Royal New Zealand Ballet presents A Midsummer Night's Dream – Rehearsals and Workshops

Fairies and magic enchant the forest in this dazzling ballet spectacle. Join us for workshops, rehearsals, crafting, face painting, and more! 

When | Āhea

Sat 5 Oct 2024, 10.00am–3.00pm

Where | Ki hea

Soundings Theatre and Icon, Level 2, and Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4

Cost | Te utu

Free event and ticketed workshops, with museum entry

The Royal New Zealand Ballet comes to Te Papa for our annual day of fun for all ages.

You’ll have the chance to peek behind the scenes of our exciting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and enjoy an action-packed day of activities, including ballet workshops.

Bring your friends and whānau and experience story time magic, get colourful with face paint, and crafty with ballet-themed activities.

Company class

10.00am–11.00am, Soundings Theatre, Level 2
Watch RNZB dancers in their daily warm-up, from stretches at the barre to complex jumps, turns, and combinations.

A Midsummer Nights Dream rehearsals

11.15am–12.45pm and 1.00pm-2.30pm, Soundings Theatre, Level 2
Get a taste of the RNZB's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with this rare opportunity to watch the dancers in a working rehearsal with Artistic Staff.

First Steps for under 5s

10.30am–11.00am and 11.30am–12.00pm, Icon, Level 2
Thirty minutes of movement and fun. 
No registration required.

Dance workshops

$5.00 Booking required – Now sold out
Explore characters, steps, and scenes based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, and some simple ballet steps and positions.

  • 10:15–11am: Workshop one for 5–7 year olds: Now sold out

  • 11:30am–12.15pm: Workshop two for 5–7 year olds: Now sold out

  • 1.00–1.45pm: Workshop three for 8-10 year olds: Now sold out

Storytime 

1.00pm–1.20pm, 1.40pm–2.00pm, and 2.20pm–2.40pm, Icon, Level 2
For primary school-age children. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy a re-telling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Explore the art of mime and gesture while hearing this captivating tale. 
No registration required.

Face painting and dress ups

10.00am–2.30pm Icon, Level 2

Crafting and colouring 

10.00am–3.00pm

About A Midsummer Night's Dream

Adapted from William Shakespeare's play, explore a magical forest where fairies play tricks on four young lovers and a group of actors rehearsing a play. With spells and enchantments, they create funny and confusing situations.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream became an overnight sensation with its debut met by full houses and critical acclaim. Tracy Grant Lord’s stunning set and costume designs, with Kendall Smith’s brilliant lighting, bring Shakespeare’s timeless characters and enchanted wood to life in a visually splendid performance that enchants audiences of all ages with glorious choreography, humour and Mendelssohn’s iconic music.

See A Midsummer Night’s Dream  
St James Theatre, Wellington 24–27 October, then touring nationally until 14 Dec

Get 15% off Nationwide tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream before 10 October with promo code: TEPAPA

Fairies and magic enchant the forest in this dazzling ballet spectacle. Join us for workshops, rehearsals, crafting, face painting, and more!