Showquest – the performing arts platform for schools - dates for 2019
Creativity, performance, music and movement will be back on stage from May next year as students take part in the second
year of Showquest, the Ministry of Education backed performing arts event that will run in thirteen regions from
Whangarei to Southland. .
Rockquest Promotions, which has 30 years of success with the country’s only live, nationwide school music contest, had a
successful first year of Showquest, after winning the contract for an event to replace Stage Challenge in early May.
Event Director Matt Ealand says Showquest is an opportunity for students to express themselves by drawing on their
personal experiences and cultural heritage.
“They design and direct their own performances, themed around ideas that are important to them,” he said. “This year we
saw that students put a huge amount of thought into the themes they chose, coming up with powerful ideas such as the
Maori Battalion, the impact of social media on teens, and plastic pollution in our oceans.”
Ealand said Showquest had a wider focus than Smokefreerockquest and was relevant to more students.
“Showquest is structured on a competitive framework, but the driving rationale, as with all the Rockquest Promotions’
events, is to encourage participation, creative growth and team work,” he says. “We find that if we are able to provide
a platform where students can express themselves on their own terms within the boundaries of the event, the rewards go
far beyond the rush of performing on the day.”
Matt Ealand heads the team that will run Showquest from the Rockquest promotions Auckland office. The first event is 7th
May 2019 in Whangarei.
Entries close on 1st March 2019, schools can enter via the website: www.showquest.nz
Dates for Showquest 2019 are:
Northland (Whangarei) 7th May
Nelson 10 May
Southland 14 May
Otago 16 May
Canterbury 20 and 21 May
Rotorua 25 May
Hawkes Bay (Napier) 27 May
New Plymouth 29 May
Auckland 5, 6, 7 June
Wellington 17 June
Manawatu (Palmerston North)
Waikato (Hamilton) 25 June
Bay of Plenty (Tauranga) 27 and 28 June
Ends