What’s On in Christchurch

Tue 1 Sep · The Piano

Multi-instrumentalist Riki Gooch and author Tina Makereti present a new Chamber Music New Zealand commission weaving kupu, taonga puoro and orchestral strings.

Wed 2 Sep · The Piano

Young Christchurch poets take the stage for a live spoken-word slam during the WORD Christchurch Festival.

Thu 3 Sep · The Piano

British writer Olivia Laing appears at the WORD Christchurch Festival to talk about art and desire in Italy.

Fri 4 Sep · The Piano

The Booker Prize-winning Sri Lankan novelist appears in conversation as part of the WORD Christchurch Festival.

Fri 4 Sep · NASDA Theatre

The National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art stages the Broadway musical comedy Something Rotten!

Sat 5 Sep · The Piano

Shihad frontman Jon Toogood discusses his memoir Home Again with Shehan Karunatilaka, with a few songs played along the way.

Sun 6 Sep · The Piano

New Zealand songwriter Dave Dobbyn takes the stage for a WORD Christchurch Festival session at The Piano.

Thu 3 Sep · The Great Hall, Arts Centre

The Honey Coolers headline the Arts Centre Jazz Club season in the Great Hall.

Fri 4 Sep · James Hay Theatre

A rotating supergroup of New Zealand rock musicians performs the Talking Heads album Stop Making Sense live and in full.

Fri 4 Sep · Darkroom

The sixth instalment of the Scattered Sound Sessions live music series at Darkroom.

Fri 4 Sep · Galaxy Bar

A late-night hard house and hardcore dance event at Galaxy Bar.

Sat 5 Sep · Space Academy

The Broken Heartbreakers play Space Academy on their album release tour.

Sun 6 Sep · Christchurch Folk Music Club

South River perform an evening set at the Christchurch Folk Music Club.

Mon 31 Aug · Christchurch Art Gallery

Billy Wilder’s 1957 courtroom drama screens in the gallery film programme.

Thu 3 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

The Christchurch season of the Italian Film Festival opens at Lumiere Cinemas and runs through to 27 September.

Thu 3 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

An Italian Film Festival screening of the comedy Follemente at Lumiere Cinemas.

Fri 4 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

A daytime Italian Film Festival screening of Vittoria at Lumiere Cinemas.

Sat 5 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

The Italian Film Festival screens the comedy Pane e Tulipani at Lumiere Cinemas.

Sun 6 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

The Italian Film Festival screens Ennio, a documentary on composer Ennio Morricone.

Mon 31 Aug · Workspace Studios

An eight-week beginner jewellery-making course running on Monday evenings at Workspace Studios.

Mon 31 Aug · Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre

A weekly West African drumming and dance class open to newcomers.

Tue 1 Sep · Aurora Centre for the Performing Arts

A Voices of Hope mental health talk at the Aurora Centre for the Performing Arts.

Tue 1 Sep · Workspace Studios

An eight-week advanced jewellery-making course held on Tuesday evenings.

Thu 3 Sep · MOVE Ōtautahi

A community freestyle dance session open to all levels at MOVE Ōtautahi.

Fri 4 Sep · The Arts Centre

A guided evening of stargazing from the historic observatory at the Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora.

Tue 1 Sep · Dux Central

The weekly Tuesday pub quiz at Dux Central in the central city.

Wed 2 Sep · One Good Horse

A music bingo night at One Good Horse where the numbers are replaced by songs.

Thu 3 Sep · A Rolling Stone

A themed Thursday quiz night at A Rolling Stone.

Thu 3 Sep · Mary Potter Community Centre

A weekly daytime housie session at the Mary Potter Community Centre.

Fri 4 Sep · Embankment Tavern

A weekly open mic night for local musicians at the Embankment Tavern.

Sun 6 Sep · The Publican Prestons

A Sunday afternoon open mic session at The Publican in Prestons.

Mon 31 Aug · The Old Vicarage

A weekly morning business networking meeting for Halswell operators.

Mon 31 Aug · Just Desserts

An afternoon networking meeting for local business owners at Just Desserts.

Tue 1 Sep · The Daily on Suffolk

An early morning business networking meeting at The Daily on Suffolk.

Wed 2 Sep · Merivale

A weekly Wednesday morning networking meeting for Merivale businesses.

Fri 4 Sep · Columbus Coffee

A Friday morning networking meeting for businesses in the Northcote area.

Fri 4 Sep · Beach Cafe & Wine Bar

A Friday morning networking meeting at the Beach Cafe & Wine Bar in New Brighton.

Mon 31 Aug · Good Times Comedy Club

A regular Monday night comedy show at Good Times Comedy Club.

Tue 1 Sep · Good Times Comedy Club

Local comedians test brand new material on a Tuesday night audience.

Thu 3 Sep · Good Times Comedy Club

A competitive improv comedy format staged at Good Times Comedy Club.

Fri 4 Sep · Tūranga TSB Space

Comedian Pax Assadi appears at Tūranga as part of the WORD Christchurch Festival.

Fri 4 Sep · The Court Theatre

The Court Theatre long-running late-night improvised comedy show.

Wed 2 Sep · Two Thumb Brewing, Rolleston

A guided painting session based on Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, held at Two Thumb in Rolleston.

Thu 3 Sep · Little High Eatery

A recurring Thursday evening food event at the Little High Eatery on Manchester Street.

Fri 4 Sep · The Arts Centre

A Friday evening night market of food and craft stalls at the Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora.

Sun 6 Sep · Riccarton Racecourse

Christchurch’s long-running Sunday market, with food, produce and second-hand stalls at the racecourse.

Wed 2 Sep · The Arts Centre

Cubbin Theatre Company presents a gentle theatre experience for babies aged 1 to 3, set around a laundry basket.

Thu 3 Sep · Christchurch Botanic Gardens

An after-dark light and sound trail through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Sun 6 Sep · The Piano

Musician and newspaper columnist Mark Walton hosts an hour of conversation with two guests about growing up in New Zealand.

Tue 1 Sep · Avon Hub Sports Centre

A weekly women’s catchball session at the Avon Hub Sports Centre in Richmond.

Tue 1 Sep · Graham Condon Recreation and Sports Centre

A weekly evening women’s catchball session at Graham Condon in Papanui.

Sun 6 Sep · Canterbury Agricultural Park

A dog-friendly fun run and walk with 2.5km, 5km and 10km options around Canterbury Agricultural Park.

Tue 1 Sep to Sun 6 Sep · Central city venues

The city’s writers and readers festival runs from 1 to 6 September across The Piano, Tūranga, Christchurch Art Gallery and Little Andromeda.

From Thu 3 Sep · Lumiere Cinemas

The Christchurch season of the Italian Film Festival runs at Lumiere Cinemas from 3 to 27 September.

Wed 9 Sep · James Hay Theatre

The American singer-songwriter plays the James Hay Theatre; the show is listed as sold out.

Fri 11 Sep · The Piano

The New Zealand chamber ensemble NZTrio performs at The Piano.

Sat 12 Sep · Douglas Lilburn Auditorium

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra performs Rameau, Poulenc and Beethoven in the Town Hall.

Thu 17 Sep · The Piano

The New Zealand String Quartet is joined by Ariana Tikao for the Christopher’s Classics series.

Sat 19 Sep · Wolfbrook Arena

A one-day food and drink expo at Wolfbrook Arena in Addington.

Sun 20 Sep · Hagley Park North

The New Zealand edition of the Terry Fox Run, a fundraising run and walk in Hagley Park.

Fri 25 Sep · The Piano

A Christchurch Symphony Orchestra chamber programme of Gabrieli, Lilburn and Martinů.

Sat 26 Sep · Cathedral Square

A free outdoor arts and music event staged in Cathedral Square.