C-Zone with Simon Howard

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C-Zone with Simon Howard

Mondays 5pm-6pm. Tune in live on 106.1FM or stream at www.accessradio.org.nz. Stay tuned for arts an Theatre? Comedy? Dance? Film?

Tune in to Community Zone on Wellington Access Radio to hear Simon Howard take you through the very best of what's happening in New Zealand's cultural capital. Each show has the latest news, fascinating interviews and informative reviews. It's by the community, for the community. With great music from New Zealand and the rest of the world, tune in on 106.1FM, or www.accessradio.org.nz

08/12/2025

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

I’ve got all the winners and a wrap-up from last night’s Wellington Theatre Awards, plus an early look at the New Zealand Fringe Festival programme ahead of Thursday’s full reveal.

If you missed our chats last month with Stephen Lovatt about Every Kind of Weather and Nino Raphael and Finlay Morris about The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate: The Musical they’re also on the way from 5.25pm along with a full what’s on guide for the week ahead.

30/11/2025

Coming up live from 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate: The Musical sets sail at the Hannah Playhouse from Friday, inspired by Margaret Mahy's beloved tale. Writer and composer Nino Raphael and actor Finlay Morris, who plays Sam, join me from 5.05pm to discuss this adventure for all ages.

PopRox have had another busy year delighting audiences across the city, and the improv group return with Janice's Last Christmas at BATS Theatre next week. Austin Harrison and Dylan Hutton are here after 5.20pm to chat about bringing all the scandals and comedy of the office festive party to life.

Come Together are celebrating the end of the year with their Big Bash 2025 - KIWI vs OZ ROCK show taking over the Opera House on Thursday night. Rock legend Jon Toogood fronts the supergroup, and he's on the line from 5.40pm to discuss tackling the biggest anthems from both sides of the ditch.

23/11/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Six Degrees Festival returns to BATS Theatre this week and next, showcasing Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s MFA in Creative Practice students. We’ve got interviews from two of the five shows on the way.

Youltide is an absurdly tragic show for anyone who’s ever loved, lost, or needs a bit of spirit on Christmas. Opening next Wednesday, playwright Teddy O’Neill, director Josh Lees and stage manager Will McMorran are here to discuss transforming the Dome into a festive living room from 5.05pm.

Homebodies is a devised physical theatre work by Thunk Theatre that explores themes of home, belonging and otherness. Script and Narrative Director Stella Vaivai joins me at 5.20pm to tell us what’s in store from this Wednesday.

Michelangelo - A Different View comes to Wellington this summer under license from the Vatican Museums. Featuring over 50 stunning pieces, including life-sized ceiling frescoes from the Sistine Chapel, VIP tour guide Dr Christopher Longhurst is on the line at 5.35pm to discuss this unique exhibition and his 17 years at the Vatican.

17/11/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Every Kind of Weather opens at Circa Theatre this week celebrating Bruce Mason, one of the most significant playwrights in our country's history. Actor Stephen Lovatt is here from 5.05 to discuss performing two of Mason's most beloved solo works - The End of the Golden Weather and Not Christmas, but Guy Fawkes - in repertory over the next month.

Robin Hood - The Pantomime brings all the usual suspects back to Circa Theatre to delight audiences of all ages over the next two months with lively musical comedy and political satire. Kathleen Burns is Robin Hood and Jackson Burling the Evil Sheriff - they are on the line to let us know what's in store from 5.20pm.

Amélie the Musical made its Australasian premiere at the Hannah Playhouse to packed houses over the weekend. Co-director Nick Lerew and Rachel McSweeney, who plays Amélie, are here from 5.35pm to discuss WITCH Music Theatre's adaptation of one of the 21st century's most beloved films.

09/11/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Farrago Bazaar: An Immersive experience is a huge new work by Red Scare Theatre coming to Innermost Gardens later this month. A cast of 20 performers make up various tribes in a post-post-apocalyptic world, and you will be right in the middle of the action as your own character in this bustling market setting. Artistic Director Cassandra Tse is here from 5.05pm to tell us more.

Villainous: A Musical Cabaret is the latest show from the Wellington Footlights, promising a night of wicked delight and powerhouse performances at Whisky & Wood next week. Director Laura Gardner and Choreographer Corey Moir join me after 5.20pm to discuss the best bad guys musicals have to offer.

Inspired by American road-films of the past, Run Coyote Run is a new q***r family drama set in a Gisborne motel room. Shortlisted for Playmarket's B425 award, Keane As Theatre's play opens at BATS Theatre tomorrow. Writer Leroy Nurkka, director Kathy Keane and producer Tom Smith are in the studio from 5.35pm.

12/10/2025

Coming up from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

The Griegol is a highly visual, wildly inventive tale about death, love and monsters. Trick of the Light’s dark award-winning fantasy returns to Wellington next week for three performances only at the Hannah Playhouse. Ralph McCubbin Howell is here to tell me more from 5.05pm.

The Māori Sidesteps are back at Circa Theatre for five shows at the end of the month. Jamie McCaskill joins me from 5.20pm to discuss the soulful harmonies and satirical skits that have made the Sidesteps our favourite Māori showband for almost a decade.

I’ll also bring you a full what’s on guide for our city stages this week, including the return of Heartbreak Hotel at Circa and two new shows at BATS.

05/10/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Heartbreak Hotel returns to Wellington at Circa Theatre next week after hit seasons in London, Edinburgh and Melbourne. Story, science and a synth combine in an exhilarating show that examines what happens in our bodies when we’re bereft. Actor Simon Leary is here to tell me more from 5.05pm.

Monument explores the role make-up and fashion play in how we perceive and receive women in power. Opening at Circa Theatre next week, Mel Dodge plays Edith Aldridge, the youngest woman to be elected leader of her country. Mel's on the line at 5.20pm to discuss this new play from the team that brought us Prima Facie.

Show Me Shorts Film Festival returns from Thursday, celebrating 20 years of bringing short films to movie lovers. Festival Director Gina Dellabarca joins me from 5.35pm to discuss some of this year's highlights ahead of screenings at Embassy Theatre and Light House Cuba.

28/09/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Running into the Sun arrives at Te Auaha this Wednesday, fresh from winning Best Theatre at this year's Melbourne Fringe. Ben Ashby, Ethan Morse and Asha Barr join me from 5.05pm to discuss returning to Wellington with a show that combines dance, clown, live music, film and physical theatre in a university graduation house party like no other.

The New Zealand Improv Festival is underway and takes over BATS Theatre all this week. Liz Butler and Ben Jardine are back in town from America with Swingers tomorrow, a show featuring real improv power couples from Aotearoa and beyond performing together.

Ralph Hilaga from Mo & Ralph also takes to the stage at BATS tomorrow with D.E.I's - a sharp, satirical, improvised workplace comedy about tokenism, identity, and the conundrums of modern day allyship. Ralph, Liz and Ben are all here from 5.25pm.

22/09/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

New Zealand Improv Festival is back for 2025 celebrating the stories of Aotearoa, the connections between us, and the joys and innovations of improvisation. More than 20 shows take place at BATS Theatre from this Friday until Saturday 4th October. Festival Co-Directors Jim Fishwick and Matt Powell are here to preview what's on the way from 5.05pm.

Kiwis Big Hararei is the latest adventure from award-winning company Horse With No Name, opening at Circa Theatre tomorrow for the school holidays. Writer and Director Catriona Tipene and Costume Designer Victoria Gridley join me from 5.20pm to discuss this musical story about spreading your wings and flying into the unknown.

14/09/2025

Coming up live from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

Acting legend Mark Hadlow is back in town with GOMIL (Grumpy Old Man in Lycra) at the Opera House this Friday. A sequel to the huge hit MAMIL (Middle Aged Man in Lycra), Mark's on the line from 5.05pm to let us know what we can expect.

TAHI Festival continues this week with an array of exciting solo performances.
Over and Out sees Jackson Burling present a rare look into the life of a truck driver. Jackson is here from 5.20pm to discuss his verbatim piece at BATS from Wednesday, one that brings a real interview, a big character and even bigger questions to the stage.

HATCH is TAHI's showcase of our next generation of solo performers. In partnership with Te Auaha, Toi Whakaari and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University, six students take to the stage at BATS from Wednesday. Aroha Morrison and George Long are here from 5.35pm to tell me about their bold new pieces.

07/09/2025

Coming up from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

TAHI Festival starts this week, and I’ve got interviews with three artists bringing their solo shows to our stages.

Manage Your Expectations is a masterful blend of dance, theatre, live film, clowning and absurd philosophising, helping us to see the limits of our communication and our failures to say what we mean. Eliza Sanders from House Of Sand is here at 5.05pm to discuss the return of this award-winning show at Circa Theatre next week.

Chloe's Revenge is a musical theatre-inspired show at BATS Theatre this week, pulling back the curtain on the pro-am musical theatre "industry" in Aotearoa. With biting wit, Chloe lays bare the heartbreak of rejection from the world she adores, and turns that pain into power. Chloe joins me from 5.20pm.

Grass Roots is a heartfelt and charming musical by Raureti Ormond about the colossal culture of rugby. From club fields to Eden Park, a q***r boy embarks on an epic odyssey exploring themes of takatapuitanga, masculinity, fatherhood, and what it means to grow up in Aotearoa. Raureti tells me more after 5.35pm. He’s also at BATS this week.

01/09/2025

Coming up from 5pm tonight on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and www.accessradio.org.nz :

2:22 A Ghost Story opens at Circa Theatre next weekend. Director Peter Feeney joins me from 5.10 to discuss Danny Robin's spooky West End smash hit ahead of its New Zealand premiere.

The Monster in the Maze is a unique community opera taking place at the St James next weekend. Reimagining the ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, this Australasian premiere from New Zealand Opera pays homage to our rich Pasifika heritage. Acclaimed UK-based mezzo-soprano Sarah Castle takes on the role of Mother, and she tells me more from 5.30.

Finally I'll bring you a full round-up of what's on our stages this week from 5.45.

Address

Level 1, 35-37 Ghuznee Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday

5pm - 6pm

Website

https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/c-zone-with-simon-howard/

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