Support Subscribe
Search
Support Subscribe

Storytelling & Performance Events at WORD Christchurch Festival

ŌTAUTAHI POETRY SLAM FINAL

Wednesday, 23 August 7:00 pm

The rough diamond in the crown of the poetry calendar!

TĪMATAKA

Wednesday, 23 August 8:00 pm

Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa), Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) and Ariana Tīkao (Kāi Tahu) open the festival with a stirring and soul-warming evening of storytelling, poetry and waiata.

AMY HEAD: SIGNS OF LIFE

Thursday, 24 August 5:30 pm

Join us at Scorpio Books for the launch of Amy Head's new short story collection Signs of Life.

NAMING THE SIRENS

Thursday, 24 August 6:00 pm

Join Sudden Valley Press poets Gail Ingram, Jeni Curtis, Janet Wainscott and Marisa Cappetta for a celebration of local poetry.

DIRTY PASSPORTS

Thursday, 24 August 8:00 pm

Bringing this sell-out show to his hometown, Chinese-Kiwi playwright Nathan Joe has curated a celebration of the finest BIPOC storytellers and spoken word artists.

UNRULY MEMORIES

Friday, 25 August 6:00 pm

Nathan Joe, Claudia Jardine, Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku), Frankie McMillan and Ariana Tikao (Kāi Tahu) come together to weave words within the bricks, mortar and stone of The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Friday, 25 August 7:00 pm

Our ever-popular tiny lecture series returns as Emily Perkins, Gabriel Krauze, Andrew Paul Wood, Melody Thomas and Juanita Hepi share their weird and wonderful deep obsessions.

KEENAN AND RUSSELL: LIVE

Friday, 25 August 8:00 pm

Cult Scottish author David Keenan joins cult New Zealand musician Bruce Russell for a set of free improvised music and readings from Keenan’s modernist masterpiece Monument Maker.

RAY SHIPLEY’S LATE NIGHT POETRY HOUR

Friday, 25 August 9:00 pm

Christchurch’s favourite nocturnal salon brings together visiting out-of-towners and hot locals for a memorable night of poetry, shenanigans, feelings and staying up far too late.

SHIFTING FOUNDATIONS

Saturday, 26 August 6:00 pm

Taking the book Shifting Foundations: Postquake Architecture of Ōtautahi Christchurch as a starting point, five speakers talk about one of their favourite post-quake buildings and imagine another in a quick-fire celebration of words and the city.

ROY MONTGOMERY AND CLEMENTINE VALENTINE: LIVE

Saturday, 26 August 8:00 pm

An evening of music and spoken word with Roy Montgomery and Clementine Valentine to celebrate the launch of Montgomery's collection of verse Endurance.

HIGH TEA WITH SAM MANNERING

Sunday, 27 August 10:30 am

Sam Mannering hosts this special morning tea featuring several of his own baked treats along with The George’s house specialties.

DESERT ISLAND DISHES

Sunday, 27 August 1:00 pm

Inspired by the hit weekly podcast of the same name, our delicious panel discusses the formative dishes that shaped who they are today and their approaches to food and cooking.

THE MUSIC BOOK CLUB

Sunday, 27 August 1:00 pm

Bring your favourite music book to discuss at this book club.

WHAIA TE ARA O TE KAREAO: FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE KAREAO

Sunday, 27 August 6:30 pm

We close the festival with this very special event. Members of the Ngāi Tahu Archive team and Te Pae Kōrako (Ngāi Tahu Archive Advisory Committee) speak about their favourite taonga from the Ngāi Tahu Archive.

RISK! THE WORD GALA [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

RISK! The WORD Gala with dazzling featured guests Gabriel Krauze (UK), Kevin Jared Hosein (Trinidad and Tobago), David Keenan (Scotland), Meg Mason (Australia/New Zealand) and DaisySpeaks (New Zealand/Samoa) sharing moments when they’ve taken a risk and lived to tell the tale.

RISKY WOMEN [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

The return of one of our most popular storytelling events.

CONFLUENCE [ON DEMAND]

17 Sep - 17 Sep 2023 11:59 pm

Pasifika and Māori excellence, on stage in Ōtautahi and styling up for a celebration of island connections. Hosted and curated by Daisy Speaks.

Social Feed

Subscribe to receive the latest updates