Variété Navideño is a vibrant end-of-year variety show that embraces the joy, chaos, and diversity of the silly season. Across two special nights, we bring together short, high-energy acts that explore what this time of year means to different cultures, from festive traditions to playful reflections on closing the year. On Tuesday, the spotlight shines on Auckland’s Spanish-speaking performers, celebrating the humour, warmth, and spirit of communities from Latin America, Spain, and beyond. On Wednesday, the stage welcomes an international line-up, with artists from around the world offering their own colourful and surprising takes.

Laenye Productions is a Tāmaki Makaurau–based theatre production company founded by China González, Daniel Fernández, and Matías Avaca. Our kaupapa centres on creating spaces where migrant artists can share their voices, with a particular focus on Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities. We produce multilingual, multicultural performances that celebrate diversity while challenging artistic and cultural boundaries. Our work blends traditional storytelling with contemporary theatre forms, often integrating multiple languages on stage. We believe in giving artists the opportunity to create in their own language and in fostering cross-cultural connections with audiences. We have a strong history with Basement Theatre, including curating and hosting the Mi Casa, Su Casa series, presenting La Catrina, and Spanglish shows for the NZ International Comedy Festival. Our events often feature performers from multiple disciplines and cultural backgrounds, building a vibrant, supportive performance community.