Hawke's Bay Roars For More: Extra Show Added For The Gruffalo At Toitoi This July
The internationally acclaimed production, based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, has captivated audiences around the world—from London's West End to Broadway. Now, in a rare treat for New Zealand families, this international hit will grace just two cities on its tour: Auckland and Hastings. That makes Toitoi the only regional venue to welcome this theatrical gem.
'We knew The Gruffalo would charm Hawke's Bay, but the demand has exceeded all expectations' says Glen Pickering, Toitoi's Presenter Services Manager. 'When international productions see how enthusiastically our community embraces world-class theatre, it puts Toitoi—and Hawke's Bay—firmly on the map. High-selling seasons like this one help us attract even more exceptional shows from around the globe to our region.'
Presented by Tall Stories and CDP Theatre Producers, The Gruffalo brings the enchanting tale of a clever mouse and his imagined monster friend to life with sing-along songs, colourful characters, and vibrant staging.
With all three existing performances down to the last few seats, the additional matinee is expected to sell quickly.
Tickets for the new 2pm Friday performance are available now at www.toitoivenues.co.nz and from the Hastings and Havelock North isites.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a few seconds ago
- The Star
Underground bunkers are booming again in Europe
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a recent nationwide blackout affecting Spain and Portugal have shaken people's sense of security in Europe. For decades, bunkers were largely ignored – but now, interest is surging, particularly among private citizens, according to companies that specialise in building or restoring shelters. In Spain, for example, the private construction of bunkers has increased by 200% since Moscow launched its war in early 2022, industry companies report. Countries like Germany, France and the Baltic states are reportedly among the most advanced in their preparedness. Boom in demand Companies specialising in the construction of private shelters or the reactivation of old bunkers in Germany are seeing an increase in demand. At Bunker Schutzraum Systeme Deutschland (BSSD), an employee describes an 'exponential' increase in inquiries since 2014 – a trend that accelerated again in 2022 following the war in Ukraine, though still on a relatively modest scale. The clientele is made up entirely of private individuals. 'Nothing is being done by the government,' says Mario Piejde, the company's technical director and spokesperson. 'People are slowly waking up and taking matters into their own hands – not just because of the fear of war, but also concerns about power outages or civil unrest.' According to BSSD, 80% of current projects involve refurbishing older, privately owned bunkers, while 20% consist of converting basements in new residential buildings into protective shelters. At another firm, the Deutsches Schutzraum-Zentrum (DSZ), the trend skews in the opposite direction. Owner Peter Aurnhammer reports that 80% of their work involves new builds, where part of the basement is specifically designed as a secure shelter. Interest is growing across all demographics, he adds. 'We see demand from all corners of society – tradespeople, doctors, politicians, business owners and families planning new homes with integrated shelter space.' Music, art and carnival Today, the high-rise bunkers in Frankfurt are mainly used for civilian purposes – even if they are not as spectacular as the St Pauli bunker in Hamburg, a massive World War II shelter turned plant-covered hotel and tourist magnet. Some are used as rehearsal rooms for musicians or studios for artists. Others became clubhouses, youth centres or carnival clubs. Companies that already existed during World War II still have bunkers from this period – one example can be found on the site of an industrial company in Frankfurt's Ostend district. The operators do not want the exact location to be publicised for fear of uninvited visitors. Today, the rooms are used as storage space or are empty. Squeaky iron doors located 12m below an industrial plant near Frankfurt. — BORIS ROESSLER/dpa Secret cellar From the outside, only the worn inscription 'luftschutzraum' (air-raid shelter) on a cellar grating indicates the existence of the facility. The path leads through a security door that can only be opened with a coded key card. Past clattering machines and the grinding noises of a conveyor belt, worn concrete steps lead into a labyrinth of corridors and windowless rooms that are not accessible to the public. An arched iron door squeaks open 12m underground. In the light of a torch, the words 'shelter for 45 people' written in German can be seen in Gothic script on the weathered paintwork of the door. The room is completely empty – but during the heavy airstrikes on Frankfurt in 1943 and 1944, dozens of people were crammed into a very small space. A few metres further on, the door to the former 'command post' stands ajar. Apart from a few coat hooks, there are no longer any personal belongings or parts of the interior fittings of the time. The existence of separate toilets and showers for men and women suggests that stays could last several days. Non-contemporary approach According to the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), Germany currently still maintains 579 public shelters with a total capacity of around 478,000 people. However, in 2006, the government decided to gradually decommission shelters and repurpose them for other uses. As a result, the nationwide provision of public shelters for defence purposes is no longer included in Germany's current civil defence strategy. The BBK emphasises that times have changed: 'For a long time, the construction and maintenance of public shelters was seen by the public as a central civil defence measure,' said a spokeswoman. However, even during the Cold War, a maximum of 2% of the population could have found refuge in public shelters. The threat scenarios then and now are not comparable, she added. 'Against this background, new ways of protecting the population must also be pursued. A nationwide construction of shelters is therefore not a modern approach to ensure effective protection of the population.' Stocking up Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought new challenges for civil defence across Europe, according to Roman Poseck, interior minister of the German state of Hesse. He emphasises that citizens can help bolster societal resilience by maintaining basic emergency supplies – such as food, water, a flashlight, spare batteries and a battery-powered radio. 'The security situation has fundamentally changed for all European countries.' – dpa
The Star
a few seconds ago
- The Star
Man found dead in car in Tasek Gelugor
GEORGE TOWN: A 34-year-old man has been found dead in his car in Tasek Gelugor. According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the deceased was discovered inside an SUV parked behind a shoplot in Taman Area Mutiara at about 9pm on Wednesday (July 16). "The vehicle's engine was still running when the man was found unconscious inside it. Firemen were deployed to assist police in prying open the locked door. The victim was then confirmed dead by health authorities," said the department in a statement. Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/email sam@ or visit in-malaysia ).
The Star
a few seconds ago
- The Star
Huawei tops China smartphone market for first time in years
New Huawei Pura 80 Ultra smartphones are seen on display at the Huawei Shanghai flagship store in the Huangpu district in Shanghai. The hardware giant held on to a roughly 18% share of the market in the June quarter, while other leading competitors like Vivo and Oppo slumped, according to IDC data. — AFP Huawei Technologies Co took the top spot in China's smartphone market for the first time in more than four years, a comeback fuelled by new designs and software that appealed to users in a slowing market. The hardware giant held on to a roughly 18% share of the market in the June quarter, while other leading competitors like Vivo and Oppo slumped, according to IDC data. The Shenzhen device maker showed greater resilience than rivals as overall shipments in China fell 4% to 69 million units. Huawei's recovery follows years of US export restrictions, which spurred the company to develop its own hardware and technologies, including artificial intelligence chips. In 2024, Huawei launched several smartphones powered by domestically designed and manufactured semiconductors, including the world's first commercially available device with two folds. It's also added smartphones with its own operating system, transitioning away from Google's Android. IDC researchers saw the first decline in China shipments after six consecutive quarters of growth, attributing that to diminishing help from government subsidies. "Despite the recent US-China trade truce, the broader economic environment presents ongoing challenges, with consumer confidence remaining subdued,' said Arthur Guo, senior research analyst at IDC China. "A significant uplift in smartphone demand is unlikely in the immediate term.' – Bloomberg
