Dunedin Summer Shakespeare

22/05/2026

In case you missed it...

A recording of this year's "Shakespeare in Song" concert at the Botanic Garden Band Rotunda now lives on YouTube for your listening pleasure! 😎

It's an unlisted link (to protect our musos' (c) works), so you'll need the url to view it. But feel free to share it widely with anyone you fancy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXmEsCwLAxI

More exciting details about a FREE ALBUM to follow, hopefully by Matariki... ✨

"If Music Be The Food Of Love": Shakespeare in Song (DSS 2026)

03/05/2026

It was worth the wait...

We proudly present "If Music Be The Food Of Love": Shakespeare in Song (DSS 2026). Recorded live at the Botanic Gardens Band Rotunda on 15 Feb 2026. 🎶

You may notice we had to cut out much of our emcee, W***y Shakes, who was wandering through the audience off-camera b/w acts. But all our Musos’ glorious songs are here, with great audio! 🙌

As this is an unlisted video, you *need the link* to view it (not searchable). But we encourage you to freely share it with any / all fans of the Bard and local music! 😎

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

📹 Matthew Morgan (concert)
📸 Aaron Hawkins (thumbnail)

"If Music Be The Food Of Love": Shakespeare in Song (DSS 2026)

24/03/2026

Calling all Shakes-supporters…🗣️

DSS Co-Founder and Wyrd Sister, Lara Macgregor, is at the helm of an amazing arts org — and they need our help, for a multitude of things. 🙏

Their mahi supports so many artists and programmes, including the Ugly Shakespeare Company — which is currently touring “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” around Aotearoa’s schools. How lucky are those kids? 😲

Please pitch in if you can. And help to spread the word. Together, we can do some real good! 😎

Your support helps us support artists irrespective of social, economic or geographical location.

17/02/2026

"If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On!"

Our season may have been brief, but it was glorious. And we are profoundly thankful for the large audiences who turned out both days -- rain or shine, hall or park -- for our concerts. 🙏

Here's a copy of our programme for anyone who wants to know the name of a specific performer or song.

And because so many of you kindly asked, here are bank details for anyone who wishes to make a koha toward our next season.

DSS proudly remains FREE in the park each year due to financial support from Dunedin City Council and Castle Charitable Trust / Friends of DSS. We also rely on rebated services + artist assistance from Crossfade (Audio Services) and AMPED Music Project. But we are truly grateful for the many people who want to / can pitch in to support our mahi. Ka mau te wehi! 🙌

14/02/2026

WE PLAY THE PARK TODAY!!! 😎

Mother Nature has sorted herself, and Shakespeare in Song will perform in the Dunedin Botanic Garden Band Rotunda @ 3pm.

We have an amazing lineup of musicians who have given new life to the Bard's old words -- and guarantee you'll be humming a few catches as you happily stroll home after our 75min show. 🎶

Bring a rug / a chair, bring a picnic, bring your mates. It's FREE. It's on! ☀️

14/02/2026

Our immense thanks to DNI School for a safe haven from the (forecasted if not actual) storm today. And to the hundreds of you who followed us indoors for “Shakespeare in Song”… 🙏

Every digit remains firmly crossed that we can conclude our concert season properly tmrw / Sunday, in the Botanic Garden Band Rotunda! ☀️ 🎶 🤞

13/02/2026

The sun may be shining now, but there is solid RAIN forecast between 2-6pm today -- and we simply can't risk our musos' gear or our audience's health / safety.

So indoors we go, just a few hundred metres down North Road to DNI hall. We'll put out some benches, but you're welcome to bring your own rugs and chairs too. 3PM CURTAIN!

Please spread the word to anyone you know who was planning on today outdoors -- and pray for sunny skies tomorrow... ☔️

12/02/2026

Our immense thanks to DSS alumnus — and all-around awesome human — Brent Caldwell for doing this segment on our musical season.

Y’all know what to do now… 

😎 🙌 ☀️

12/02/2026

As we prep for an amazing weekend of Shakespeare in Song, DSS would like to take a moment to thank the invaluable supporters who have made this event possible:

* Dunedin City Council, who supports our work through a Professional Theatre Fund Grant

* Castle Charitable Trust, who auspices DSS and holds our annual "Bard in the Yard" fundraiser

* AMPED Music Project, offering free music workshops, mentoring and all-ages gigs for U18s

* Crossfade, delivering high-quality, reliable audio and technical solutions for live events

It truly takes a village to make art in this challenging fiscal climate -- and even more so to keep these events FREE each year.

Please join DSS in offering a hearty HUZZAH to these sponsors, who support our kaupapa and make our mahi possible! 🥳

12/02/2026

Matt and Kim were lucky enough to sit down with Jeff Harford on the OARsome Morning show last week to talk about "Shakespeare in Song"...

If you're keen to learn more about this musical season, lend it your ear! 😎

Dunedin Summer Shakespeare takes a different angle this year, as Kim and Matt Morgan explain. The music of the bard will be celebrated with two special concerts at the Dunedin Botanic Garden band rotunda. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz