Please note: Unfortunately, MATCHBOX 2025 will not be taking place due to funding constraints. You can read more about MATCHBOX below and we look forward to hopefully returning in 2026.
Since its initial iteration in 2012, MATCHBOX (previously known as Q Presents), has been a pillar of Q’s annual programme. 11 years and 29 productions later, MATCHBOX has solidified itself as an opportunity for independent practitioners and companies to present contemporary and innovative works at a mainstage venue on their own terms.
Last year marked a pivotal change for MATCHBOX, as we received enough funding from Creative New Zealand to be able to pay each of the artists and creatives involved, rather than each show seeking out funding individually. This greater level of financial support has allowed us to provide more stability for the artists involved, pay for resources including collaborators, and offer further marketing support and opportunities for each of the shows in 2023 and 2024.
Photos: Our Own Little Mess, captured by Andi Crown
Take a peek what our 2024 MATCHBOX participants had to say about their experience at Q:
The intention of MATCHBOX is to provide a supportive and risk reduced environment for up to three projects to present a season in Q’s Loft space. We’re on the hunt for artists ready to take on the invigorating challenge of a Q season to launch their next banger idea to an audience. MATCHBOX is a collaborative learning journey between producer, artists and Q; with project itself at the heart.
Q supports MATCHBOX seasons by providing funding, marketing support and opening night hosting, along with tactical and emotional support along the way from Q’s team.
Previous MATCHBOX Seasons
2024
- OUR OWN LITTLE MESS // Jul 24 - Aug 3
Company: Produced by Q Theatre, A Slightly Isolated Dog, SquareSums&Co, and with development support from Auckland Live and Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts // Performers: Jack Buchanan, Laurel Devenie, Isla Mayo, Andrew Paterson, Maaka Pohatu // Director and Lighting Designer: Leo Gene Peters (A Slightly Isolated Dog Ltd) // Director: Jane Yonge // Producer: Alyssa Medel and Sums Selvarajan (SquareSums&Co.) // Production Designer: Meg Rollandi // Sound and Technical Designer, Audio Mix Engineer, Show Operator: Sam Clavis // Composer: Dr. Jeremy Mayall // Dramaturg: Nathan Joe // Cognitive Neuroscientists: Dr. David Carmel and Dr. Gina Grimshaw (Victoria University Wellington) // LX Programmer: Zach Howells // Technical Stage Manager and Audio Assist: Joel Orme
2023
- RITUALS OF SIMILARITY // Aug 1 – 5
Company: Dance Plant Collective // Choreographers and Performers; Brittany Kohler and Natasha Kohler // Producer: Julie Zhu // Set Designer: Talia Pua // Costume Designer: Zoë McNicholas // Lighting Designer & Op: Paul Bennett // Sound Designer: Lucien Johnson
- LOSING FACE // Aug 9 – 19
Company: Punctum // Writer: Nathan Joe // Director: Samuel Phillips // Producer: Nahyeon Lee // Cast/Assistant Director: Sean Dioneda Rivera // Dramaturg: Jane Yonge // Lighting Design: Jennifer Lal // Set Design: Shan Yu 翁俞珊 // Costume and Prop Design: Siobhan (Von) Ridgley // Sound Design: Jason Smith // Intimacy Direction: Todd Emerson // Stage Manager: Ariadne Baltazar // Graphic Design: Tim Wong // Production Manager: Andrew Malmo // Operator: Dan Matthew // Cantonese Translation: Jack Woon
- BOOM SHANKAR // Sep 6 – 16
Company: Agaram Productions // Writers & Performers: Aman Bajaj & Bala Murali Shingade // Director: Ahi Karunaharan // Producer: Gayatri Adi // Production Manager: Andrew Malmo // Stage Manager: Chloe Bettina // Lighting Design & Operator: Isabelle Hoskyn // Set & Props Design: Natasha Iyer // Costume Design: Imuy Teav
2022
- THE WASP // Sep 14 – 24
Company: The Oddballs // Playwright: Morgan Lloyd Malcolm // Director: Sam Snedden // Producer: Alice Kirker // Performers: Bree Peters & Miriama McDowell // Lighting Designer: Jane Hakaraia // Stage Manager: Sofia Miernik // Production Designer: Meg Rollandi // Production Design Assistants: Kate Carrington & Sophie Forsyth // Composer: Emi Pogoni // Operator: Tim Jansen
2021
- INFLATED REBEL // Aug 11 – 15
Company: SOFT.co // Choreographers & Performers: Jessie McCall & Rose Philpott // Producers: Chloe Klein & Rosa Strati // Production Design: Jessie McCall & Rose Philpott
2018
- YORICK! // Jun 12 - 23
Company: Binge Culture // Creators: Rachel Baker, Joel Baxendale, Oliver Devlin, Melanie Hamilton, Isobel MacKinnon & Meg Rollandi with Freya Finch // Director: Joel Baxendale // Performers: Isobel MacKinnon, Rachel Baker, Oliver Devlin & Freya Finch // Composer: Oliver Devlin // Performance Design: Meg Rollandi // Producer: Melanie Hamilton // Production Manager: Bridget Carpenter // Musical Arrangement: Jake Baxendale // Marketing Manager: Lydia Zanetti for Zanetti Productions // Lighting Design: Rachel Marlow for Filament Eleven 11
- BURN HER // Aug 2 - 18
Company: Smoke Labours Productions // Writer: Sam Brooks // Director: Sam Snedden // Producer: Julie Zhu // Set Design: Meg Rollandi // Costume Design: Daniel Williams Design // Sound Design: Emi Pogoni, Blake Johnston // Performers: Miriama McDowell, Bree Peters, Amelia Reynolds, Andi Crown, Roy Ward & Geordie Holibar // Lighting Design: Rachel Marlow for Filament Eleven 11
- ORIENTATION // Sep 5 - 15
Company: Proudly Asian Theatre // Writer & Director: Chye-Ling-Huang // Producer: Kelly Gilbride // Assistant Producer: Nayheon Lee // Production & Costume Design: Michael McCabe // Lighting Design: Ruby Reihana-Wilson // Music Director: Emi Pogoni
- MEDUSA // Oct 24 - Nov 3
Company: Zanetti Productions // Creators: Virginia Frankovich, Nisha Madhan, Julia Croft // Performers: Nisha Madhan, Julia Croft, Bronwyn Ensor // Sound Design: Claire Duncan // Performance Design: Meg Rollandi // Dramaturg: Kate Prior // Lighting Design & Operation: Calvin Hudson // Production Manager: Ruby Reihana-Wilson // Graphic Design: William Duignan
2017
- MY BEST DEAD FRIEND// Jul 12 – 22
Company: Zanetti Productions // Writer & Performer: Anya Tate Manning // Director & Operator: Isobel MacKinnon // Design: Meg Rollandi
- THE EFFECT // Aug 1 - 12
Company: Fractious Tash // Director: Benjamin Henson // Producer: Jason Hodzelmans // Performance: Sheena Irving, Will Wallace, Jessie Lawrence, Daniel Watterson // Design: Brad Gledhill & Rachel Marlow
- OTHER [chinese] // Sep 06 - 16
Company: White_mess // Creator & Director: Alice Canton // Producer: Julie Zhu
2016
- EVERYTHING ANYONE EVER WANTED // Jun 21 – 25
Company: Black Sheep Productions // Choreographic Direction: Natalie Maria Clark // Performers & Creative Collaboration: Sofia McIntyre, Benjamin Mitchell, Emmanuel Reynaud, Rosa Strati // Assistant Producer: Chloe Klein // Design: Sean Kelly a.k.a. Seth Frightening, Ruby Reihana-Wilson, Christopher Stratton
- LEILANI // Aug 4 - 13
Company: Mahuika Theatre Company // Artistic Direction: Pedro Ilgenfritz // Producer: Gracie-Rose Kay // Performance: Aymee Karaitiana, Irasa Siave & Natasha Daniel // Design: Kate Lang, Caitlin Walters
- DON JUAN // Oct 27 - Nov 12
Company: A Slightly Isolated Dog
2015
- THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY FRIEND, JACK HARTNETT // Jul 24 – Aug 8
Company: Bullet Heart Club // Script: Rochelle Bright // Music & Lyrics: Abraham Kunin // Director: Conrad Newport // Performance: Todd Emerson // Band: Abraham Kunin, Leon Radojkovic & Alex Freer // Design: Daniel Williams, Jane Hakaraia, Tom Anderson
- NOT PSYCHO // Aug 14 - 29
Company: Fractious Tash // Writer & Driector: Benjamin Henson // Performance: Edwin Beats, Julia Croft, Virginia Frankovich, Kevin Keys, Donogh Rees, Bryony Skillington // Design: Christine Urquhart, Rachel Marlow, Thomas Press
- ALL YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS FULFILLED FOREVER // Sept 9 -19
Company: The Playground Collective // Director: Robin Kerr // Writer: Eli Kent // Producer: Molly O’Shea // Performance: Eli Kent, Joel Baxendale, Victoria Abbott, Hamish Parkinson // Design: Sam Trubridge, Marcus McShane // Music: Gareth Hobbs.
2014
- DAFFODILS // Mar 13 – 29
Company: Bullet Heart Club // Writer: Rochelle Bright // Remixes: Stephanie Brown (LIPS), Abraham Kunin // Director: Dena Kennedy // Performance: Todd Emerson, Colleen Davis, Stephanie Brown (LIPS), Abraham Kunin, Fen Ikner // Design: Jane Hakaraia // Creative Producer: Kitan Petovski
- THE WILDERNESS // Jun 10-13
Company: Blackbird Ensemble // Director: Claire Cowan // Design: Brad Gledhill // Stage Manager: Annabel Harrison
- WHEEL OF EXPERIENCE // Sept 9 - 13
Company: A Hundred Trees Theatre // Creative and performance team: David Ward, Peter Daubé, Dave Khan
- ONE DAY MOKO // Nov 5 - 15
Company: Portable Union // Performance: Tim Carlsen // Director: Leo Gene Peters // Design: Jane Hakaraia
2013
- TITUS // May 29 – Jun 8
Company: Fractious Tash // Cast: Paul Lewis, Cole Jenkins, James Roque, Eli Matthewson, Jason Hodzelmans, Jason Wu, David Sutherl // Director: Ben Henson // Design: Michael Forkert, Jin Shin, Madison-Leigh Wright, Kristen Sorrenson, Suzanne Sturrock, Jade Berg
- ELEMENTAL // May 30 - 31
Company: Strike Percussion // Performance: Murray Hickman Tim Whitta Leni Sulusi Takumi Motokawa Tom Scrase // Music: Gareth Farr // Directors: Willem Wassenaar, Angela Green // Design: Ollivier Ballester, Van Locker, Glenn Ashworth
- THE PITCHFORK DISNEY // Jun 20 - 29 Jun
Company: The Moving Theatre Company // Performance: Todd Emerson, Michelle Blundell, Leon Wadham, Sam Snedden // Director: Sophie Roberts // Producer: Martyn Wood // Design: Daniel Williams, Jennifer Lal, Sean Lynch, Jaime Robertson
2012
- STANDSTILL // May 30 - Jun 8
Company: Rebel Alliance // Performance: Andi Crown, Kevin Keys, Josephine Stewart Tewhiu // Director: Anders Falstie-Jensen // Design: Rob McDonald
- DROWNING IN VERONICA LAKE // Aug 21 - 31
Company: Flaxworks // Writer: Phil Ormsby // Performance: Alex Ellis // Director: Simon Coleman // Design: Sara Talor, Elizabeth -Whiting, Nik Janiurek
- MICHAEL JAMES MANAIA // Sept 5 – 15
Company: Taki Rua Productions // Performance: Te Kohe Tuhaka // Writer: John Broughton // Director: Nathaniel Lees // Design: Maaka McGregor, Lisa Maule, Daniel Williams
