How it works

Showquest
TOI

SHOWQUEST

An original stage-based mini broadway that follows the elements of Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Culture & Technology. ​​Students design, produce and perform stories in a powerful performance of celebration and recognition from their community. Performances are centred around an issue chosen by what's important to students.

The Basics

This is a simple outline for Showquest.

PARTICIPANTS

Performance team numbers are a maximum of 100 performers. All schools are welcome and teams can be any size smaller than this! These numbers do not include technical and support crew.

TEAMS

Showquest has two competing sections - Junior (Y1-8) and Senior (Y9-13). Senior groups can have junior students participating.

COST

Entry fee is $10 per performer and backstage students (excl. adult support crew), it has been set at this level as we want it to be affordable to participate.

THEME

Each performance will follow a theme. Let your creative mind run wild! Points and awards will be given for originality. Make sure in your theme selection that you are not infringing copyright. If you have any concerns about your theme, please contact the Event Office.

SOUNDTRACK

Commercial music or original music created by musicians from your school may be used. Most schools choose to create a ‘mashup’ of songs and audio. Have fun with this as it is one of the best ways of telling a story and expressing a theme, idea or feeling.

Live Music

School groups have the opportunity to combine their pre-recorded soundtrack with a live music element. This could be made up of a band, vocalists and/or narrators of up to 10 students and will take place in our Rockshop Live Music Pit, separate to the main stage.

TIMING

Each performance can be a maximum of 10 minutes long. Your setup, entrance, performance, pack down and exit all need to take place in this allocation. You do not have to use the full time!

STYLING

We allow hand-held props that can be carried on and off stage by one or two students. They can be no bigger than 2 metres high and must be able to be lifted on and off stage by one or two students.

LED VIDEO SCREEN

Our LED video screen is a more sustainable option than large props and sets, and will help you to create the world of your show. From block colours, animation, images, moving videos and more, your options are endless when it comes to making your performance stand out.

LIGHTING

All performances are required to provide one or two Lighting Designers, who will work alongside our Showquest Lighting Director through both your rehearsal time and performance. This student does not require any previous experience with lighting, take it as an opportunity to learn!

NCEA

We have created a free NCEA resource e-book outlining how Showquest can be integrated with NCEA standards in Music, Dance & Drama. This is an entirely optional component - contact events@showquest.nz if you would like a copy.

EVENTS

Events will be held at professional venues in each region around Aotearoa. Ticket information will be released closer to the time. Find the date and venue info under the 'Dates/Ticket' tab.

Awards

Although Showquest is primarily about participation, there will be awards for both the Junior & Senior Sections.

  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Regionally
  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Nationally
  • ZM Soundtrack Award
  • Live Music 
  • Original Composition (student created)
  • Styling
  • Props
  • Choreography
  • Theme
  • Drama
  • Lighting
  • Use of Video Wall
  • Whetū Rangatahi (Star of the Show)
  • Public Speaking Award (based on your Team Leaders onstage)
  • School Spirit Award (for teamwork, attitude, and school values shown on the day)

TOI

A wearable art competition for student designers run in collaboration with our friends at World of WearableArt. Students can exhibit their larger than life creations at a live Showquest event around Aotearoa.

Check out our 2023 Lookbooks showcasing top Junior and Senior creations for inspiration!

THE BASICS

This is a simple outline for Toi.
Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive the full Toi Manual.

WORLD OF WEARABLEART

We are very proud to be working in collaboration with our friends at World of WearableArt to integrate a different component of the performing arts into our programme. WOW have helped us shape this platform and Dame Suzie Moncrieff (WOW Founder) and Heather Palmer (WOW Competition Director) are our national judges.

ENTRANTS

All entrants must be enrolled in a New Zealand school (including home school and correspondence school). Students can enter in either the Junior (Y1-8) or Senior (Y9-13) category. There is no limit to the number of student designers per garment. Senior students (Y9-13) can enter Toi independently, even if your school is not involved.

TEACHERS/PARENTS

Teachers and parents are not permitted to contribute to the design or creation of the garment above and beyond acceptable health & safety measures. E.g. helping with a hot glue gun or assisting in cutting tricky materials.

COST

Toi has an entry cost of $10 per garment. Each garment can have up to 3 students attend on event day (student model and up to 2 designers/helpers).

DESIGN BRIEFS

Be inspired by one of our four design briefs created with WOW: Stories of the South Pacific | Year 3024 | Larger than Life|or Myths, Legends and Fantastic Creatures. Let your mind run wild when interpreting these briefs - you can be as literal, wacky or fantastical as you like! If you have an amazing idea that doesn’t fit into these themes, you can also choose to create something with a real WOW factor and enter our Open brief.

JUDGING

Student designers will have a professional photo taken of their creation on their model at a Showquest event. Toi mentors will meet with designers, and shortlisted garments will have additional photos taken for nationwide judging by our WOW judges, Dame Suzie Moncrieff and Heather Palmer. You can also choose to enter our additional Creative Photo Challenge by taking a magazine-style cover photo of you striking a pose!


EVENT DAY

On event day, a photoshoot studio will be set up backstage where our photographer will take a professional photo of each Toi garment. Each garment can only have up to 3 students attend on event day (student model and up to 2 designers/helpers). During the Showquest evening show, student models will walk a stage catwalk and showcase their garments in front of a live audience.




Awards

Although Toi is primarily about participation,
there will be awards presented for the categories below.

Ngā mihi nui to WOW, Bernina and The Fabric Store for their generosity in providing prizes for Toi entrants.

National Awards

  • Junior National 1st, 2nd and 3rd 
  • Senior National 1st, 2nd and 3rd 
  • Junior and Senior National Finalists - winning a sewing machine from Bernina and WOW prize pack
  • Sustainable Garment Award - 75% + recycled/repurposed materials - WOW Prize Pack
  • The WOW Inspiration Award - WOW Prize Pack
  • Bernina’s Choice Award - sewing machine from Bernina
  • Best Interpretation of Design Brief
  • Creative Photo Challenge
Grand prize awarded to the National Senior 1st Place:
  • Travel and Accommodation (valued at up to $1000) to Wellington and
  • Tickets to the 2024 World of WearableArt show for up to four (depending on size of design team)
  • Bernina sewing machine
  • $200 voucher from The Fabric Store
  • Garment featured in Toi 2024 marketing campaign
Grand prize awarded to the National Junior 1st Place:
  • Tickets to the 2024 World of WearableArt show for up to four (depending on size of the design team).
  • $100 voucher from The Fabric Store 
  • Garment featured in Toi 2024 marketing campaign

Get in touch

Need help with something? Or just want to say kia ora, hit us up with the details here!

Phone (09) 845 1557
Email  events@showquest.nz

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What are you waiting for?

Registrations close:
Showquest - March 18• Toi - April 15• OnScreen - TBC