Tahi festival 2026
Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to TAHI 2026!
This September, TAHI returns to Pōneke for two weeks of unforgettable solo performance. Join us as artists from Aotearoa and beyond share stories that will make you laugh, cry, reflect, connect and see the world a little differently.
From established artists to exciting new voices, this year's programme celebrates the remarkable range of solo theatre. Across the festival you'll discover intimate adventures, laugh-out-loud comedies, poetry, puppetry, music, and stories that explore identity, belonging, family, resilience and the magically messy experience of being human.
Whether you're a long-time supporter or discovering TAHI for the first time, we hope you'll find a show that surprises you, sparks conversation and stays with you long after you've left the theatre.
Thank you to our artists, audiences, partners and supporters for helping TAHI continue to grow as Aotearoa NZ's festival of solo performance.
Black Pill
9 - 12 September
Written by Rachel McLean and performed by Zachary Klein.
In the deepest reaches of the online manosphere, incels (involuntary celibates) preach their dogmatic ideology, express profound hatred for women, and share their own pervasive loneliness. Darkly funny and occasionally disturbing, blackpill interrogates an ideology that offers both belonging and misery.
Dinner’s getting cold
9 - 12 September
Written and performed by Mamaeroa Munn
Dinner's Getting Cold is a psychological thriller with flashes of humour, showcasing a darker side to the work of award-winning comedian and improviser Mamaeroa (Mo) Munn. (Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi)
Flight Club
9 - 12 September
Written and performed by Zody Takurua
After a young man receives concerning news from home, he must return and tell his father the ultimate final story. By utilising the māori pūrākau of Kuaka and Tāne Mahuta, FLIGHT CLUB takes us through the worlds of queer night life, whānau rupture and the reality of queer survival in the modern age.
Flutter
11 - 13 September
Performed by Anna Bailey
Flutter is a magical story of a glow worm who fell from the stars and a bat who is afraid of the dark. Premiering at TAHI 2023, this new 2026 version weaves together live music and puppetry in an adventure about friendship, bravery, and the very real threat of introduced predators in the New Zealand bush.
STILL HERE by Dave & The Daves
9 - 12 September
Written and performed by Dave Houston
Described as "a depression comedy" and "a 60-minute lifeline from the stage," STILL HERE blends character comedy, storytelling and six original live songs across punk, rock, folk, lullaby, hip-hop and psych-folk into a funny and moving exploration of mental health.
Little Landscapes
12 September - FREE
Written and performed by Amy Atkins
With nature at its heart, this gently interactive show uses storytelling and object puppetry to create tiny, quiet and playful natural worlds inspired by Amy's childhood.
Theatre-making workshop
12 September
Presented and facilitated by Dave Houston
Using games, improvisation, movement, personal reflection and Gestalt approaches, participants explore feeling, memory, myth, fairy tale and archetype to generate theatrical material that connects personal experience to universal human themes.
HATCH
16 - 19 September
Presented by TAHI with students from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and Whitireia and WelTec.
HATCH returns to celebrate our next generation of solo theatre-makers.
The Natural History Boy
16 - 19 September
Performed by Matt Powell
Bring your favourite weird and wonderful animal fact and watch it come to life in a one-of-a-kind improvised nature documentary from one of Wellington's foremost improvisers.
Party girl
16 - 19 September
Written and performed by Lucy Heffernan
In this rock 'n' roll monologue, the glittery chaos of a children's birthday party collides with a family in crisis. Funny, raw and moving, Party Girl is a story about love, faith and finding your voice.
The Hunt for the Canterbury Panther
18 - 19 September
Co-written by Anna Barker and Jack Ellison-Jones.
Rumour has it Naomi Coleridge has caught the Canterbury Panther… but is it real?
Heartfelt, cringey, and very silly, this play explores achievement, family expectations, and self-realisation, with a strong connection to our natural environment.
Theatre-making Workshops
19 September
Presented and facilitated by Lucy Heffernan
Ever wanted to write a song but didn’t know where to start? From finding inspiration to playing with genre and form, this workshop will give you the tools to write your own lyrics and find your (or your character’s) voice.
