{"id":406263,"date":"2026-05-01T06:28:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T06:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/406263\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T06:28:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T06:28:28","slug":"comedy-festival-italian-films-and-international-dance-day-the-spinoff-event-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/406263\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedy festival, Italian films, and international dance day: The Spinoff event guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Spinoff\u2019s top pick of events from around the motu. Here\u2019s the best for the week April 30-May 7.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to The Spinoff event guide, your weekly, curated selection of gigs, events and exhibitions happening across Aotearoa.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Aotearoa<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A photo of comedian Dai Henwood, wearing a green suit and smiling.\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Comedy: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comedyfestival.co.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New Zealand International Comedy Festival<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Across New Zealand<br \/>May 1-24<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s that comedy festival (and also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New Zealand Music Month<\/a>) time of year! Highlights include Morgana O\u2019Reilly\u2019s Stories About My Body, On Film; the Best Foods Comedy Gala, Abby Howells, Brynley Stent\u2019s Bird of the Year, and many, many more. Find comedy near you with the handy search tools over on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comedyfestival.co.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">festival\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A postcard for the Italian Film Festival showing someone on a vespa wearing an italian flag helmet.\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Film: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.italianfilmfestivalnz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Italian Film Festival<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Across New Zealand<br \/>Kicks off this month and rolls out across the year<\/p>\n<p>A sumptuous selection of Italian movies play across the country, starting this month in Whanganui, Auckland, New Plymouth and Masterton and rolling out in further locations all the way into December. See the programme and line-up of films online, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.italianfilmfestivalnz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><br \/>\nTe Whanganui-a-Tara<br \/>\n<img alt=\"A photo of a young man with glasses and a moustache, wearing a white t-shirt on a dark navy background. \" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/>Artist Todd Atticus, by Russell Kleyn.<\/p>\n<p>Comedy: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventfinda.co.nz\/2026\/cover-story\/wellington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cover Story \u2013 real-time design<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unity Books<br \/>10am-2pm, April 28 \u2013 May 4<br \/>Free<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCover Story is a real-time design event. For one week only, international artist Todd Atticus will design a book cover live and from scratch in the window of Unity Books Wellington. Every stage of the creation of the cover artwork for forthcoming novel And How Are Things With You by Mia Farlane will be conducted in public. Come along and witness this unique public performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u014ctepoti<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A promotional image for International Dance Day showing different dancers on a pink background. \" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dance: International Dance Day<\/p>\n<p>Various venues<br \/>Friday 1 \u2013 Sunday 3 May<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAcross three exciting days, enjoy free classes, workshops, interactive events, parties, and performances showcasing the diversity and joy of dance. With 37 local groups representing 25 unique dance styles, there\u2019s truly something for everyone. Whether you\u2019re a curious beginner, a seasoned dancer, or just keen to watch and soak up the energy, you\u2019re invited to be part of it.\u201d For details of what\u2019s on, when, see Dance \u014ctepoti\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/danceotepoti\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Facebook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/danceotepoti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u014ctautahi<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Two levels of four squares each with a building in them and a caption.\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Architecture\/festival: <a href=\"https:\/\/openchch.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Open Christchurch<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Various locations<br \/>Friday 1 \u2013 Sunday 3 May<br \/>Mix of free and ticketed<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith 52 open buildings, six guided walks and cycle tours, and a range of special activities (from expert talks and tours to workshops), Open Christchurch 2026 is a celebration of our architecture.\u201d Bookings are essential for some events \/ activities, see the programme online, <a href=\"https:\/\/openchch.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Open-Christchurch-2026-Programme.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a>. The info desk will be on the ground floor of T\u016branga, 10am \u2013 5pm on the Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Spinoff\u2019s top pick of events from around the motu. Here\u2019s the best for the week April 30-May&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":406264,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[209241,3681,52068,492,3683,2006,156,3684,3685,111,139,69,1066,3687],"class_list":["post-406263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-book-design","tag-cnz-review","tag-comedy-festival","tag-comments-enabled","tag-contemporary-art","tag-dance","tag-entertainment","tag-event-noticeboard","tag-events","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-pop-culture","tag-the-spinoff-event-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=406263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/406264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=406263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=406263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=406263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}