Onstage Wanaka

27/08/2026

The Annual General Meeting of Onstage Wānaka Society Incorporated will be held as follows:

Date: Thursady 17th September 2026 at 5:30 pm

Venue: Wānaka Tennis Club, 198 Upton Street.

Members of the public are welcome but voting will be restricted to registered members. If you want to become a member, head to our website:

https://www.themembership.co.nz/board/onstage-wanaka/start

25/08/2026

Get in quick, tickets sell out every year!

Four weeks until opening night. Tickets open soon, tap Interested on the Event and we'll make sure you hear first.

22/08/2026

So... what have we been up to?

We know. It's been a little quiet around here!

After the madness of That Bloody Woman, we've had a little time to catch our breath, pack away the costumes, wash off the stage makeup... and remember what normal life looks like!

But don't worry, we haven't been sitting around doing nothing.

Behind the scenes, we're already working on our next big show.

We can't tell you too much just yet... but there are exciting conversations happening, plans being made and plenty of ideas flying around.

One thing we can promise, we're not done yet.

What do you think it could be? What do you want it to be?? Stay tuned....

Big ideas. Big shows. Small town. Local talent.

30/07/2026

An enormous thank you to Ruth and our incredible Costume Department!

Behind every unforgettable character is a unique costume lovingly created for That Bloody Woman, that was thanks to the extraordinary dedication of Ruth and her amazing costume team.

From sourcing and creating, to altering, repairing, fitting and adding those all-important finishing touches, countless hours went into every single costume. Every button, every hem, every piece of tartan and every accessory helped bring the vision of this production to life.

The audience saw the finished product on stage, but behind the scenes was an incredible amount of talent, patience and hard work that made it all possible.

Ruth, we simply can't thank you enough for the time, creativity, energy and care you poured into this production. Your passion shone through in every costume, and it played a huge part in making That Bloody Woman the spectacular show it became.

From all of us at Onstage Wānaka - thank you.

27/07/2026

The glamour on stage is only possible because of the controlled chaos behind the curtain!

Night after night, our cast went through this ritual. Hours spent in the makeup chair, costumes changed in record time, hair perfected, microphones fitted, and plenty of laughter behind the scenes.

A huge thank you to our hair and makeup team, costume designers, wardrobe volunteers, dressers and cast who embraced every back comb, every pin, every touch-up and every quick change with a smile.

23/07/2026

What an honour!

We were incredibly honoured to welcome Gregory Cooper, one of the writers of That Bloody Woman, to our Closing Night performance.

Having one of the creators of this remarkable musical in the audience made the evening even more special. After the show, Greg generously stayed behind to meet the cast and crew, sharing stories, congratulations and his thoughts on the production.

Here's what he had to say:

"What an absolute pleasure and privilege it was to experience Onstage Wānaka’s closing performance of 'That Bloody Woman’ on Saturday night. It took Luke and I about five years to create the show and feeling the joyful energy and passion radiating from everyone on stage made it all worthwhile. It was one of the most high-quality, professional productions of the show I’ve seen, made all the more impressive by only being the second year of Onstage Wānaka’s existence. Congratulations to everyone involved!"

Wow!! Receiving such amazing feedback from one of the show's writers is something we will treasure. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of an unforgettable season.

Thank you, Greg, for making the trip to Wānaka and for taking the time to meet everyone involved (except Director Lisa who's still galavanting around Europe). We loved sharing our production with you and hope you'll continue writing incredible New Zealand stories that inspire community theatre groups like ours for many years to come.

We can't wait to see what you create next! We're still debating our show for next year... any ideas?!

22/07/2026

A very special evening with the Wānaka Women's Suffrage Committee.

One of the highlights of our season was welcoming members of the Wānaka Women's Suffrage Committee to experience That Bloody Woman.

This production celebrates the remarkable women who fought for change, so it was especially meaningful to share the story with people who have helped keep that legacy alive here in our own community.

We were incredibly touched by their feedback:

"The whole production of acting, dancing, singing and music is a 'Must See.' Historical, colourful and thoroughly entertaining."

Thank you for joining us, for your kind words, and for your continued commitment to remembering and celebrating New Zealand's suffrage history. It was an honour to have you in our audience.

Moments like these remind us that That Bloody Woman is more than a musical, it's a celebration of courage, determination and the people who helped shape our nation's history.

Thank you for sharing this special evening with us.

21/07/2026

A HUGE shout-out to our incredible Creative Team!

Every great production starts with a vision, and we're so lucky to have had this powerhouse trio leading the way.

Lisa Clough – Director
Thank you for your passion, creativity and determination in bringing That Bloody Woman to life. You managed to pull together an extraordinary production... and then promptly buggered off to Europe after Opening Night! 😂 While the rest of us stayed behind to soak up the standing ovations, the energy and amazing feedback from the audience, we know just how much hard work went into getting us there. Enjoy your well-earned adventure!

Nina Hermanns – Choreographer
Your energy is infectious. You've inspired so many people, not just our cast, but our audiences too. Your choreography brought joy, attitude and excitement to every performance, and we reckon quite a few people left the theatre wanting to get up and dance!

Graeme Perkins – Musical Director
What can we say... he's just a bloody legend. Your talent, patience and musicianship transformed an already brilliant score into something truly unforgettable. The live band and vocals were a highlight of every performance, and that's a credit to your dedication.

To Lisa, Nina and Graeme: thank you for believing in the show, believing in our cast, and helping create something that Wānaka won't forget in a hurry.

You absolutely nailed it.

20/07/2026

And just like that... it's over.

The lights no longer shine bright, the costumes have been packed away, the stage makeup has been washed off, and the theatre has fallen quiet.

No more rehearsals.
No more sound checks.
No more quick costume changes.
No more "Places, everyone!"
No more waiting in the wings for your cue.

Instead, we all return to our "normal" lives.

Back to work.
Back to family routines.

But somehow... we're not quite the same.

Song lyrics still pop into our heads at the most random moments. Dance moves happen absent-mindedly while making a cup of tea. We catch ourselves humming a tune from the show, smiling at an inside joke, and missing the people we've spent the last few months with.

That's the magic of theatre.

For a little while, a group of randoms become a family. Together we create something that only exists for a fleeting moment in time. Then, almost as quickly as it began, it's over.

Or is it?

Because the friendships remain. The memories last forever. And somewhere in the back of our minds, we're already wondering...

What's the next show?

Thank you to everyone who joined us on this incredible journey. Until next time...