60 minutes of non-stop what? The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave. By Holly Stephens
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave welcomes us to Q Theatre’s Ranatira stage without delay to party through 60 minutes of non-stop movement, effortlessly cool outfits and a swirling techno-beat.
Aotearoa-based artists Oli Mathiesen, Lucy Lynch, Sharvon Mortimer invite their audience to come together, clap their hands and explore a communal sense of focused athletic endurance and euphoric energetic release. Here for a short time only, as part of Te Ahurei Toi O Tāmaki, Auckland Arts Festival, 2026.
The title and description of this show piques curiosity while still not giving away too much, and I'd argue, ‘60-minutes of non-stop movement’ doesn't quite sum up what you’re in for either. However, if you’re on the fence of mystery, jump over and join the rave. You’ll land safely into a night of all the fun feelings a good dance floor offers.
Afraid of commitment? These artists are not; one thing this dance floor promises is an equally committed light show. With strategically curated lighting design by Shanell Bielawa you can expect your moment of spotlight as the bare minimum in this relationship. Bielwa’s timing, use of gear and execution are truly a sight worth making the date for.
The last time I experienced the kind of awe that rocked me into silent observation at a show may have been Bruno Mars live at Spark Arena, 2018. I say this to encourage your imagination of what it truly means to be ‘sat’. Picture painted, hopefully?! On March 12th, this seated silence was felt again. Spending the majority of this performance present in my body, rather than mind, was both a surprise to me and a joyous change from theatre, where I’m dissecting juicy dialogue or beloved family dramas. Precise choices in choreography, sound and light are delivered perfectly without a word, leaving me no room to think twice.
Yet still, within the hour of this dancing trio’s athletic feat, you may catch yourself a breath in recognizing a familiar beat, prop, or choreographic homage. Choreographer Mathiesen explains to us in an interview the endurance aspect is inspired by the experience of the pandemic. Hinting at “the collective societal enduring we went through over those few years.” It’s honestly quite exciting, that somehow, in this bliss-like-state of movement, there is space to recognize themes and layers of community, shedding, partying, resting, fitness, comedy, or whatever you wish to interpret and release on your night out.
So, if you’re still unsure what this 60 minutes of non-stop movement could offer you, I'd recommend the classic advice: you never regret a workout once it's done.
About Holly Stephens
Holly has a real traveller’s spirit. First dancing across the North Island for Royal Family Dance Crew shows and workshops (yes, of Parris Goebel fame!), then Tāmaki-wide for acting and crewing roles in the film and TV, then jumping the ditch to Melbourne for more acting roles. She’s now soon to take a sabbatical at a summer camp in North Carolina, USA. She has a script to finish along the way, and much to experience in her passions for food, mindfulness, and anthropology.
