Kerikeri Theatre Company

31/08/2026

We’re incredibly proud to be co-presenting the Northland Premiere of BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, starring longtime Kerikeri Theatre Company member, Ani Palmer, in her debut lead film role, alongside Kaikohe actor Ngataitangirua Hita.

WHEN AND WHERE?
5pm, Saturday 19 September
Cathay Cinema, Kerikeri

This special one-night event includes:

🎬 Northland Premiere Screening (5:00pm)

🎬 Live Q&A with Ani Palmer, Ngataitangirua Hita, director Paloma Schneideman and producer Vicky Pope (6:55pm)

🎬 Followed by open bar with nibbles provided in the cinema foyer

ONLY 120 SEATS AVAILABLE

Tickets: https://www.cathaycinemas.co.nz/movie/big-girls-dont-cry

Always a standout, Ani first came through Kerikeri Theatre Company Youth Theatre and went on to perform in numerous Kerikeri Theatre Company productions over the years. Now she’s starring in a critically acclaimed New Zealand feature that has screened at Sundance, SXSW, BFI Flare London and TIFF Next Wave, and was selected as the Opening Night Film of the 2026 New Zealand International Film Festival.

And before its wider nationwide cinema release, we get to bring it home to Northland.

Big Girls Don’t Cry is a tender, funny and sometimes confronting coming-of-age story set in small-town Aotearoa in 2006, following 14-year-old Sid (Ani Palmer) as she navigates friendship, identity, sexuality and the awkward space between childhood and adulthood.

Fellow Northlander Ngataitangirua Hita, from Kaikohe, stars as Sid’s best friend Tia, making this a particularly special homecoming for two of Northland’s own.

Please note: Big Girls Don’t Cry is rated R16 and this screening is restricted to ages 16 and over. The film contains sexual material, themes of consent and non-consent, drug use and offensive language.

There is one Northland Premiere screening only, with just 120 seats available, so we do expect this one to fill quickly.

Book now: https://www.cathaycinemas.co.nz/movie/big-girls-dont-cry

For us, this is about more than a film premiere. It’s a chance to celebrate someone who first came through our Youth Theatre, grew up performing on KTC stages, and has now gone on to make her mark on the international screen.

We’d love to fill the cinema on 19 September and give Ani, Ngatai and the filmmakers a proper Northland welcome home.

26/08/2026

With Kerikeri Theatre Company deep in rehearsals for The Rocky Horror Show, it would feel strange not to say something about the passing of Tim Curry.

For those of us currently immersed in this strange, wonderful world, and in Tim Curry’s iconic creation of Frank-N-Furter, his loss feels especially significant. And I know it will for so many of you who have loved this show over the years.

Curry’s Frank-N-Furter is one of the great iconic outsiders of popular culture.

Rocky Horror was never just a musical. It was rock and roll. It was rebellious, sexual, theatrical, funny, dangerous, excessive, and completely uninterested in behaving itself. Tim Curry embodied all of that.

What he did with Frank-N-Furter became bigger than the role itself. It became part of the counterculture, and part of the language of generations of artists and outsiders. It gave people permission to be louder, stranger, freer, more outrageous, and more themselves.

There are performers who play a great role, and then there are those rare performers who create something so singular that it changes the culture around them.

Tim Curry did that brilliantly.

Rest in peace to a true original. 💋

21/08/2026

💋 LAST CHANCE: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is nearly sold out!

If you’re thinking about coming, book today. The final tickets are disappearing quickly, and a complete sellout is expected very soon.

🎟️ GET TICKETS:
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/rocky-horror-show

Kerikeri Theatre Company is proud to bring Richard O’Brien’s iconic musical to the Turner Centre from 29 to 31 October, directed by Keshama Jane, and with four performances only.

Get ready for an outrageous explosion of rock ’n’ roll, glamour, comedy, chaos, and gloriously wild theatrical fun.

Don’t dream it. Be there.

Kerikeri Theatre Company is thrilled to present Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ’n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show, live at the Turner Centre. Direc

20/08/2026

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is coming to the Turner Centre from 29 - 31 October for four performances only.

In just 72 hours, nearly 1,000 tickets have already been snapped up, and we expect the remaining performances to sell out within the next few days.

This is set to be the biggest, boldest, and most outrageously entertaining theatrical event of the Halloween season.

Don’t dream it. Be there.

Get your tickets before they’re gone:

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/rocky-horror-show

We’re shivering with antici...
..pation. 💋

Kerikeri Theatre Company is thrilled to present Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ’n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show, live at the Turner Centre. Direc

19/08/2026

Well, this is rather astounding...

It has been just over 48 hours since tickets went on sale for THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and more than 900 of the 1,400 available tickets are already spoken for.

That means fewer than 500 tickets remain across all four performances.

Several shows are now nearly SOLD OUT and at this rate, we expect the others to follow very soon.

Clearly, Kerikeri is ready to get a little wild this Halloween. And really, darlings, who could blame you?

This won’t be a polite little night at the theatre. It’s going to be big, loud, hilarious, sexy, gloriously outrageous, and unlike anything else you’ll see on a local stage this year.

Whether you’re a devoted Rocky Horror fan or experiencing it for the first time, this is one of those nights you’ll want to be part of!

There is still time to join the fun, but you’ll want to act fast. The remaining tickets are disappearing quickly.

Don’t dream it. Be there.

Grab your tickets now:

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/rocky-horror-show

We’ll see you at the Turner Centre.

Until then, we’re shivering with antici...

- Frank

17/08/2026

Kerikeri Theatre Company proudly presents Richard O’Brien’s THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, live at the Turner Centre from 29 to 31 October!

Tickets are ON SALE NOW, and we expect this production to sell out, so grab yours early! Get your tickets at: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/rocky-horror-show

Packed with glam, chaos, comedy, seduction, and unforgettable rock ’n’ roll energy, The Rocky Horror Show follows sweethearts Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, whose seemingly ordinary lives are turned upside down when their car breaks down during a storm.

Seeking help at a mysterious castle, they encounter the dazzling and unpredictable Dr. Frank-N-Furter, his eerie household, and a night of outrageous revelations that challenges everything Brad and Janet thought they knew about themselves and the world.

Since its premiere in 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the most iconic and enduring musicals of all time. With beloved songs including “Time Warp,” “Sweet Transvestite,” “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” and “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me,” the show blends science fiction, horror, comedy, and cabaret into an electrifying theatrical experience.

Directed by Keshama Jane and produced by John Oszajca and Judy Terry, the team behind Kerikeri Theatre Company’s Little Shop of Horrors, this spectacular new production embraces all the fun, flair, darkness, humour, and heart that have made Rocky Horror a phenomenon across generations.

WHEN?

💋 Thursday, 29 October: Evening performance

💋 Friday, 30 October: Evening performance

💋 Saturday, 31 October: Matinee and evening performances

WHERE?

The Rocky Horror Show is being staged in the John Dalton Auditorium at Kerikeri’s Turner Centre.

AGE RECOMMENDATION AND CONTENT ADVISORY

The Rocky Horror Show is recommended for audiences aged 12 and over. Audience members under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

This production contains adult themes, sexual references, suggestive humour, coarse language, and theatrical sensuality. Parental discretion is advised.

Order your tickets now through iTicket:

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/oct/rocky-horror-show

If you’d like to experience one of the most thrilling, outrageous, and beloved rock ’n’ roll musicals of all time, while supporting the performing arts in Kerikeri, grab your tickets now.

We hope to see you at the Turner Centre this October. Please don’t hesitate to hit reply if you have any questions.

Let’s do the Time Warp again Kerikeri!!

Kerikeri Theatre Company is thrilled to present Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ’n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show, live at the Turner Centre. Direc

13/08/2026

As Legally Blonde JR. heads into its final two performances tonight and tomorrow, we want to pause and give one enormous round of applause to this remarkable cast and crew.

Eight performances. Eight sold-out houses. The most performances ever staged by a single production in our Black Box, with tickets selling out in record time.

While this may be a Youth Theatre production, make no mistake: this is a show that stands proudly on its own two feet.

Nearly 30 young performers have poured themselves into bringing it to life, with other young people taking on technical roles, stage management and many of the responsibilities behind the scenes. Many of these performers are among our more experienced Youth Theatre students and have also been developing this material in preparation for the Junior Theatre Festival New Zealand in Auckland later this year.

At the heart of it all is their director and Youth Theatre tutor, Miriam Collins, and Musical Director, Tania Priebs-Cook, whose guidance, care and extraordinary hard work have made this production possible. Alongside them has been a wonderful team of people working on the set, costumes, technical elements and countless other details that an audience may never see, but without which there would be no show.

We have watched many of these young people grow through our programme, some beginning as shy and inexperienced performers and becoming confident, courageous young human beings who are now capable of commanding a stage. They have worked far harder, rehearsed for far longer and given far more of themselves than most people sitting in the audience could ever realise, all in pursuit of giving their community the best show they possibly could.

So, as they head into their closing weekend, let’s give them the applause they deserve.

To the entire cast and crew of Legally Blonde JR., have a brilliant final two performances.

You have done us incredibly proud.

Bravo!

07/08/2026

💖 A tiny handful of tickets have just become available for our final two performances of LEGALLY BLONDE JR. Fewer than six tickets remain!

If you missed out, this is your chance. Grab them now before they’re gone:

👉 https://kerikeritheatrecompany.co.nz/legally-blonde

22/07/2026

Kerikeri Theatre Company is now inviting performers to audition for our 2027 outdoor Summer Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Gregory “Ziggy” Wagrowski and staged at the stunning Kainui Vineyard.

This marks Ziggy’s first time directing our Summer Shakespeare season since making Kerikeri his home. Drawing on his extensive professional experience as an actor, director and artistic director in the United States, as well as three years of workshops, coaching and mentoring within our local theatre community, Ziggy is looking forward to working with performers from across the Far North to bring a fresh interpretation to this much-loved work as Kerikeri Theatre Company revisits Romeo and Juliet.

About the Play:

This Summer Season, we present William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – In a divided city where two powerful factions have warred for so long that no one remembers why, two teenagers fall recklessly in love—only to discover they belong to opposite sides of the conflict. In this fractured society, love becomes a dangerous act of defiance.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet unfolds in a Verona caught in a war it no longer remembers starting, and doesn't end until both sides lose their children. It is a story of love as rebellion, and of what a society must lose before it finally lets go of its hate.

Audition Dates: Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August 2026

Callback Dates: Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2026 (if required)

Audition Venue: Biz Space, Level 1, 3 Cobham Road, Kerikeri

Registration is Essential!

How to Audition:

1. Visit our audition page: https://kerikeritheatrecompany.co.nz/blog/romeo-and-juliet-auditions

2. Read the details and character list provided along with the rehearsal schedule and performance dates

3. When ready to apply click on the form to register your details and audition time(s) request.

4. After submitting your form we will send you confirmation of your audition time and the Sides to prepare

Key Dates:

Rehearsals run from 4th October to Performance dates (Tuesday & Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings) We will break for Christmas from 18th of December and resume on Sunday the 10th of January

Performance Dates: 11th - 20th February (Thurs, Fri and Sat of each weekend) with potential rain dates of Sunday 14th, Wednesday 17th and Sunday 21st of February

Please check your full availability for the performance dates prior to auditioning

*Join us for an unforgettable summer of drama, power, and passion under the stars. We can’t wait to see you at auditions!*

We'd love to hear from you!

- The Kerikeri Theatre Company and Romeo and Juliet Production Team

P.S. The magic isn't just on the stage; it's behind the scenes too! If you're interested in joining our dedicated crew, we'd love to have you. No experience? No problem! We welcome enthusiasts of all levels. We need stage crew, costume assistants, makeup artists, sound & lighting support, and more.

22/05/2026

🎭 LESS THAN 50 TICKETS LEFT. ORDER NOW OR MISS OUT: https://kerikeritheatrecompany.co.nz/12-angry-jurors

After completely selling out the original run of 12 Angry Jurors in less than a week, Kerikeri Theatre Company added three extra performances at the Black Box Theatre, and tickets for those shows are already disappearing fast.

Made famous by the classic film 12 Angry Men, 12 Angry Jurors is a tense, gripping courtroom drama about twelve jurors, one murder trial, and a single vote that could decide the fate of a young man accused of killing his father.

At first, the case seems open and shut. The evidence appears clear. The verdict seems inevitable. But when one juror refuses to vote guilty without asking a few difficult questions, the room begins to turn.

Tempers flare. Assumptions are challenged. What begins as a simple deliberation becomes a powerful battle over truth, justice, prejudice, and reasonable doubt.

Directed by Harley Alexander, this gripping production places the audience right inside the pressure of the jury room. In the intimate setting of the Black Box Theatre, every argument, every silence, and every shift in the room matters.

If you want to see it, now is the time to book. These final performances are very likely to sell out.

General Admission tickets are $39.

Thursday, 9 July at 7:00pm
Friday, 10 July at 7:00pm
Saturday, 11 July at 7:00pm

Black Box Theatre, 17 Sammaree Place, Kerikeri

Tickets: https://kerikeritheatrecompany.co.nz/12-angry-jurors

If you'd like to see 12 Angry Jurors in Kerikeri, book now before the last remaining tickets are gone!

Kerikeri Theatre Company presents 12 Angry Jurors, July 2 - 11 at the Black Box Theatre! A tense, gripping courtroom drama where one room, twelve jurors, and a single vote could decide the fate of a young man accused of murder.