For students & community

Email: schools@aaf.co.nz

Bookings available through this form online.

Afrique En Cirque
The Civic
School matinee: Thursday 14 March, 11am + post show Q&A 12:45pm
Audience Suitability: All ages (ECE, Y1-13) Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Dance, Visual Arts, Music

Inspired by daily life in Guinea, Afrique en Cirque transports the beauty, youth and artistry of Africa to the big stage. It’s an irrepressible, heart-filled spectacle for all ages that’s spread like wildfire – and regularly sold-out – around the world.

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Herald Theatre
School Matinee: Friday 22 March, 11am
Audience Suitability: Primary Intermediate, Secondary (Y3-13)
Curriculum Links: Visual Arts, Drama

Allergy warning: contains goose feathers

In a kitchen, two storytellers discover something remarkable – an old man with wings – and invite us to speculate who he is. A neighbour believes he’s an angel. A priest claims he’s an imposter. Pilgrims flock to see him, hoping to be healed, but leave with something very different from what they expected.

ZOOOM
Q Theatre Rangatira
School Matinee: Friday 8 March, 11am
Audience Suitability: Early childhood – Y4 (0-8yrs)
Curriculum Links: Visual Arts, Drama

Contains haze and lasers

Captivatingly told through original music, lasers and projections, ZOOOM takes youngsters on a journey to help a lost star find its way home.

This charming interactive experience for children and their families begins at home, where you are invited to bring ‘a piece of dark’ along. Upon arrival, your dark is exchanged for your own personal light – a little spark that will keep you safe and guide you through the story. 

The Valentina
Herald Theatre
School Matinee: Friday 8 March, 1pm
Audience Suitability: Primary, Intermediate (Years 1-8)
Curriculum Links: Drama

With the help of her awesome parents, 8-year-old Ellen, paints a spaceship she has drawn at school on her bedroom ceiling. As darkness falls and the moon rises, the ship comes to life. Joining Ellen on board are new friends and trusted crew members Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstong, Laika the space dog, and the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. 

O Le Pepelo, Le Gaoi Ma, Le Pala’ai 
ASB Waterfront Theatre
School Matinee: Thursday 14 March, 11am & Tuesday 19 March, 11am + post show Q&A 12:15pm
Audience Suitability: Secondary (Y11-13) Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Drama, Samoan Language, History

Contains coarse language, smoke effects, loud music and simulated violence

In Sāmoa’s not-so-distant past, Pili Sā Tauilevā is a proud Ali’i (chief) in the village of Moa. He has devoted his life to the sacred fa’a sāmoa tradition of service. When he suddenly falls gravely ill and refuses to name a successor, his daughter and son become rivals for the title.

Boy
Herald Theatre
Tertiary Matinee: Saturday 16 March, 2pm + Q&A 3:15pm
Public shows: Thursday 14 – Sunday 17 March
Audience Suitability: Tertiary, Secondary (Y11-13)
Curriculum Links: Drama

Based on a true story, Boy is the tale of twins who are taken into hospital to be circumcised in the 1960s. The procedure goes wrong for baby Bruce, who loses his penis. After consulting with a renowned New Zealand-born doctor, the parents agree to raise Bruce as a girl called Brenda. Despite not knowing the truth, from a very young age Brenda senses that something is just not right…

Aiga 
Te Pou Theatre
School Matinee: Thursday 21 March 11am
Audience Suitability: Secondary (Y9-13), Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Drama, Pasifika, Maori, Access and Inclusion

Aiga (Sāmoan for family/whānau) is a groundbreaking and emotional Disability-led, Pasifika-led work of theatre told through the lens of the real-life journey of Pacific Toa award-winning, founding member Lusi Faiva. A collective creative ensemble of women, non-binary, disabled, non-disabled, Pasifika and Māori identities brings this quest for identity and belonging to life, artfully sharing their own experiences with and through Lusi’s.

These shows are not school specific matinees and are open to the general public to attend, however they do have School ticket pricing attached to them. Please click here to fill in our booking form or for more information.

Te Tangi a te Tūi 
Te Pou Theatre
Thursday 7 March – Sunday 10 March
Audience Suitability: All ages
Curriculum Links: Visual Arts, Drama, Te Reo Māori, Dance

Te Tangi a te Tūī invites you to experience an enchanting and empowering Māori cirque theatre work about adaptation and authenticity. A remarkable circus spectacle for audiences of all ages.
Click here to explore this show.

Gravity and Grace
Q Theatre Rangatira
Thursday 21 March – Sunday 24 March
Audience Suitability: Secondary (Y9-13), Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Drama

Contains mature themes, including sadomasochistic sex and eating disorders

Brimming with daring intellect, humour, and slick visual and sound design, this savvy new play by the award-winning duo behind Body Double, Jane Doe and Yes Yes Yes is based on a work of thrilling autobiographical fiction by American writer Chris Kraus.
Click here to explore this show.

The King’s Singers
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Thursday 14 March 7:30pm
Audience Suitability: All ages
Curriculum Links: Music, Choir

With more than 50 years in the choral business, double Grammy Award winners The King’s Singers are masters of vocal harmony. Beloved in great venues the world over, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to New York’s Carnegie Hall, they return to the majestic Holy Trinity Cathedral for one night only.
Click here to explore this show.

Ju Percussion Group 
Great Hall
Saturday 16 March 6.30pm
Audience Suitability: All ages
Curriculum Links: Music, Visual Art, Dance

Founded by visionary percussionist Ju TzongChing in 1986, JPG is a 13-strong percussion supergroup, plus one composer in residence, who blend East with West through impressive technique. Huge in scale, JPG’s concerts place classical instruments within Asian theatrical elements to deliver a sound that is traditional yet modern, and playful yet virtuoso.
Click here to explore this show.

In a Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival first – we are offering limited free tickets to each of the following shows to schools within Aotearoa. These are international dance spectaculars and AAF are committed to providing opportunity to schools to experience these amazing shows. Tickets will be limited to 50 per school, per performance. You can find out more about these shows and show times by downloading our 2024 Festival Guide Contact schools@aaf.co.nz for more details, or head to our booking link to secure your seats!

Manifesto
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Friday 8 March – Sunday 10 March (Limited free ticket event) Sat Post Show Q&A 3pm
Audience Suitability: Y3-13, Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Music, Visual Art, Dance
Click here to explore this show

Dragons
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Friday 15 March – Sunday 17 March (Limited free ticket event)
Audience Suitability: Y3-13, Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Music, Visual Art, Dance, Korean
Click here to explore this show

Diptych
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Friday 22 March – Sunday 24 March (Limited free ticket event)
Audience Suitability: Secondary (Y11-13), Tertiary
Curriculum Links: Music, Visual Art, Dance
Click here to explore this show

Cascades
Sat 16 March, 8.15pm
All Ages.
Curriculum: Visual Arts
Click here to explore this show

RoZéO
Fri 15 March, 5.00pm & 7.00pm;
Sat 16 & Sun 17 March, 3.00pm & 7.00pm
All Ages. Curriculums: Dance.
Click here to explore this show

Culture Beats + City Beats
Sat 16 March, 2.00pm – 4.30pm
All Ages. Curriculum: Music.
Click here to explore Culture Beats
Click here to explore City Beats

ILL-Abilities + Skillz Central
Sat 23 March, 12.30pm – 5.15pm
All Ages. Curriculum: Dance, music.
Click here to explore ILL-Abilities
Click here to explore Skillz Central