The Liberal Agenda – Basement Theatre

Kia ora Basement whanau,Nau mai, haere mai ki te pānui o Basement Theatre – pānuitia mō ngā whakaari hou koutou!

In the Theatre, catch Ilang-Ilang, by Alyssa Medel, to witness a deeply personal and haunting drama as Aya confronts her cousin’s ghost and the impossible question that unravels the resilience of Filipino women across oceans.

In the Studio, catch Ghoul Rush, for an hour of unpredictable improv mastery as your favourite Friday night friends from Bull Rush resurrect their hauntingly hilarious horror show. Also, catch Live Reel: SalemWitches 90’sBitches, as six comedians attempt to recreate the iconic film ‘Hocus Pocus’ live and entirely from memory.

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Mā te wā,
Basement Theatre x

Ilang-Ilang
28 Oct – 1 Nov, 8pm. Theatre.Following the sudden death of her beloved cousin, young Filipino-Kiwi Aya returns to her hometown expecting to find only grief and memories. Instead, she comes face-to-face with her cousin’s ghost, who confronts her with an impossible question: “If my life were yours and yours were mine, would our fates have been different?”Caught between the living and the dead, Aya navigates the contrasting worlds of diaspora and home, wrestling with the haunting realities that shape Filipino women’s lives across oceans.

In this risk-taking intimate drama, playwright and director Alyssa Medel weaves a deeply personal story that honours both the resilience of Filipino women and the seaside community of Ilang – her home village in Davao City.

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Ghoul Rush
28 Oct – 1 Nov, 6.30pm. Studio.GHOUL RUSH lives again!!! Your Friday night friends from Bull Rush have somehow, through demonic ritual and devilish bargains, brought their hauntingly hilarious horror improv show GHOUL RUSH back from the grave!!! With terrifying tales and chaotic cackles, this new and updated show promises to thrill and delight.Dare you entomb yourself in Basement Theatre, for an hour of unpredictable improv mastery? O reckless patron of the arts, be warned that once you enter, there is no turning back! Unless of course there is some kind of emergency, like a fire alarm, or something.

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Live Reel: SalemWitches 90’sBitches
29 Oct, 8.30pm. Studio.Trick or Treat, movie fans! This October, Live Reel is bringing you a historically iconic trio.Midler. Najimy. Jessica Parker.

That’s right, we’re raising the dead as six of Auckland’s funniest people attempt to recreate hot film ‘Hocus Pocus’ live, and entirely from memory.

The trick will be remembering the plot after 300 years. The treat will be watching one of us play a talking cat.

Expect chaos and cackles as the Sanderson Sisters return to Salem via Basement Theatre.

Grab your broomsticks/vacuums and your salt circles, and fly on down to The Basement this Halloween for a spooktacular night of spellbinding nonsense.

Hosted by Nicky Vella.

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The Dry House
4 – 15 November, 7.30pm. Theatre.Two sisters, one last drink. In the Irish border town of Newry, Chrissy promises Claire that after four cans of lager she will go to the dry house to get sober. Does she mean it this time?Profoundly moving and darkly comic… Follow the sisters’ fractured relationship as they navigate addiction and grief.

An emotionally searing new family drama about love, loss and the immense redemptive power of hope.

Hekerua Bay Productions (who brought you WINK in 2024) presents the NZ premiere of the acclaimed show with a stellar local cast.

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Bull Rush
7 November, 10pm. Studio. Choose What You Pay.No Friday night will ever be the same again.With a roster of Tāmaki Makaurau’s best and brightest performers, expect spit-take- worthy gags, epic stories, heartbreaking tales, and live improvised music at Bull Rush.

So gather your mates for a night of never before seen, totally made up, improvised comedy every Rāmere Friday.

Mess with the bull, feel the rush.

Since 2020, Bull Rush have been making it up as they go. With several seasons (Jingle Bull(Rush), Ghoul Rush, 1822) under their belt, these self-professed improv nerds know how to put on a bloody good show.

Winners of Best Improv Group at the 2024 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, among other accolades (not to brag.

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yes and also no, subject to xyz, fine print applies
13-15 November, 6.30pm. Studio.A captivating integration of contemporary dance and theatrical storytelling. Set to the electric melodies and guttural drums of ‘Pink Floyd’ comes an exploration of the human desire to resolve things in absolutes.The search for black and white unravels in grey, ‘lines of categorisation’ bend — giving way to the ‘circular’.

Nuance is infinite.

“Up and down, and in the end, it’s only round and round, and round” — Floyd.

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Don’t Quit Your Day Job
13 November, 8.30pm. Studio.Which comedian can cut a job in the “real-world”?Don’t Quit Your Day Job goes into the spooky this month. Looking at jobs that all relate to Halloween. Mystics, Witches, Fortune readers. Can any of our comics take up any of those tasks in the real world.

There’s plenty of people who will say ‘comedy isn’t a “real job”’ but this is the only show which tests comedians to see if they’re capable of doing anything else. Through a series of quizzes and improv situations all based around one area of work, each comic will be vying to see who can walk away with the Champions title of “Employee of the Month”.

Hoani Hotene hosts, while two teams of comedians know their knowledge and improv skills to show that they’re more than just punchlines and the rule of threes. If you enjoy shows like QI and Thank God You’re Here this is the show for you!

This month we have:
James Mustapic
Joe Daymond
Liv McKenzie
Lesa MacLeod-Whiting

with improvisers:
Anthony Crum
Luci Elisaraa

Book now

Asian Comedy Takeover: November
14 November, 8.30pm. Studio.The Asian Comedy Takeover is back! A line-up comedy night with some of your favourite Pan-Asian comedians in Tāmaki taking the stage at Basement Theatre.- Hosted by Jess Karamjeet, with more acts to be announced!

PACSA (Laughs) aka the Pan-Asian Comedy School Aotearoa, trains Pan-Asian creatives in the art of stand-up comedy. For more information, visit @pacsa_laughs on IG or jess-karamjeet.com

Book now

Support Basement Theatre, supporting artists, supporting a vibrant Tāmaki Makaurau.Basement Theatre is where the ideas, artists and arts leaders of tomorrow are being formed. We are hell-bent on supporting artists to develop their craft and build sustainable careers. We need your help to make this happen and there are a number of easy ways you can support us.

You can choose to make a one-off donation or set up a recurring donation to support our mission for a sustainable sector.