Presented by A Daylight Connection & Brink Productions
As part of Kia Mau Festival’s He Ngaru Nui programme, this work comes to Aotearoa for the first time form Naarm, Melbourne, Kuarna, South Australia.
Join the acclaimed motley crew A DAYLIGHT CONNECTION on the last plane hurtling out of Earth.
Who will survive this wild ride (and its unruly passengers)? Can flight attendant Angel defeat God’s Greatest Gift in a battle for the ultimate prize?
Find out in… A NIGHTIME TRAVESTY… an epic First Nations vaudevillian musical nightmare that is equal parts sardonic, cheeky and heartbreaking. It’s a non-stop riot of music, parody and political punch – a fever dream that feels like Babes in the Wood on acid.
With explosions, zany costumes, gruesome decapitations, existential horror, Blak humour, romance, genocide and a live band, there’s something for everyone at this perpetual party floating in our neglected psyches!
Leading independent artists Kamarra Bell-Wykes and Carly Sheppard (CHASE) bring a revamped version of the smash-hit production that brought audiences to their feet at every one of its sold-out performances at YIRRAMBOI Festival, now directed by Stephen Nicolazzo (Loaded).
Strap in for a ferocious adventure that pushes form, genre and the realms of reality with a renowned crew hell-bent on reimagining what First Nations performance can be.
Content warnings include R18, contains nudity, adult concepts, frequent coarse language, smoke effects, strobe lighting, and loud sounds.
He Ngaru Nui is more than just a collection of performances—it is a bold statement about the value and significance of Indigenous narratives. These shows take stories that sometimes feel small, intimate, or unheard, and amplify them on the grand stages they deserve. This programming strand honours the storytelling traditions of Māori, Pasifika and global indigenous cultures, while pushing the boundaries of contemporary performance. It’s about taking stories from our communities and sharing them with the world in a way that is both respectful and revolutionary.
Creative Credits
Co-Creator & Performer Kamarra Bell-Wykes (Jagera/Butchulla)
Co-Creator & Performer Carly Sheppard (Wallangamma and Takalaka Tribes of Nth QLD)
Performer Zach Blampied (Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri)
Director Stephen Nicolazzo
Musician, Set & Co-Sound Designer Smallsound (Quandamooka )
Musician & Co-Sound Designer Richie Brownlee
Lighting Designer Gina Gascoigne
Based in Naarm (Melbourne), A Daylight Connection is an explosive union of equally weird and talented artists encompassing almost all creative and design roles including, dramaturgy, devising, directing, choreography, performance, set and sound design. Bound by the elusive dream of not only being independent but truly self-determined artists, the collective was formed from a shared love of high-quality, boundary-pushing performance.
A Daylight Connection are hell-bent on reimagining what First Nations performance can be and taking their unique brand of post-traumatic adventure theatre to Australia and the world.
A Daylight Connection is Kamarra Bell-Wykes, Carly Sheppard and small sound with a dazzling line-up of special guest artists.
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
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