Barbarian Productions

28/04/2026

10am today - Quiet Hour for Autism awareness month. A cool initiative from Autism New Zealand!

23/04/2026

Come and see our RUCKUS showings tomorrow night! We promise we've been doing more than jigsaw puzzles 🧩 🧩 🧩

21/04/2026

RUCKUS week started yesterday with a big wet bang! The weather didn't deter our art-making cohort - but we're staying in our living rooms today just to be on the safe side.

13/04/2026

Got an old, cold heart? Bust it open by seeing this genuinely beautiful production this week... seriously, this is what theatre is all about.

It will make your day and fill you with joy for the winter months ahead.

Don't miss it. 😪

Everyone has a secret to reveal… and Detective Raven McAllister is determined to uncover the truth. Set over one unforgettable night at a local karaoke ba

10/04/2026

Such a fulfilling, exciting and fun process to create this version of the show. We all learned heaps.

“We wanted to create an experience d/Deaf and hearing audiences could share."

Barbarian Productions created a fully bilingual NZSL/English version of their show ‘Speed is Emotional’.

d/Deaf actor and interpreter Pollyana Fergusson was on stage, at the heart of the performance, with creator Jo Randerson.

Having NZSL woven into the show added a strong visual layer. It also meant d/Deaf audiences didn’t have to choose between watching the show or looking off to the side for the NZSL interpreter.

Barbarian teamed up with New Zealand’s first professional d/Deaf and hearing theatre company Equal Voices. This helped make sure the story’s themes and humour came through clearly in NZSL.

Accessibility didn’t stop with language. Performances were relaxed, so people could move around if they wanted to. There were pre-show touch tours and workshops for neurodiverse children and adults.

We think the accessibility Barbarian and Equal Voices Art have achieved is fantastic. It shows how working together creates great experiences for everyone.



Photo by Elias Rodriguez.
Image description: Jo Randerson (left) and Pollyanna Fergusson are rehearsing on a stage draped in silver material. Jo is wearing a blue cape over a black top and trousers. They are also wearing a blue hat with 2 bright green balls on top. Jo’s arms are wide and they have a round racket in one hand. On Jo’s right Pollyanna Fergusson is in a black top and black trousers. She is stepping forward and twirling a long yellow ribbon to create a circle.

07/04/2026

Thanks to everyone who applied for RUCKUS next month! We've closed applications now, but watch this space for news about ruckus-y goings on... and if you've applied to participate, expect to hear back from us before the week is over!

30/03/2026

Thanks, Pōneke! We had such an amazing time performing and we're so grateful so many of you came along to see us! Also big thanks to and for including us in their programme! Now time for a cuppa and a lie-down...

20/03/2026

d/Deaf audiences respond to our NZSL integrated performance of⚡Speed is Emotional⚡, featuring Pollyanna Ferguson. Only two more performances of this unique and moving version of the show - tonight and Thursday 26 March - Don't miss out!

Book .co.nz or phone (04)8017992

20/03/2026

We have two more shows of our⚡️fully NZSL integrated version⚡️of SPEED IS EMOTIONAL, featuring the iconic Pollyanna Ferguson.

‼️TONIGHT‼️Sat 21 March, 7pm
Thurs 26 March, 7pm

Don’t sleep on experiencing this incredible collaboration.