The Liberal Agenda – Basement Theatre

At this very special fundraiser, not only will you see “the film about Basement” at Basement… it’s gonna be in 4D!!! This immersive cinematic experience will feature special guests and interactive moments that will transport you to the “fictional” world of “The Crystal Ballroom”.

Workmates is a love-letter to the Tāmaki theatre community and to Basement Theatre by writer and actor Sophie Henderson and producer Sam Snedden. Much of the film is based on Sophie’s own experiences of running Basement, her friendship with her workmate Sam, and the “desperate things” they did to keep the space open.

Lucy and Tom are best mates running a tiny, broke theatre. When an accident forces them to shut down and Tom threatens to leave, Lucy realises she would do anything to save the theatre and keep her friend… who she might be in love with.

Come celebrate Basement and reminisce on the crazy things that may or may not have happened to keep it open.

Across the night, catch live performances from Lijah Mavaega and Chance of Sun, DJ sets from Adoration and basmami, plus lush AV from Studio Auspicious lighting up the room. Sink into happy hour, jump on the mic for karaoke glory and keep your eyes peeled for more announcements coming soon.

Grab your mates and get a little silly with us.

The dreamy duo of Merlia de Ridder and Austyn Mills blend classical roots with moody modern pop, weaving rich, folk-inspired textures into their sound. In this performance, Merlia & Austyn will put their unique spin on favourite Christmas classics, share original works, and revisit songs that have shaped their musical journeys.

With a background in acting and musical theatre, Merlia brings each song to life through storytelling and a touch of dramatic flair. Austyn, a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, draws on years of songwriting experience with his Whangārei-based band, Otium.

Together, they’re currently working toward writing and recording their debut album — a new chapter in their creative partnership.

This time, forget the hassle of registering teams — just show up, take a seat, and throw yourself into a gloriously silly showdown of music, mischief, and LIVE PERFORMANCE. Backed by a full band, get ready for Nomi to belt out everything from disco anthems to rock classics, Broadway tunes to Kiwi crowd-pleasers, while the room battles it out for glory, glittering rewards… and the chance to snag cheeky spot prizes along the way.

It’s a brand-new format, and your chance to help shape the future of the quiz. Who knows what will work, what will flop, and what will descend into beautiful chaos? Only one way to find out…

Let’s get quizzical!

We’re putting a festive twist on our improv for the silly season. Grab your gladrags and gather your mates for two nights of never-before-seen, totally made-up, improvised comedy.

It’s your last chance to see this herd of Tāmaki Makaurau’s best and brightest performers before the year is out. Bull Rush is always a bucking good time.

The world’s heating up, going wild, and Hoani Hotene is trying to get through it all with what…? Jokes Yep.

Hoani brings his personal style of comedy in a show about finding your place and getting by in a crazy world. See one of Aotearoa’s best up-and-coming comedians talk about ‘What Now?’ at his kura kaupapa, trying to grow up at 30, and honestly a bunch of other good stuff.

This silly season Live Reel is here to spread their own brand of chaotic Christmas cheer as a line-up of some of Auckland’s best comedians perform three of your favourite holiday films live from memory!

Thursday 4th – HouseSwap Holiday (The Holiday) – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11th – Culkin Takes Manhattan (Home Alone 2) – SELLING FAST
Saturday 13th – McClane on a Plane (Die Hard 2)

And best of all, like a rigged secret santa, the power is in your hands! Follow @livereelnz on instagram where you can nominate and vote for your favourite Christmas movies – ultimately deciding which of the classics we’ll bring to the stage.

Three nights! Three different Chrissy classics! Three nights of guaranteed laughs.

Hosted by Nicky Vella.
Starring a line-up of special guests to be announced.

Choose Your Own (Boxing Day) Adventure! is an interactive improv show from Improverished, the beloved theatre company behind such shows as It’s Alive! and Can I Get an Underground Location and a Mythical Creature?

It’s time to build a new holiday story, and what better way to do it than together.

Come for the holiday vibes, stay for the chaos as 3 of Tāmaki’s most delightful improvisors bring this new story of Boxing Day to life.

Featuring Jess Karamjeet with a fun festive jingle that’s ready to be your earworm for the silly season…

Also joining XMAS ACT is Anjula Prakash, RAW comedy favourite and graduate of PACSA, back from Japan and ready to shake things up.

Henry Cheung is gearing up for comedy festival seasons in 2026, and he’s sharpening his best material just for you.

Vasu Premkumar delighted audiences at ACT in 2024, and this year will be no different.

And last but not least, firm favourite Annie Xuo is back after her side-splitting MC spot in July!

Tickets are Choose What You Pay from $8 – The Ruckus is for all! All profits go back into making each Ruckus bigger than the last, so if you can afford a bit more on your ticket, it goes a long way.

So invite your adventuring party, buy some ticks, and we’ll see you down at The Ruckus!

For starters, you’ll be served up a piping hot tasting tray of Improv Soup! Let the Head Chef tantalise your comedic tastebuds as they lead a team of budding Sous Chefs to compete head-to-head in improvised scenes, competing for -you guessed it- SOUP. Only one improvisor is the winner, but everyone takes home soup.

For mains, it’s a smorgasbord of queer chaos with the variety show Can’t Think Straight! Comedians, Muso’s, Drag Artists and Theatre-Makers take the stage however they want and serve you piping hot talent in this unashamedly queer, experimental Variety show.

And you best believe you’ll be ordering dessert because everyone’s fave Comedy lineup show, Femmes & Thems, is here to leave you with something sweet from some of Aotearoa’s Women & Gender-nonconforming Comedians!

Whether you join us for one course or for all three, we can’t wait to have you join us for the Comedy Culture Holiday Feast.

(p.s. in case our writing was too evocative, this is just to make it VERY clear the feast is ART and COMEDY and unless you win SOUP during Improv Soup there isn’t a food-based feast happening at these shows)

Tuesday – Improv Soup (improv)
Wednesday – Can’t Think Straight (variety show)
Thursday – Femmes and Thems (comedy)

There will be food, games, presents and stories. This isn’t your standard line up show, this is a holiday hug, as our friends new and old share what Christmas means to them.

Join us for an evening of feasting, frivolity, and Christmas comedy.

Hosted by Bailey Poching
With Special Guests (to be announced)
Presented by The Push

Line Up: Ethan Christensen, Hebe Kearney, Laura Vincent, Marcus Mackenzie, Zephyr Zhang and Janaye Henry is MC

The Rawdog Gaysian Playwright Challenge: Holey Gay Periodt!

This year, we dare four queer Asian writers to create the play they’d least want to write; in just three days. Each writer delivers a short duologue or monologue themed around the silly season, sealed in an envelope until showtime.

On the night, actors are cast from the audience for chaotic cold readings of each brand-new piece.

The result is the worst delivery of the queer agenda you’ve ever experienced. An experiment in queer joy, failure and some kind of silly spirit that embraces the hideousness of the season.

Join your host James Mustapic alongside some of the best and brightest LGBTQ+ comedians our country has to offer, as they rejoice in the year that’s been, with some holiday cheer and cheeky tales that are sure to leave you feeling merry and bright. Let’s get this Christmas roast cooking!

Lineup: James Mustapic, Brynley Stent, Liv Ward and Emerson Betteridge