Business Gold
Fenton Street Arts Collective & Distillery
Lysaght Watt Trust
TimberCo
Business
Business
Family
FESTIVAL TEAM
Chief
Suzanne
Family Bronze
Frances & Peter Boyce
Carol & Mike Boyle
Ralph & Wendy Broad
Lynn & Robin Bublitz
Sangeeta & Arun Chaudhari
Paul Franklin & Kaye McKenzie
Tetsu Garnett & Glen West
Brooke & Judith Jolly
Johnson-Davies Family
Sophie Kelly & Jordan Moller
Clare McComb & Hayden Wano
Kevin & Judith Mullin Family
Heather O’Sullivan
Mike & Berni Radich
Noel & Marilyn Stachurski
David & Cheryl Talbot
Rocky Point Trust
Suzanne Porter
The Miners Family
Jonathan & Maura Young
Festival
Business
Marketing Manager
Creative
Technical
Caitlin
Trustees
Glenn Brebner (Chair), Daimon Stewart, Hayden Wano, Katie Wolfe, Marie Pearce, Eleanor Connole
WELCOME
Welcome to the Right Royal Cabaret Festival! We invite you to leave behind your winter woes and enter the razzle-dazzle of the cabaret!
The Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) is thrilled to present the fifth season of the Right Royal Cabaret Festival, lighting up Taranaki with four nights of world-class, thoughtprovoking, and tantalising performances.
Right Royal Cabaret Festival is a celebration of cabaret in all its boldness, brilliance, and thrilling unpredictability. From hilarious comedy and seductive burlesque to powerful theatre and spellbinding music, this year’s lineup promises something to enchant and excite every festival-goer.
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our festival partners, patrons, sponsors, and audiences. For over 30 years, TAFT has been proudly bringing extraordinary performances to the region, and it is your passion and support that allow the arts to not only survive but thrive in Taranaki.
Now it is time to turn up the heat, shake off those winter blues, and get ready to revel in a cabaret festival like no other. The stage is set, so let the magic begin!
Glenn Brebner
TAFT Board of Trustees Chair
Suzanne Porter TAFT Chief Executive
Josie Hunter-Annand Festival Director
PROUDLY SPONSORING BE LIKE BILLY?
HOW TO BOOK
Our official ticketing agent for Right Royal Cabaret Festival 2025 is Eventfinda.
Ticket Types
TSB Theatre
A, B & C Reserve Tiered Theatre Seating
Theatre Royal
Premium Cabaret Table Seating
Up to a maximum of 8 people
A Reserve Tiered Theatre Seating
General Admission
When a ticket is labelled as “General Admission” (GA), specific seats are not pre-assigned. Tickets are issued based on the venue’s capacity, allowing patrons to choose their own seats upon entry. Seating operates on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so we recommend arriving early to secure preferred seats.
Online Bookings
Visit www.rightroyal.co.nz for online bookings.
Phone Bookings
Eventfinda Call Centre
0800 BUY TIX (289 849)
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am5:30pm, Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays Closed.
Phone Transaction fees may apply.
Box Office
Eventfinda box office agencies offer the added convenience of being able to select your seat, collect your tickets immediately and pay with cash or EFTPOS.
Please note: Agency sales incur an additional Agency Booking Fee per ticket. This fee is added to the ticket purchase and retained by the agency.
TSB Showplace
92-100 Devon Street West, New Plymouth Ph 06 759 0021
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
New Plymouth i-Site
Located inside Puke Ariki (North Wing), 65 St Aubyn St. Open Hours: Monday –Sunday 10am – 5pm.
Stratford i-Site
Prospero PLACE, Stratford. Open Hours: Monday – Friday 8.30am , Saturday, 9am – 1pm.
South Taranaki i-Site
55 High St, Hawera. Open Hours Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm, Saturday, Sunday 7 public Holidays 10am – 3pm.
For a list of physical agencies outside of Taranaki, please visit https://www. eventfinda.co.nz/about/ticket-outlets
Conditions
Information in this program is correct at the time of printing.
The Taranaki Arts Festival Trust reserves the right to alter without notice any advertised schedule of artists, events or programmes. For full terms and conditions please visit www.rightroyal.co.nz
Get a taste of Taranaki and discover decadent restaurants, vibrant cafes, cosy wine bars, and award-winning distilleries. Come for the festival and stay to savour the fresh flavours our region has to offer.
Get a taste of Taranaki by discovering decadent restaurants, fireside feasts, and award-winning distilleries. With something for everyone, you’ll be sure to savour the rich flavours our region has to offer.
Find everything there is to see, do, eat and experience in Taranaki at Taranaki.co.nz/visit
Find the best places to eat and drink in Taranaki at taranaki.co.nz/visit
Fenton St Distillery
Rooftop Bar and Eatery
Social Kitchen
Ngāti Ruanui Stratford Mountain House
Juno Gin Social Kitchen
Black Sand Pizzeria and Bistro
BE LIKE BILLY?
COMEDY/THEATRE/CABARET
Cheeky, cheerful, charming, amusing, musical – and moving Theatreview Lindsay Clark
Date Thurs, 12 June
Location
TSB Theatre, TSB Showplace
Billy T is a legendary New Zealand comedian and cultural icon.
Join the award-winning entertainer, Rutene Spooner as he shares his personal relationship with his childhood hero, Billy T. Infused with music and humour, Be Like Billy? speaks to our national identity, touching on what being Māori, being a performer and being a Kiwi meant in the 80s, and what it means now.
Featuring the flashest southern showband The Tekīra Mutton Birds, Be Like Billy? strums up all new and original waiata, garage party classics and old-school hits from the likes of Uncle Howie, The Prince of Jandels and Te legend, Te master, Te chuckling funny-fala.
Be Like Billy? is everything but an impersonation show. Can you Be Like Billy without being the butt of the joke?
CLUB BURLESQUE
CABARET
Step inside Aotearoa’s most champagne-soaked spectacle and let us whisk you away in a whirlwind of glamour, feathers, magic, and seduction.
Club Burlesque is for all you lovers, freedom fighters, late-nighters, and date-nighters who crave a hilarious, glamorous, and glorious celebration of sensuality.
A flirtatious fusion of dance, comedy, acrobatics, burlesque, and vintage tease, Club Burlesque brings together Aotearoa’s sparkliest burlesque and cabaret stars. This dazzlingly choreographed show will have you laughing, gasping, and screaming in delight. It’s a shimmering, sexy, and spectacular exploration of dreams and desire.
The night doesn’t end when the show does! Stick around to meet the performers and enjoy the Late Night Piano Bar.
Suitable for 18+ audiences. Contains semi nudity, and racy humour.
Date Sat, 14 June
Location
Sponsored By
PRINNIE STEVENS LADY SINGS THE BLUES
CABARET/MUSIC
Sultry, smoky and sentimental, Lady Sings the Blues is a chill-inducing masterclass in modern cabaret.
The Advertiser
Lady Sings the Blues is a heartfelt tribute to the powerhouse women who have shaped music history.
From Aretha Franklin to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday to Whitney Houston, these voices told stories of love, loss, and resilience. And in the hands of Australia’s power ballad princess, Prinnie Stevens (The Voice, The Bodyguard, Thriller Live), their songs take on new life.
With stirring renditions of At Last, Un-break My Heart, Listen, Strange Fruit, and more, this captivating show is a journey through struggle, strength, and timeless melodies. Settle in for an unforgettable night celebrating the voices that still move us today.
Date Sat, 14 June
Location Theatre Royal TSB Showplace
TARANAKI COMEDY GALA
Brace yourself for a night of side-splitting comedy as the Taranaki Comedy Gala brings together some of Aotearoa’s funniest minds for one unmissable show! Hosted by NZ comedy favourite Jeremy Corbett, this lineup is stacked with top talent, from household names to rising stars, including:
Josh Thomson
Lana Walters
Kura Turuwhenua
Wilson Dixon
Laser Kiwi
Brendon Green
Kajun Brooking
Callum Wagstaff
Get ready for big laughs, quick wit, and the kind of comedy chaos that’ll leave your cheeks aching!
Contains coarse language. Recommended for ages 16+
Date Fri, 13 June
Location
TSB Theatre
TSB Showplace
Sponsored By
Right Royal Cabaret Festival 2025
Flamboyant, lush and absolutely rooted in truth, heart and love Theatreview - Jo Hodgson
THE TIWHAS
A MATARIKI SPECTACULAR
CABARET
Laughter, music, and a touch of star powerAotearoa’s favourite drag girl group returns to Taranaki with, A Matariki Spectacular! This electrifying cabaret show is full of laughs, waiata, show-stopping choreography, and everything you need to know about Matariki, and her constellation!
Date Fri, 13 June
Join Dame Jthan, Pania, Slay West, and Tina Coco Couture as they dazzle you with their brand-new cabaret setlist of galactic hits! From old-school classics to pop bangers that span decades, this is a celestial celebration you won’t want to miss!
REGIONAL PERFORMANCE
Date Sat, 14 June
Location Ōwae Marae
Time Mihi Whakatau 6pm
Show 6.30pm (all guests must attend mihi whakatau before show)
WHAT THE QUIZ IS THIS?!
CABARET/GAMESHOW
Forget everything you know about pub quizzes—this is a game night like no other! Hosted by the dazzling Nomi Cohen, a powerhouse performer with a knack for mischief, this interactive music quiz will have you singing, laughing, and possibly yelling at your teammates. Instead of questions, Cohen belts out themed medleys, and it’s up to you to name the songs and artists.
Backed by the wildly talented Cameron McHugh on keys and NZ’s next big pop star Jason Parker, this fast-paced, tune-packed showdown is the ultimate test of your musical knowledge. Expect fierce competition, wild nostalgia, and plenty of questionable dance moves!
Date Sun, 15 June
Location Theatre Royal TSB Showplace Time 4pm Duration 90 minutes (no interval)
Sponsored By
THE MADELEINES LIGHTS, CAMERA, GLAMOUR!
Step into a world of vintage glamour with The Madeleines, a sensational vocal trio bringing jazz, swing, and Old Hollywood sparkle to life with their show Lights, Camera, Glamour! Featuring Hannah Heke-Kee, Shannon Evison, and Jess Rogers, this dazzling act delivers timeless tunes with effortless charm, and a touch of cabaret magic.
Dripping in elegance and nostalgia, these leading ladies pay tribute to icons like Marilyn Monroe, Peggy Lee, and Frank Sinatra, whisking you away to an era of style and sophistication. With soaring vocals, polished choreography, and a setlist packed with golden-age hits, this show is pure vintage delight.
Literally sounds like you’re listening to a record, they are fantastic
Audience Member
Date Sun, 15 June
Location
Theatre Royal TSB Showplace
Sponsored By
IN VOGUE: SONGS BY MADONNA
CABARET/MUSIC
Who needs a cone bra when you’ve got charisma?
In In Vogue: Songs by Madonna, cabaret maestro Michael Griffiths strips back the Queen of Pop’s biggest hits — no dancers, no auto-tune, just a piano, a spotlight, and pure charm.
Told from Madonna’s perspective, Griffiths reimagines favourites like Like a Prayer, Material Girl, and Vogue through intimate, diary-style confessions. He’s cheeky, candid, and effortlessly engaging — whether nailing a note or playfully missing a lyric. Packed with camp wit and quick-fire humour, this is Madonna as you’ve never heard her before: raw, real, and irresistibly fun.
Griffiths is a rare and wonderful performer. He creates a sense of togetherness in the room, reminding audiences that pop songs aren’t popular because they’re ordinary or vacuous, but because of the joy and connectedness that they inspire in the people who hear them.
- ArtsHub
Date Thurs, 12 June
Location Theatre Royal TSB Showplace
Time 6pm
Duration 60 minutes* (no interval)
MADONNA
LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
LATE NIGHT PIANO BAR
WITH CAMERON MCHUGH
Step into a lively, late-night piano bar where anything goes!
Belt out your favourite ‘80s ballads, pop anthems, or that one guilty pleasure you just can’t resist.
The brilliant Cameron McHugh will be at the keys, setting the scene for spontaneous singalongs and unexpected musical moments. Sip on a cocktail, warm up those vocal cords, and let loose, or simply soak it all in from the shadows. And keep an eye out… you never know which cabaret star might make a surprise appearance! Sing, Sip and be surprised – this is late night fun at its finest!
Date
Fri, 13 June, 7.45pm Sat, 14 June, 9.30pm
Location
Lounge
INTRODUCING
We’re pretty flexible... with creative stu ...
SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
Schools to Festival Programme
With the support of Toi Foundation, NPDC, Tranzit Coachlines, Methanex and CNZ, Right Royal Cabaret Festival proudly presents a programme tailored for students throughout Taranaki. These performances aim to inspire, entertain as well as educate, igniting a passion for the arts in young minds.
This year, tamariki aged 3-5 get the opportunity to experience Rutene Spooner’s Pīpī Paopao, singing the stories and birdsong of our manu rangatira (noble birdlife) through waiata and play.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Schools Programme, please contact the festival on events@taft.co.nz or (06) 759 8412.
Enrich your Social Feeds
@tafnz
@TaranakiArtsFestival
Thursday 12 June
In Vogue : Songs by Madonna
FESTIVAL PLANNER
Friday 13 June
The Tiwhas - A Matariki Spectacular
6.30pm
Saturday 14 June
Regional Performance Waitara
Sunday 15 June The Madeleines 2pm
14 & 15 August
