What’s on in Wellington this weekend
TODAY
Music: Dancing Queen: A Tribute to ABBA
The Opera House, 8pm, from $33
This ABBA show is a full-scale concert production featuring more than two hours of fun, energetic music performances with a live backing band, replica costumes and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle. Tickets available at ticketmaster.co.nz.
WOW: Up Close PreviewParty
Level 4, Te Papa, 8.30pm-11pm, 18+, $99
Enjoy live music, WOW performance elements, themed food stations, and a drink token upon arrival. Your ticket also includes entry to the exhibition. Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz. Concert: Benjamin Makisi
Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, 6.30pm, $52.10 Award-winning tenor Benjamin Makisi will present amasterful performance from the world of the popular classics, opera, musical theatre and Pasifikamelodies. Tickets at ticketek.co.nz. Exhibition: Chevron Hassett, Just Us
Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, 5.30pm, free Just Us is a new solo exhibition by Te-Upokoo-te-Ika-based artist Chevron Hassett. Drawing from his experiences growing up in Te Awakairangi/Lower Hutt, Hassett has developed a photographic installation that explores the lived realities and representation of Ma¯ori men in contemporary Aotearoa.
Exhibition: The Toi 3 Hundy
Toi Po¯neke Arts Centre, 5.30pm, until December 22
Looking for an opportunity to start your own art collection or expand on your current one? See what the residents of Toi Po¯neke have been up to in this annual cash and carry exhibition.
Event: You Should Be Dancing
San Fran, Cuba St, 8pm, $20
If you’re more at home with Benny and Bjorn than with the Biebs, and know all the moves to Thriller, then you’re in luck. San Fran comes to life playing all the tracks you hide from your friends.
TOMORROW
Choir: Sing it with Spirit
CapitalE 4Queens Wharf, 1pm-1:30pm, free Join Lala Simpson and Manawa ora Children’s Community Choir in an interactive performance with amixture of world music and Christmas carols.
Concert: NZSO Messiah
Michael Fowler Centre, 7.30pm, range of prices Acclaimed conductor Gemma New will lead the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for its annual performance of Handel’ s master work, Messiah. New will be joined by soprano Anna Leese, mezzo-soprano Sarah Court, tenor Frederick Jones and bass Robert Tucker. Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz.
Concert: Keep Calm and Sing
St Andrews on the Terrace, 2pm, $5-$10
Great barbershop music and seasonal Christmas numbers from the Harbour Capital Chorus. Tickets at www.hcc.org.nz, door sales.
Concert: Angels Abounding – A Northern Chorale Concert
St Barnabas Church, Box Hill, Khandallah, 3pm, $20
This concert features the Missa Sancti Raphaelis by Johann Michael Haydn and a range of Christmas carols; plus instrumental music from Thomas Nikora, Samuel Berkahn and Bernard
Wells. Followed by afternoon tea. Door sales, children free.
SUNDAY
Concert: Christmas Sing-Along
Michael Fowler Centre, 2.30pm, from $10 Orchestra Wellington’s Christmas Sing-Along, with host Erroll Anderson and ballet dancer Kate Cockerton-Holmesmaking a special appearance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz. Concert: Wellington Chamber Orchestra
St Andrew’s on the Terrace, 3pm $15-$20
The Wellington Chamber Orchestra will be playing Verdi’s overture to Force of Destiny, Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto, and Franck’s Symphony in Dminor. Conductor and soloist – Andrew Atkins. Door sales.
Fair: Street Fair
Ganges Rd, Khandallah, 10am-2pm, free entry or koha
A street fair with art, crafts, jewellery, food and live entertainment with all proceeds going to Rotary projects.
Dance: Peter Pan and UnPreCedenTed performed by Tarrant Dancers
Opera House, 4.30pm and 7pm, $14.50
Peter Pan – a storybook ballet that is the perfect Christmas treat. UnPreCedenTed – a contemporary dance work made by young dancers as they reflect on a year they will never forget. Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz.
Have events to include?
Email us at arts@dompost.co.nz with ‘‘ What’s on’’ in the subject line.