Hikitia! Te Tauihu presents BONES: A one-man play followed by kōrero with Julian Noel
An award-winning one-man play by Julian Noel (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Torēhina), directed by Martine Baanvinger, followed by a facilitated discussion hosted by Hikitia! Te Tauihu.
“At some point, someone in the family has to tell the truth.”
Every family has stories.
Some are told again and again around the kitchen table. Stories of love, sacrifice, laughter and resilience that become part of a family’s identity. Others are kept quiet. Stories that are never spoken aloud yet somehow continue to shape the lives of those who come after us.
This is where BONES, an award-winning one-man play written and performed by Julian Noel (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Torēhina) and directed by Martine Baanvinger, begins.
Coming to Whakatū (Nelson) as part of the Ordinary Wonders programme, BONES invites audiences to look at the stories we inherit, the things we carry, and what can happen when someone finds the courage to tell the truth.
With warmth, humour and emotional honesty, Julian brings an entire family to life on stage. Through a remarkable range of characters, audiences are taken through moments of laughter, tenderness and recognition. One moment you may be laughing out loud, the next, you may find yourself sitting in silence.
And somewhere along the way comes that quiet realisation:
“That’s my family.”
BONES is more than a theatre performance. It is an invitation to reflect on the stories that have shaped us and the stories we continue to pass on.
What do we inherit from the generations before us? What do we carry without even realising it? What do we unknowingly give to those we love? And what becomes possible when someone chooses to break the silence?
These questions connect closely with the work of Hikitia! Te Tauihu, which focuses on primary prevention – strengthening the relationships, connections and conditions that can help prevent family violence and sexual violence before it happens. They are also central to Ordinary Wonders, a collaborative community storytelling and visual arts project exploring the everyday experiences and connections that can make a meaningful difference in our lives.
The work recognises that lasting change does not begin only when something goes wrong. It begins much earlier, in the everyday moments when we listen to one another, understand ourselves, make space for honesty, and choose connection over silence.
BONES approaches these ideas without preaching or offering easy answers. Instead, it opens a door to conversation.
Performed with minimal staging, the play strips theatre back to its essentials. There are no elaborate sets or special effects. There is simply a storyteller, a collection of unforgettable characters, and a family story that gradually reveals itself.
Julian’s storytelling has already received significant recognition. BONES has received ten award nominations across the Nelson and Dunedin Fringe Festivals and has won multiple awards, including the UNESCO City of Literature Beyond Words Award. Critics have described the work as “a masterclass in storytelling”, while audiences have spoken about feeling deeply moved, seen and connected by the experience.
From performance to conversation
The experience doesn’t end when the lights go down.
Following each performance, Hikitia! Te Tauihu will host a facilitated discussion with Julian Noel, creating space to explore some of the themes raised by the play and continue the conversation around family, relationships, truth-telling, connection and the stories we carry.
It is an opportunity for audiences to reflect on what they have seen, hear different perspectives and consider how the stories we inherit can influence the way we relate to ourselves and to one another.
For Hikitia! this kind of conversation is an important part of creating spaces where people can connect, listen and reflect together. BONES provides a powerful starting point for that kōrero.
And about the extraordinary possibility that when one person finds the courage to tell the truth, the future of an entire family can begin to change.
See BONES in Whakatū
BONES by Julian Noel is being presented as part of the Ordinary Wonders programme, with two performances:
Friday, 28 August at 5:30pm. Follow the link to register for the Friday show: Bones: One-man play, followed by a facilitated discussion with Julian Noel
Saturday, 29 August at 3pm. Follow the link to register for the Saturday show: Bones: One-man play, followed by a facilitated discussion with Julian Noel
Tāwera – The New Nelson Arts Hub | Whakatū Nelson, Millers Acre
Both performances are FREE, with registration essential. Those who wish to stay after the performance are invited to join the facilitated discussion with Julian Noel, hosted by Hikitia! Te Tauihu.
Register through the Ordinary Wonders programme.
Ordinary Wonders runs from 15 August to 16 September 2026, bringing together more than 90 artworks and a programme of creative experiences, workshops, performances, films, and conversations that explore the connections that help our communities thrive.
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