Meet.... Cian Jones who plays social worker Frank Åsli

Elling marks Cian’s full-length scripted play debut. Originally from Wales, he grew up surrounded by a strong tradition of music and performance. Previous stage credits include The Curious Case of June O’Hara and And the Winner is…, performed as part of the Waiheke Short Play Festival, and The Big Fat Improvised Fundraiser.
Recognising the importance of enabling independence, Cian has developed his portrayal of Frank Åsli from past experience volunteering alongside social workers.

Photo taken at the end of a busy rehearsal....and he is still smiling!
Tickets: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

Elling by Simon Bent - October 29 - Got your tickets yet?Elling has committed an act of poetry.He has written a poem.Th...
20/10/2026

Elling by Simon Bent - October 29 - Got your tickets yet?

Elling has committed an act of poetry.

He has written a poem.

This is unprecedented.

Even more alarmingly, he has decided to read it aloud to Kjell Bjarne.

Because somewhere amid the shopping, the telephone, the neighbours and the frightening business of living independently, something else has begun to happen.

Elling is discovering that he might have a voice.

29 October – 7 November | Artworks Theatre
🎟 https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

ELLING opens in 10 days!!!!! Got your tickets yet??Two unlikely heroes.One apartment.A telephone that really ought not t...
19/10/2026

ELLING opens in 10 days!!!!! Got your tickets yet??

Two unlikely heroes.

One apartment.

A telephone that really ought not to ring.

A neighbour called Reidun.

And an increasingly complicated experiment called ordinary life.

ELLING opens 29 October at Artworks Theatre.

🎟 Book now
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent
Funny. Lonely. Brave.

FROM A MUCH-LOVED NORWEGIAN NOVEL TO AN OSCAR-NOMINATED FILM AND AN OLIVIER-NOMINATED WEST END PLAY.Now ELLING comes to ...
13/10/2026

FROM A MUCH-LOVED NORWEGIAN NOVEL TO AN OSCAR-NOMINATED FILM AND AN OLIVIER-NOMINATED WEST END PLAY.

Now ELLING comes to Waiheke.

First came Ingvar Ambjørnsen's novels. Then the acclaimed Norwegian film, nominated for an Academy Award. Then the London stage production, which earned Olivier Award nominations for Best New Comedy and Best Actor.

It's quite a pedigree for a story about two very unlikely heroes trying to find their feet in the world.

"Funny, tender and gloriously unpredictable", ELLING is a comedy about friendship, courage and the extraordinary business of living an ordinary life.

From the Waiheke On Stage team that brought you the hugely successful Stones in His Pockets, this new production features a wonderful ensemble of local actors.

Don't miss ELLING. Book your tickets now!

🎭 29 October – 7 November 2026
Artworks Theatre, Oneroa

BOOK NOW !
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

Huge shout-out to Gulf News Weekender and the wonderful Cian Jones for the mention (with pics) of our upcoming productio...
09/10/2026

Huge shout-out to Gulf News Weekender and the wonderful Cian Jones for the mention (with pics) of our upcoming production of Elling.

Cian bared all - narratively speaking- on his love for baking, cheesemaking, music and acting in his Epicurean story on making Welsh Cakes.

He plays an interesting and at times, conflicted, social worker (Fank Asli) in Elling. And also a "you have to see it to believe/you will never forget it" performance poet.

And his Welsh Cakes as enjoyed by the cast and crew, were pretty tasty too!

Buy your tickets now.
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/elling-by-simon-bent

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25 Trig Hill Road, Onetangi
Auckland
1081

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