Every show from the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival, all in one place.
Watch brave improvisers spin complete surprise slide decks into “uplifting” motivational speeches*.
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que te reíste con todas tus fuerzas? When was the last time you laughed your head off?
Improvisers from across the festival come together given one simple task…they have 15 minutes to change the world.
An all-female cast of improvisers, along with a director and psychodrama therapist, will transform the theater into a “resonance box”
Grab your hairspray and letterman jacket, it’s time for Class of ’86: The Prom!
Welcome to Open Mic Night, a show inspired by cosy singer-songwriter evenings, but every song is made up on the spot!
The Hygge Show is an improvised comedy show built from your stories and ours, made with that same feeling.
Everyone Be a Tree is a dynamic ensemble piece where every member fills the space with support so our imaginations can soar.
Crack open a cold one and get set for a night of mean kōrero and wild comedy from Kōrero Paki!
Taking classic horror tropes and flipping them on their head for a wild and hilarious romp.
When will they end up? Where are they? What choices will be made? Who lives? Who dies? Who knows?
It’s the late 80s, crime is rampant, and only Detective Reynolds and Sergent Thompson can navigate neon-lit alleys to save the city in a RACE AGAINST TIME.
Who says we have to be nice? Slagbags is nasty woman improv for people who like their comedy filthy, chaotic and a little bit feral.
We celebrate the end of NZIF 2026 with a long-held tradition…NZ vs the World!
A trial with no names. No age, gender, or ethnicity. Can only the facts lead us to justice?
Taking prompts from the audience, Best on Tap will create an intoxicating array of scenes and stories to start your weekend right.
Join us for a night of messy works in progress where Pōneke creatives test their ideas in front of a Friday night crowd!
Who will be victorious? Who will be ridiculous? Who will get five WHOLE points?
"There are no bad choices... Only choices made with bad intentions."
From a gorgeous three level repurposed historic building we nurture creative talent and showcase exciting new NZ performance. Our buzzing year-round programme is an alternative mash-up of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work.
We partner in the development of exciting and bold performance. Through the meeting of digital and live art, bolstering BATS as a hub of creativity and showcasing diverse festival activity we support career sustainability and wellbeing for all.
We aim to make visiting BATS as easy as possible for everyone. If you need support with access, audio, visual needs, or with reserving an easy access seat in the theatre we encourage you to contact us prior to your visit and discuss your individual needs with our friendly Box Office team.
Putting on a show at BATS is a pretty sweet deal. We spend more supporting our shows than we make back with our low venue fees. That’s alright by us though, we exist to support emerging artists and showcase new NZ performance!
Office Hours
Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm
Show Dates
4pm - Late
