A One Night Stand: An evening of stand-up comedy featuring comics from the Manawatu Comedy Hub. Evolution Theatre Company, May 18, 7.30pm. Tickets $25 on the door or from ETC’s website.
Coming upThe Chardonnay Affair: Come aboard the historic steam train Wa165 from the inner harbour to Muriwai, with acoustic guitar and songs by Ariana Henare. Get on board at 1 Kaiti Beach Road, May 23, (2-5pm), $136.75, R18. Tickets at www.eventfinda.co.nz
Chardonnay under the Big Top: An array of food will be served to match your desired chardonnay, as you enjoy the cool sounds of Ben Wilkinson and Spaghetti Toast. Dress: After-five. Matawhero Wines, May 23 (7-10pm), $136.75, R18. Tickets at www.eventfinda.co.nz
Supafly Killas + Kings of Kaiau: Come along, have a tipple and listen to the beats. Smash Palace, May 25, (9pm), $10 door sales, R18.
Whitechapel Jak: Recent winners of RNZ Battle of the Covers band bring their rocking original flavours to town. Smash Palace, May 31, (8pm), $20 door sales, R18.
TheatreTutus on Tour: Presented by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. War Memorial Theatre, Friday 6.30pm and Saturday 1pm. Tickets from Stephen Jones Photography or www.eventfinda.co.nz
Black Grace: War Memorial Theatre, May 16, (7.30pm). Tickets $20, door sales only.
Katie Boyle performs The Merry Wives of Windsor: Evolution Theatre Company, 75 Disraeli Street, May 17, (7.30pm). Tickets $20 presale at www.eventfinda.co.nz. Door sales, $25, cash only.
Fearless Fridays Improv Comedy Club: For ages 15 and over. A fun and fearless foray into improv comedy. Evolution Theatre Company, 75 Disraeli Street, May 31, (6.30pm), $5 cash-only door sales.
Visual ArtsExhibitions
Tairawhiti Museum: Fruits of a Splendid Isolation, a retrospective of works by John Walsh, Richard Rogers, Daryl File and Kent Baddeley (finishes May 12). OHO: Is the Awakening of Creative Energy — recent works by Fiona Collis, Melanie Tahata and Izzy Te Rauna. Hei Ora exhibition, recent works by Henare Brooking. About Time, paintings by David Andrew, Flat-Pack Whakapapa, artist, weaver and academic Dr Maureen Lander has created three installations that explore the connections between whakapapa and raranga (Maori weaving), opens on May 18.
Paul Nache Gallery: Works by Evan Woodruffe.
Muirs Bookshop Cafe: Works by Annabel Dowding.
At the flicksDome cinema
Woman at War: When Halla’s application to adopt an orphan is approved, she must reconcile her activism with the adoption.
Vai: The story of a woman’s life is told from the perspective of Pacific Island cultures.
The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps: The eccentric Martin Phillipps and his band are examined in this documentary, which travels with Phillips as he faces mortality and looks back on music that was part of the 1980s Kiwi landscape.
Mountainfilm on Tour: Telluride Mountainfilm is an organisation with a festival of films, stories and ideas celebrating indomitable spirit, inspiring people to find ways to make the world more habitable.
The Heart Dances: New Zealand movie The Piano is re-imagined by Czech choreographer Jiri Bubenicek and his twin brother and designer, Otto, and expanded for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. This film gives a behind-the-scenes view.
ODEON MULTIPLEX
Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen: A portrayal of pioneering filmmaker Merata Mita (Patu!, Mauri) told through her children. Her youngest, Hepi Mita, discovers the filmmaker he never knew and shares the mum he lost.
Brown Boys: Pete’s mates tell him to go from one girl a week to one girl, period. Film writer/director Hans Masoe plays Pete in an Auckland-based Pacific Island/Kiwi tale.
All is True: The Globe Theatre burns down and Shakespeare returns to Stratford, where he must face a troubled past and a neglected family. Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen star.
Poms: Martha (Diane Keaton) moves into a retirement community and starts a cheerleading squad. Jacki Weaver, Pam Grier and Rhea Perlman also star.
The Hustle: Con artists played by Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway have contrasting methods but come together to swindle a naive tech billionaire (Alex Sharp).
Long Shot: Journalist Fred Flarsky meets politician Charlotte Field and realises she is his former babysitter and childhood crush.
Breaking Habits: Christine Meeusen’s husband was a polygamist who stole all her money. In California, Meeusen started a company selling a medicinal salve containing cannabidiol. She began wearing a nun’s habit and calling herself Sister Kate. But not everyone in the community is a fan.
Red Joan: Judi Dench plays a woman arrested on suspicion of spying for the Soviet Union.
The Aftermath: In 1946, an English woman and her husband, a colonel in the British forces charged with rebuilding Hamburg, share a home with its German owner and his troubled daughter. It’s a recipe for heartbreak.
The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps: See synopsis above in the Dome listings.
Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun: Peppa and George dance in the mud at a children’s festival, and take a trip to the cinema to see Super Potato’s big movie.
Avengers: Endgame: The remaining Avengers must bring back their vanquished allies for a showdown with Thanos.
