Every Kind of Weather: 20 Nov - 13 Dec at Circa Theatre
A theatrical double-shot from an iconic playwright and one of our greatest actors.
Bruce Mason is perhaps the most significant playwright in Aotearoa New Zealand’s theatrical history. Writing with courage and insight, he was a lover of language and a champion of the underdog.
Between 1959 and 1978, Bruce toured the country, telling uniquely Kiwi stories about emerging identity, cultural cringe and social difference. From church halls to country shearing sheds to the Edinburgh Festival, Bruce would play anywhere, in any circumstance, to any audience.
To celebrate his extraordinary legacy, Brilliant Adventures and Circa Theatre are collaborating to make two of his greatest solo works resound for a new age.
Two plays: timeless, universal, distinct. Following their critically acclaimed, sold out run of THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE, actor Stephen Lovatt and director Shane Bosher return to Circa for a not-to-be missed theatrical encounter with a master craftsman.
THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER
“I invite you to join me, in a voyage into the past, to that territory of the heart we call childhood.”
Bruce Mason’s quintessential Kiwi classic chronicles the friendship between a 12-year-old boy and Firpo, a social outcast who dreams of winning an Olympic medal.
Through the boy’s eyes we see the wonder of life on a perfect beach, in a perfect 1930s New Zealand, during a perfect summer. It’s a world of magic and transformation, where anything can happen and miracles seem possible.
When the boy sets out to help Firpo make his athletic dream a reality, ignoring his father’s rebukes and community ridicule, a battle rages between the eternal optimism of childhood and the harsh pragmatism of adulthood.
Gliding effortlessly between flights of poetic fancy and blunt everyday speech, THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER is New Zealand storytelling at its very best.
NOT CHRISTMAS, BUT GUY FAWKES
An adolescent boy tries to find his place in an adult-dominated world. A young man retraces an intensely felt boyhood experience of bullying. A playwright in his last days reconciles the value of an artistic life and challenges the idea of New Zealand identity.
Comic disasters and confronting your own hubris. NOT CHRISTMAS, BUT GUY FAWKES is a richly autobiographical search for self-expression. Profound and true, it is a set of variations about over-reaching, cheekily confronting our very own Tall Poppy Syndrome.
Celebrating Bruce Mason
Directed by Shane Bosher
Performed by Stephen Lovatt
Thursday 20 November to Saturday 13 December
Preview Night: Wed 19 Nov – The End of the Golden Weather
Preview Night: Fri 21 Nov – Not Christmas, But Guy Fawkes
Sunday Special: Sunday 23 November – The End of the Golden Weather
Q&A: Tuesday 25 November
Choose Your Price Night: Wed 26 November – Not Christmas, But Guy Fawkes
Circa Two
Tues – Fri 7.30pm, Sat 4.30pm & 7.30pm, Sun 4.30pm
$30 – $60 Early Bird Tickets Available
Productions play on alternate nights with an opportunity to see both productions in conversation with each other on Saturdays.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Sonic Delusion at Hilltop 6/12/25
It's on tomorrow - 6/12! Too funky for folk and too folky for funk — that’s Sonic Delusion’s happy, funky, and groovy indie pop. Saturday 7.30pm. Celebrating the release of André Manella’s new single “Smoooth”, the vibrant Swiss-Kiwi performer is armed with his trusty loop pedal and an array of instruments. Sonic Delusion layers beats, baselines, and melodies into a boogielicious live performance “bursting with more funk than folk can handle.” With over 1500 shows played across Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany, André has built a reputation for turning every gig into a feel-good party — “funny, fresh and funky… a welcome breath of entertainment, joy, fun and smiles” Graham Reid – Elsewhere. From Taranaki to the lower North Island, the “Smoooth” release tour promises catchy hooks, infectious grooves, and the perfect excuse to shake your worries away. “catchy melodic hooks that make you want to get up and dance” Amy Maynard – NZ Musician Magazine
Come along for the lovely vibe at Hilltop. Details and street number given with booking confirmation email. www.hilltophouseconcerts.co.nz..................
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