Naked Samoans Add One-Off Show At Q Theatre

The Naked Samoans have added a one-off performance at Q Theatre’s Rangatira on Wednesday May 28 at 8pm, after selling out their 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival season before the curtain even comes up on The Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans. Tickets are on sale now for what is rumoured to be the legendary comedy troupe’s last-ever show, ever, probably.

Last seen on stage together in 2018, their much-anticipated return reunites best mates Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva and Iaheto Ah Hi in a dark comedy of denial, miracles and community service.

The Naked Samoans collectively launched a new era of popular culture in Aotearoa with comedic taonga like award-winning animated seriesbro’Town (Best Comedy, NZ Screen Awards 2005, 2006 and 2007) and two smash-hit Sione’s Wedding movies.

Over the past three decades, the incredibly busy sextet have voiced blockbuster characters, broken cinema box-office records, become international stars, documented contemporary Pacific life on stage and screen, been elected to public office, and received impressive acronyms like ONZM. Recent credits among the group include Disney’s Moana and Moana 2, Fox series Rescue Hi-Surf, Miki Magasiva’s NZ box-office smash TINĀ, Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, Apple TV+ series Time Bandits, HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death, and Celebrity Treasure Island.

“I’ve been trying to get us together again for years but nobody would turn up,” Robbie Magasiva laughs. But a well timed call from the comedy festival, a miracle of scheduling and a spark of an idea made The Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans a rare reality.

“I stumbled across some vintage footage of the Naked Samoans recently and wondered if it would be possible to get them out of retirement for our 30th festival,” says the NZ Comedy Trust’s Festival Producer, Jay Law. “So I asked, and somehow they agreed.”

“No matter what else we’re up to, our favorite thing to do is the Nakeds on stage,” says Oscar Kightley. 27 years after their comedy fest debut in Naked Samoans Talk About Their Knives, the laughter from the rehearsal studio comes as readily as ever as the six friends create a fresh story threaded with their signature slapstick, satire, social commentary, and crack-up new characters.

The Naked Samoans insist this will be their last show together, as their careers, families and schedules pull them in different directions. Whether that remains true, the surprise extra performance at Q’s Rangatira on May 28 promises to be a coming-together of community, with friends of the Naked Samoans contributing to make it memorable.

Best Foods will be on site giving away free jars of their legendary mayo. MOQ1 have come to the party with a Naked Samoans merch store. And everyone who buys a ticket to Q performance of The Last Temptation of the Naked Samoans before 11:59pm on Friday May 24 goes into the draw to win a delicious pre-theatre, two-course dinner for two at Metita, curated by leading Samoan chef Michael Meredith.** More surprises are expected on the night.

**Winner will be drawn and informed on Saturday May 25, and the voucher (worth $120, plus free parking at Sky City) must be used at Metita before May 31, for a Pacific-inspired pre-show meal between 5-6pm.

Tickets: Premium $50. GA $40. Concessions $35 for Seniors, Students, Groups 8+, Community Services Card holders, Teachers, Bus Drivers, Port and Factory Workers. Service fees may apply.

Booking links and more information:

https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/find-a-show/the-naked-samoans/

qtheatre.co.nz - 09 309 9771 - 305 Queen Street, Auckland

Content warning: This show could contain strong language, comic violence, irreverent themes, traces of nuts, dubious pronunciation and illegible English.

© Scoop Media