Looking Out For Each Other
Here, you'll find all the info you'll need to access our Festival - from getting into our venues, booking tickets and our Pay What You Can system, COVID-19 related info and content warnings. This page will be updated with all relevant event information once we have launched our 2023 programme.
In the meantime, if there's something you'd like to know, please contact us: info@nelsonartsfestival.nz
Accessibility Programme
It is our intention as an organisation to provide greater accessibility to the Festival as a whole.
We are learning and growing our knowledge in this space, which in turn impacts our programme and event delivery as we work towards a Festival that welcomes our whole community.
If you have thoughts or suggestions, please reach out to us: access@nelsonartsfestival.nz
Accessibility
WHEELCHAIR USERS
Some venues have specific seats allocated for wheelchair users — please get in touch when booking if you have any questions: access@nelsonartsfestival.nz
SERVICE DOGS
COMPANION SEATS
We’d like to support everyone who needs support in accessing our festival events. Please let us know if you require a companion seat alongside yours.
You can book a complimentary companion ticket through the Theatre Royal box office in person or by contacting access@nelsonartsfestival.nz
HIGHLY VISUAL EVENTS
The Theatre Royal also has a hearing assistance system in place.
Please note: The earpieces provided may not compatible with all hearing aids, so it is recommended that users provide their own headsets.
NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS
NEW ZEALAND SIGN LANGUAGE (NZSL) INTERPRETED EVENTS
AUDIO BASED EVENTS
AUDIO DESCRIBED EVENTS
Their narration is transmitted to wireless receivers and headsets worn by the audience members.
SAFE SPACE
How to book
Right here, right now (online)
In Person
Theatre Royal (78 Rutherford Street), open 12pm - 4pm weekdays.
By Phone
You can also call Theatre Royal on 03 548 3840 (and select 1).
Or, if you have any questions about an event or tickets you have purchased you can email boxoffice@theatreroyalnelson.co.nz or info@nelsonartsfestival.nz.
How to Pay
Ticket Prices & Service Fees
All ticket prices are inclusive of GST but do not include the per ticket service fee. If using a credit card, this will also incur a fee. The following are our per ticket service and credit card fees:
- $1.50 per ticket for internet purchases
- $2.50 per ticket for counter purchases
- Credit card fees 3%
Door Sales
Pay What You Can (PWYC) Ticketing
WHY & HOW IT WORKS
We believe that Pay What You Can makes the Festival more financially accessible to more of our community, and will build love of the arts in the hearts of Whakatū and beyond. With various factors it’s been and continues to be a tough time out there, and we want to help give the gift of the Festival to as many people as we can.
We know many of you will be familiar with this system, but for those of you who are coming upon it for the first time, here’s a brief overview:
WHAT IS PAY WHAT YOU CAN?
When you buy a ticket there are a range of prices to choose from, and to help you with this decision, we have included a recommended price per ticket. This recommended price is what we’d traditionally charge for tickets.
Any amount paid over this will help us continue to offer the Pay What You Can model, while helping to support our activities with artists, tamariki and rangatahi, and our local community.
Correct - this price is set to make a contribution to the costs of putting on the event. It doesn’t cover all of the costs, but it makes a dent.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER PRICES I CAN PAY?
Yep. That's the beauty of Pay What You Can! When you book, you'll be given different options to choose from. If the recommended price is inaccessible for you, please select a bracket which is manageable. If you are able to pay more than the recommended price, you will be helping to provide access for the whole community.
IF I PAY LESS DO I GET A "BAD" SEAT?
Absolutely not! Shows at the Theatre Royal and the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts (NCMA) have allocated seating so you can choose whatever seat you want when you book. Other venues are general admission so it is first in, first served, no matter what price you paid for your ticket. If you have specific access requirements, get in contact via access@nelsonartsfestival.nz
ANY QUESTIONS? Email us at info@nelsonartsfestival.nz
Our Pay What You Can ticketing is made possible by funding from The Cultural Sector Innovation Fund, Manatū Taonga | Ministry of Culture and Heritage, as well as the support of our Kārearea Partner, Nelson Building Society.
Important information
Ticket Prices
Exchanges & Refunds
If you are feeling unwell please stay home and email us to let us know. We will exchange or refund your ticket where possible (and if contacted pre-event) as thanks for putting your community first.
Allocated versus General Admission
Latecomers
Devices
Accessibility
Disclaimer
Pay What You Can
We know that price is a barrier for a lot of folx, and this new model is another step along the road to make all of our activities accessible to everyone. We will not be offering Early Bird tickets or Group bundles this year.
Find out more about the WHY and HOW of Pay What You Can above.
Our Pay What You Can ticketing is made possible by funding from The Cultural Sector Innovation Fund, Manatū Taonga | Ministry of Culture and Heritage, as well as the support of our Karearea Partner, Nelson Building Society.
Content Warnings
Some events have aspects that some audience members may find disturbing or uncomfortable. This ranges from audio or visual effects like strobe lighting, or content such as references to sexual assault or drug use.
Please check back here for individual show listings for event-specific information.
- Beyond Belief: Drug references, sexual references, rape/ sexual assault, mental illness
- Bloodlines: Violence, murder
- Breaking the Cycle: Drug references, alcoholism
- Eli Matthewson: Strong language, sexual references
- Erny Belle: Drug references, strong language, reference to violence, alcoholism, child abuse
- Fever: The Return of the Ula: Strong language, sexual references, haze, strobe, audience participation
- Gloriously Queer: Sexual references
- Pax Assadi: Strong language, references to racism
- Piano Burning: Fire, smoke
- Savage Domesticity: Violence, references to the Holocaust
- ScatterGun: Drug references, strong language, sexual references, mental illness, death/grief
- Showy Ovaries: Strong language, sexual references
- The King of Taking: HazeThoroughly Modern Māui: Haze
- VÏKÆ: Drug references, strong language, mental illness
- The Forgotten Epidemic?: Mental illness
- Wiri Donna: Rape/sexual assault themes
Covid-19
LOOKING OUT FOR YOURSELF & OTHERS
The Festival team, artists and audiences are required to comply with the latest Government health advice at the time of the event.
We ask for your patience, care and trust as we navigate events and gatherings at this time.
Refunds & Cancellations
We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our community first and foremost.
Safe Space
Nelson Arts Festival is committed to providing a safe space for all.
We have zero tolerance for discriminatory and bullying behaviours.
Huge thanks for their ticketing expertise to

