Events Calendar

In this travelling poetry and song cabaret show, David Eggleton, the official Poet Laureate of Aotearoa, presents his own wry, comic take on Kiwiana, alongside stand-up storyteller and former Bard of Christchurch, Steve Thomas. These two veterans of the performance poetry scene in New Zealand are accompanied by master musician Richard Wallis.

Say it with flowers’ is a title inspired by the English artist Banksy’s famous wall image of a youthful masked flower thrower, flinging - not a Molotov cocktail, but a colourful bouquet of flowers, representing our common hopes for the peaceful resolution to the global issues of our time. On this tour, the performers will throw words, sometimes barbed, and often beautiful, or beautifully barbed, with a similar aim of emphasising our common humanity. Note: There is a rumour (fake news?) that this internationally recognised graffiti artist might join the entourage, but as no one knows who he is, it may be hard to identify him in the crowd.

David Eggleton; Poet Laureate

Well-known as a poetry performer since the 1980s, David Eggleton first gained attention as part of the punk rock scene, performing  alongside New Wave bands on the pub and café circuit. A South Auckland pathfinder, his Pasifika heritage and passion for performance has led to poems that are dramatic, lively and featuring a strong oral and rhythmic quality.  Poetry reviewer Alan Loney wrote in New Zealand Books: David Eggleton is unique in New Zealand in his chosen mode. And he is to be valued for that.

David now lives in Dunedin/Otepoti. A writer and critic and winner of many national awards, he is the former editor of Landfall magazine.

Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas was raised in Cardiff in Wales, downwind from a brewery and a pickle factory and the legend of Dylan Thomas.  Educated at Brunel University in London, he performed on the same stage as the Moody Blues and Fairport Convention. He later performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A lively display of versatility delivered with style...Steve does some brilliant send ups, said The Scotsman reviewer. In New Zealand in the 1980s, he presented the poetry cabaret shows Pink Bits and Over the Wall and Out at rock festivals and on TVNZ. More recently, he has been the promoter and general manager for Arts on Tour, providing a wide range of theatre and music acts across New Zealand, as well as regularly appearing as a performance poet and raconteur.

Richard Wallis

Richard Wallis is a Dunedin-based musician and classical guitarist.

The New Zealand Poet Laureate

The New Zealand Poet Laureate is a poet appointed by the National Library of New Zealand to represent New Zealand's community of poets and to advocate for poetry in the community as a public good during their tenure as Laureate. The Laureate receives a tokotoko, a Māori ceremonial walking stick, carved by the Hawkes Bay master carver Jacob Scott, upon their appointment. The tokotoko is paired with the matua, or guardian tokotoko which is retained and displayed by the National Library to signify their joint guardianship of the award with the Ngāti Kahungunu. Based on the tradition of the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom receiving a "butt of sack", the New Zealand Poet Laureate also receives a stipend of wine from Te Mata Estate. 

Tickets

Adults $25, Gold card $20, Children $10

Get tickets online by clicking HERE

Cash door sales also available

Location

The Stadium Tavern Alexandra