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Plays & Stories
Featured stories for Plays & Stories
Keri Hulme Reads from The Bone People
Keri Hulme, whose novel the bone people was in 1985 Aotearoa's first Booker Prize winner and continues to attract strong interest and debate, died at the very end of 2021.
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Award Winning Drama Te Pō comes to RNZ
23 May 2023When you fall in love, death is the last thing you think of. A policeman, a priest and a blind man look for clues that will lead them to the missing playwright Bruce Mason.Te Pō is about searching for someone you have loved and lost.
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A Boy Called Piano
2 May 2021Three boys meet in family court. Two Māori and one Samoan. There begins a story into the heart of darkness, abuse and pain but also the remarkable resilience of the boys as they seek to survive through the power of friendship. Audio
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Unapologetic about how it is for Samoan women
23 May 2023Brilliant all-female ensemble delivers Tusiata Avia's equally brilliant verse. A coup for RNZ audiences, Wild Dogs Under My Skirt sparkles and growls with in-your-face honesty.
Series & Collections
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The Reading
New Zealand novels, short stories and short dramas adapted by RNZ.
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Major Plays
Full-length audio plays - drama and comedy
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Short Stories
Single short stories and multi-episode stories from freelance writers and published collections.
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Comedy and Satire
Current and past funny stuff - short series.
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The Listen Anytime Library
Adapted novels, biographies, travelogues as well as quick links to other story collections
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Saint Joan: Why Joan of Arc’s story is still relevant
Although written in 1923 about a story from the 15th century, the themes of Saint Joan continue to be pertinent in the 21st century. George Bernard Shaw's classic, written after the canonisation of… Audio
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Australian comedian turns scamming experience into cabaret
When Australian comedian Michelle Brasier was scammed by a stranger, she didn't report it. Instead, she extended her hand in friendship and turned the experience - into a cabaret. Audio
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Playing Favourites with Roger Hall
New Zealand's most produced playwright and still writing at 85, the legendary Roger Hall's work is back on stage this June. The Auckland Theatre Company is presenting End of a Summer Time, an ode to… Audio
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Accidental Comics - Sameena Zehra and Eddy Rodriguez
12 May 2025Accidental Comics - Sameena Zehra and Eddy Rodriguez Audio
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Corporate to charity to comedy - moving between worlds with David Sturart
5 May 2025This week, Scotland to Auckland was a circuitous route to comedy for David Stuart - but he's gets there in the end. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Audio
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Dad (and Daughter) Jokes: Irish comedians Pat and Faye Shortt
4 May 2025Pat Shortt first made it in comedy in Ireland young, back in the late 1980s before there was even a comedy scene, He was one half of a beloved comedy duo D'Unbelievables. But it was a celebrated TV… Audio
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Book awards and fast favourites with David Eggleton
Welcome to May and a bumper crop of cultural events - which makes this week's Culture 101 Fast Favourite guest an easy pick, given he embraces all fields, often at once. Otepoti Dunedin's David… Audio
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How humour found Annie Guo and Summer Xia in NZ
28 Apr 2025In part two of our series with funny folk Summer Xia and Annie Guo who found comedy through chance in New Zealand. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Audio
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Accidental Comics - Edd Rivera
Comedy by chance, comedy to cope with moving countries - a four-part series with some funny people sharing their stories of arriving at being comics in New Zealand. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Audio
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Heath Franklin on returning to NZ and 20 years of 'Chopper'
Australian comedian, Heath Franklin, is bringing his show, "Chopper: The Last Hard Bastard on Earth", to towns and cities all across New Zealand next month. Audio
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Rhys Darby: The Legend Returns
25 Mar 2025Beloved Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby speaks to Emile Donovan about his brand new show, how he works on his signature impressions, and whether an American audience really 'gets' Kiwi humour. Audio
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The week that was with Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks
21 Mar 2025Comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks chat about some of quirky stories of the week, including how pythons were used by gas station thieves in the US, the Bulgarian football club forced to apologise… Audio
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Irish play set in 19th century translated into Te Reo Maori
15 Mar 2025Director Jason Te Kare talks about the production of Nga Whakamaoritanga which is a Te Reo Maori version of the Irish play Translations which was written in 1980 by playwright Brian Friel and set in… Audio
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Gardening - it's funnier than you think
14 Mar 2025We love our gardening here on Afternoons - almost as much as we love a laugh. Audio
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The week that was with Te Radar and Pinky Agnew
28 Feb 2025Our comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew with a few laughs including the German court ruling that Birkenstocks are not works of art. Audio
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Brynley Stent's singles road trip
8 Feb 2025Bryn & Ku's Singles Club is a new doco series following two comedians on a cross-country quest for love. Audio
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The Week that Was with Te Radar and Michele A'Court
7 Feb 2025Our comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court bring some levity to the end of the week. Audio
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Road Trip: Melanie Bracewell
8 Jan 2025Award-winning Kiwi comedian Melanie Bracewell joins Anna on the road today for a summer roadie, sharing her favourite summer holiday spots, tunes, books and ice cream ahead of her stand-up tour. Audio
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Agony Aunt Courtney Dawson: Christmas edition
4 Dec 2024Do you stick to your morals when it comes to buying sustainable presents, and whether or not it's appropriate to say no to your parents at Christmas time. Audio
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How to make comedy for kids - without the 'parent jokes'
30 Oct 2024A clown dressed as Napoleon. Bubbles. Live music. The moon! Audio
