Upbeat

Jubilation is defined as a feeling of great happiness and triumph. And singing is known to be good for the soul. So when a group of extraordinary people get together to sing uplifting music it’s only… Read more Audio

Don’t fall in love – that’s the warning the Modern Maori Quartet sings, but it may be too late for the legions of fans that’ll be flocking to their Summer Pops tour with the New Zealand Symphony… Read more Audio

Miss Jean Batten is a solo show about New Zealand’s legendary Aviatrix. It’s produced by Flaxworks Theatre Company, written by Phil Ormsby and performed by Alex Ellis. Jean Batten’s 1936 flight from… Read more Audio

For 72 years the Wellington Film Society has brought alive the magic of film for legions of fans. But with the introduction of streaming services like Netflix, are societies like this still needed… Read more Audio

Theatre, music, visual arts and film are at the core of the Putahi Festival which encourages emerging Maori and Pacific artists to explore indigenous stories. The Wellington festival opens on… Read more Audio

Getting young people excited about Shakespeare is one of the main goals of the Auckland Shakespeare Company, who opened their production of The Merry Wives of Windsor on Saturday. Read more Audio

The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2017 season began last week with its first production of the work of Ronald Petit. The double bill Carmen and L'Arlésienne has been recreated for the New Zealand company… Read more Audio

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Maori show band Modern Māori Quartet are teaming up for a Summer Pops tour of twelve centres. The orchestra and the band will perform new arrangements in English… Read more Audio

How do you tell a story that’s based in the dark through light? That’s exactly what lighting expert Duncan Milne has been tasked to do for acclaimed New Zealand playwright Stephen Sinclair’s new piece… Read more Audio

New Zealand Opera’s The Mikado has stirred up debate about cultural appropriation since it opened this week in Auckland. For reviewer Frances Moore,the production was a game of two halves - and not… Read more Audio

Wellington based Singer Lisa Tomlins and her band The Presidents of Funk are planning to recreate funk grooves from James Brown’s extensive back catalogue at next week’s Coastella Festival.  Lisa and… Read more Audio

Students at the Adam Summer School have been soaking up the knowledge of some of the best musicians in the country, including the New Zealand String Quartet’s Monique Lapins. She’s been mentoring some… Read more Audio