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Letters Out Loud

Join us for a compelling evening as a cast of exceptional performers bring to life a selection of remarkable letters from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library.

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TUE 30 JUN & WED 1 JUL 6.30PM
TE MATA TAIRONGO AUDITORIUM
ADULTS $49 MEMBERS $44.10
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Whether scrawled in anger, penned in intimacy to a loved one, or carefully composed in protest, letters provide us with vivid portraits of the past. Spanning from 1856 to 1982, the letters chosen for Letters Out Loud range from the poignant to the hilarious, covering a wide range of touchpoints from Aotearoa New Zealand history.

Hosted by Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand, and featuring an exceptional cast of readers including Stephen Lovatt, Geneva AM and Amelia Reynolds, Letters Out Loud will be a night of celebration - of correspondence and of the written word.

Presented in partnership with Friends of the Turnbull Library

Selected by historian Barbara Brookes, our programme of letters contains: 

  • Dispatches from Premier House on night-time battles with vermin 
  • The joy of receiving a package of new linen for a young wahine MP 
  • A tragic retelling of a troop ship sinking in the Aegean Sea 
  • The exhausting itinerary of the Prince of Wales in New Zealand in 1920 (who later abdicated as Edward VIII in 1936). 


Our full cast of readers for the night includes: Geneva AM, Ruth Dudding, Arlo Gibson, Stephen Lovatt, and Amelia Reynolds, with more to be annouced.

Your hosts

Barbara Brookes

Barbara Brookes MNZM, FRSNZ is Professor Emerita, University of Otago. Since retirement to Wellington in 2020, she has become President of the Friends of the Turnbull Library. Barbara is a widely published author who won the Ockham Award for Best Illustrated Non-Fiction in 2017 for her History of New Zealand Women (Bridget Williams Book, 2016). Barbara enjoys introducing audiences to history and the treasures in archives in new ways; Letters Out Loud is one result.

Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand

Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical theatre and radio as an actor, director and teacher for over 45 years. Named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to theatre, film and television, Jennifer is also President of Equity New Zealand and a board member of Te Taura Whiti i te Reo Māori – The Māori Language Commission. Jennifer most recently graced the stage in Auckland Theatre Company's sell-out season of Helen Clark in Six Outfits.

Your readers

Arlo Gibson

Arlo Gibson is an actor of the stage and screen, commonly seen on Spartacus, as well as recently manoeuvring into podcasting with The Spinoff's Fury of the Small.

Geneva AM

Geneva AM is the moniker of Geneva Alexander-Marsters (Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston), an award winning producer, beat maker and vocalist based in Tāmaki.

Stephen Lovatt

Stephen Lovatt is one of New Zealand's most prolific actors, with a career of over 40 years on stage and screen. In 2026 Stephen was awarded Best Actor in a Series in the NZ Screen Awards for his work on Shortland Street.

Amelia Reynolds

Amelia Reynolds is an actor and writer. Recent credits include a movie adaptation of Carl Shuker's A Mistake, Red Leap Theatre's Dakota of the White Flats and the upcoming Netflix series East of Eden.

Ruth Dudding

Ruth Dudding is an actor, director, film-maker, and a tutor at South Seas Film School Auckland.

and more to be announced!

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FAQs

+How much does this event cost?

Tickets are $49 each. Museum members receive a 10% discount, which will be applied at checkout. 

+ Food & Beverages 

We will have a selection of alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks and small bites available at a bar in the Auditorium Lobby. 

On Tuesday nights, the Museum is open late. Tuitui Museum Bistro & Cafe is open for you to have a meal before the event begins with ‘Twilight Tuesday’ Happy Hour specials on offer. Click here to find out more, or call to make a booking: 09 309 0443 extension 5. 

+Is there a coat / bag check available? 

We have electronic self-service lockers in Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, in which you can store your bags and coats, payable by electronic transaction only.   

+Will seating be allocated?  

No, seating will be general admission and not allocated, unless you require a wheelchair position. 

+What time should we arrive?  

The Auditorium will open from 6.15PM. We suggest arriving anytime from 5.30PM. 

+How do we find Te Mata Tairongo Auditorium?

Enter Auckland Museum via the South Atrium entrance into Te Ao Mārama.  Take the elevator up to Level 2, the Auditorium is on your right as you exit the elevator.  

Please ask one of our friendly visitor hosts if you need assistance at any time. 

+Will the car park be open?  

Yes, there is parking in the Museum’s underground carpark. This will be open for the evening at a discounted rate of $11.50. Closure of the carpark will coincide with the end of the event.   

As usual there is free parking for up to 180 minutes around the Museum and the Domain.   

See here for full details on public transport options and parking details.   

+Is the event accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, the Auditorium has several wheelchair positions and the Museum itself can be accessed via lifts or ramps. If you are a wheelchair user please inform us when you book your ticket to ensure you have a wheelchair position reserved for you. 

+Photography at the event 

Please note that there may be photography for publicity and promotion purposes at this event. Please inform the photographer or one of our event staff if you do not wish to have your photo taken.

+I have another question... 

Contact our bookings team at [email protected] or 09 306 7048  

Presented in partnership with