Historical Events - Arts

23 Mar 1907The NZ Truth reports that Oscar Wilde's play Salome is prohibited in New York (New York, United States of America)
Links: Papers Past
1973Singer Shona Laing is interviewed about song-writing (Dunedin, New Zealand)
The interview includes Laing singing Lady Dipton. The South Tonight, ref: TZP10295.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
22 Oct 1973Television: artist Toss Woollaston talks about painter John Constable (New Zealand)
Review, ref: TZP6434.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
1974Television news report: interview with composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein (New Zealand)
Nationwide, ref: TZP96736.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
1974Television news report: paintings in Charles Brasch's collection (New Zealand)
The South Tonight, ref: TZP88757.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
Sep 1976The Back Street Theatre tours the country (New Zealand)
The theatre group is formed by the National Radical Feminist Caucus.
12 Sep 1978Television: Interview with "Rocky Horror Show" creator Richard O'Brien (New Zealand)
ref: TZP1560.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
5 Sep 1979Television: Toss Woollaston painting presented to Wellington City (Wellington, New Zealand)
ref: TZP24735.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
1980The play Blood of the Lamb by Bruce Mason premieres (Christchurch, New Zealand)
The play focuses on a lesbian couple with child.
9 Jun 1980Television: performance of excerpts from play "The Case of Katherine Mansfield" (New Zealand)
ref: TZP1048916.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
25 Nov 1980Television news report: Elton John concert at Athletic Park (Wellington, New Zealand)
This is John's third visit to Wellington, ref: TZP4787.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
22 Jun 1982Foolish Things by Peter Wells screens at the Frameline Film Festival (San Francisco, United States of America)
The film screens twice - at the Pacific Film Archives on Tuesday 22 June, and on Thursday 24 June.
Links: Bay Area Reporter (1) , Bay Area Reporter (2)
8 Jul 1982Television: profile of the Topp Twins as they busk on Queen Street, and at their Auckland home (Auckland, New Zealand)
ref: TZP358684.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
17 Sep 1982Television: interview with the Topp Twins (Auckland, New Zealand)
ref: TZP358685.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
22 Apr 1983The Topp Twins perform at Circa Theatre (Wellington, New Zealand)
25 Sep 1983Television: Bruce Mason play about the Springbok Tour (New Zealand)
ref: TZD5.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
2 Oct 1983Television: The second of three plays by Bruce Mason (New Zealand)
ref: TZD1026. Edith and Daphne's calm lives are disrupted when Edith has an affair with a younger man.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
9 Oct 1983Television: The third of three Bruce Mason plays (New Zealand)
ref: TZD1025. Charlie Jameson, surrounded by a family who he has little in common with, faces his death.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
10 Nov 1983Television: Topp Twins performance at Te Kainganui Child Care Centre (New Zealand)
ref: TZP69811.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
6 Apr 1985Television: McPhail and Gadsby political satire comedy skit featuring the Homosexual Law Reform Petition and Spot the Gay with Norman J (New Zealand)
ref: TZP5748.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
12 Apr 1985Television: interview with rock group Queen before their Auckland concert (Auckland, New Zealand)
ref: TZP448217.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound and Vision
6 Nov 1987A Death in the Family by Peter Wells screens for a week at the Castro Theatre (San Francisco, United States of America)
Links: Bay Area Reporter
25 Aug 1991Singer Sue Dunlop performs at the North by Northwest cafe (Wellington, New Zealand)
Dunlop's performance includes Better than normal.
1993Douglas Wright's film Elegy premieres (New Zealand)
Wright wrote "Since I am still lucky enough to have a body, I decided to make a dance for my friends who have died of AIDS, and this is it." Ref F27589.
Links: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision
1993Aphrodisia by choreographer Michael Parmenter premieres at the HERO Festival (Auckland, New Zealand)
1995A Long Undressing premieres (New Zealand)
The dance and theatre work is created and performed by Michael Parmenter.
1995Nights in the Gardens of Spain by Witi Ihimaera is published
Feb 1995Devotion 95: a gay and lesbian celebration by Elizabeth Smith and Rachell Rose is published
26 May 1995Poor Superman by Brad Fraser opens at Circa Theatre (Wellington, New Zealand)
Links: National Library
3 Sep 1995Pianist Michael Houston performs a benefit concert for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (Auckland, New Zealand)
The performance takes place at the School of Music, University of Auckland.
Links: NZ.com
9 Dec 1995The controversial Robert Mapplethorpe Retrospective exhibition shows at the City Gallery Wellington (Wellington, New Zealand)
City Gallery Director Paula Savage said "His work documents a pre-AIDS era in New York when homosexuality was given a social acceptability unseen for decades, perhaps centuries, and gay cultural blossomed." The exhibition runs from 9 December 1995 - 20 February 1996.
Links: NZ.com, Wikipedia, City Gallery
1996Growing up gay : New Zealand men tell their stories by James Allan is published
19 Jan 1996The play Eugenia premieres at Taki Rua Depot Theatre (Wellington, New Zealand)
Eugenia is written and stars Lorae Parry. It's based on the life of Eugenia Falleni.
Links: Wikipedia
1997Emerging tribe: gay culture in New Zealand in the 1990s by Nigel Gearing is published (New Zealand)
1998Vanity fierce by Graeme Aitken is published (New Zealand)
9 Apr 1998Dare, Truth or Promise by Paula Boock wins the NZ Post Children's Book Award (New Zealand)
Links: Wikipedia
1999Get used to it! children of gay and lesbian parents by Pat Rosier and Myra Hauschild is published (New Zealand)
1999When two men embrace: the New Zealand anthology of gay and lesbian poetry by Jonathan Fisher published (New Zealand)
2000Laurie Guy's thesis Worlds in Collision: The Gay Debate in New Zealand 1960-86
2001Sucking feijoas by Jeff Buchanan is published
2002The Penguin book of gay Australian writing by Graeme Aitken is published
2003Gender and women's studies. Queer sexualities, histories and politics is published by Victoria University of Wellington
2004From Freyberg : a novel by Bill Edginton is published
2005Outlines: lesbian and gay histories of Aotearoa is published by Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand
12 Apr 2007Corner 4am and Cuba by Ronald Trifero Nelson premieres, Wellington
10 Sep 2008Composer Chris Gendall wins the 2008 APRA SOUNZ Contemporary award (Auckland, New Zealand)
Chris receives the award during the APRA Silver Scroll Awards event held in Auckland
Links: RNZ
10 Sep 2008The Topp Twins are inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame (Auckland, New Zealand)
The Topp Twins receive the honour during the APRA Silver Scroll award event in Auckland
2009Teddy by Number 8 Films is released
Apr 2009Bud by Ronald Trifero Nelson premieres, Wellington
12 Sep 2009The Vintner's Luck has its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival
The film is based on Elizabeth Knox's novel
Links: Wikipedia
23 Sep 2009Mates and Lovers play by Ronald Trifero Nelson premieres, Wellington
12 Nov 2009The Vintner's Luck has its New Zealand premiere. (New Zealand)
Based on Elizabeth Knox's novel.
Links: Wikipedia
2010Communication by Number 8 Films is released
2010Men Alone, Men Together by Mark Beehre is published
2011The Colonel's Outing by Number 8 Films is released
12 Mar 2011Queen of the Whole Universe (a slightly queer beauty pageant) takes place at the Opera House (Wellington, New Zealand)
Links: Scoop
20 May 2017The Topp Twins exhibtion shows at Te Manawa Musuem (Palmerston North, New Zealand)
The exhibition, curated by Sian Torrington, runs from 20 May - 29 October 2017
23 May 2017Butch: a photographic exploration by Rachel Hoskin exhibits at Te Manawa Musuem (Palmerston North, New Zealand)
The exhibition runs from 23 May - 18 June 2017.
16 Jun 2017Purple Onion - a dance work inspired by the drag venue - is performed by Le Moana at the Hannah Playhouse (Wellington, New Zealand)
The dance work had two performances - Friday and Saturday night at 9.30pm
Links: Stuff
26 Mar 2018The Topp Twins: an exhibition for New Zealand is launched at the National Library (Wellington, New Zealand)
The exhibition runs from the 27 March 2018 - 22 September 2018.
Links: PrideNZ.com
26 Jul 2020The web series Rūrangi has its world premiere (Auckland, New Zealand)
The premiere takes place at the ASB Waterfront Theatre
Links: Rūrangi