.png)
When a giant bird pokes its beak through the ceiling and swoops away with his mum, a determined little worm sets off on a heroic adventure to save her!
Some shows leave you smiling politely as you walk out. Nightsong’s The Worm is not one of them. This one spits you back into daylight blinking like you have just resurfaced from a very theatrical wormhole. It is wild, warm, chaotic in the best possible way, and I am still not convinced I caught everything that happened on that stage. Honestly, I might need to see it again. My brain is still wriggling its way back to the surface.
Let us begin with the creature that will be haunting my dreams. The giant funnel web spider. I do not know what emotional journey the design team is on, but that spider was enormous. Legs that looked two metres long swung from the rafters like it owned the place. My eyesight is questionable at the best of times, but even I could see that this eight legged beast meant business. It was pure nightmare fuel and also brilliant theatre. That is the balance the show strikes. It is whimsical and alarming, sweet and chaotic, child friendly and adult unsettling. Somehow it all works.
Part of the magic comes from the venue. Te Pou Theatre at Corbans Estate has a way of elevating intimate and interactive work. The space feels grounded in whenua and community, warm and welcoming with that kaupapa Maori ease where talking to strangers feels natural. You walk in and immediately feel part of something, and that energy sets the tone long before the lights go down.
Inside the theatre, you are transported underground into a wormhole that feels like Middle earth collided with a jazz lounge and a children’s picture book. A lone invertebrate sits on stage serenading the audience with soft keys while also playing a trumpet at the same time. It is a multitasking flex that tells you exactly what kind of world you are entering. It is whimsical, weird, and wonderful.
The story is simple in the way all great family tales are. A young worm’s mum is snatched by a giant bird that crashes through the ceiling, and he must journey through the underground world to rescue her. It is a classic hero’s journey told with so much heart and humour that it feels fresh. It has the emotional clarity of a Pixar film. It is a show for tamariki, rangatahi, your nan, your koro, and anyone who loves a good adventure.
Along the way, the Worm meets a cast of unforgettable characters. A sneaky Snail. A sharp witted Spider. The Blind Rat who has crowned himself ruler of the underworld. The Snail is in love with the Blind Rat, a subplot I did not know I needed. There is also a Cockroach with big energy and a Worm who is equal parts adorable and determined. Alison Quigan QSM, Brett O’Gorman, Puka Moeau, and Shauntelle Jones deliver warm, funny, nuanced performances. They are the kind of actors you recognise but cannot quite place, which only adds to the charm.
The design work is extraordinary. Nightsong’s reputation for larger than life puppets and props is fully intact here. Lighting, set, costumes, puppetry, everything is meticulously crafted. The costumes feel scientifically accurate in a way that suggests someone on the team has spent a suspicious amount of time researching invertebrates. Every detail feels intentional.
And then there is the music. Finn Scholes from Carnivorous Plant Society performs live on stage and deserves his own paragraph. At one point he is playing piano and trumpet at the same time. Later he switches to flute, then xylophone, then something else entirely. The score shifts between whimsical, jazzy, and almost Tarantino like. These are bold choices for a family show, and they work beautifully. The music gives the production momentum and mischief.
The humour is constant and layered. Jokes for kids, jokes for adults, puns, slapstick, and then the snail bait death scene. I am still laughing. A snail being poisoned by pool noodles and a bubble machine because Shaggy does not want snails near his lettuce. Ridiculous, theatrical, perfect. All it needed was Scooby Doo wandering in.
There is also a surprising amount of smoke machine use. Enough that I briefly wondered if we were being gently smoked like brisket in a family friendly way.
What surprised me most was the heart. Worms apparently have five hearts, and this show uses all of them" Beneath the humour and spectacle is a story about love, bravery, and the journey from darkness into light. It is about trusting others, trusting yourself, and wriggling forward even when the world feels big and overwhelming.
At Te Pou, the kaupapa Maori environment adds an extra layer of warmth and community. It felt like a whanau night out. Kids laughing. Adults laughing even harder. Strangers chatting. Everyone buzzing afterwards. It is the kind of theatre that reminds you why live performance matters. It brings people together in a shared moment of joy and connection.
By the end, as the Worm and his friends danced in the rain, I realised that The Worm is one of those rare shows that manages to be down to earth while also being wildly imaginative. It is funny, sweet, offbeat, and unforgettable. There truly is something for everyone. If you get the chance, worm your way to the theatre. Just be prepared for the spider.
The Worm is being performed at Henderson's Te Pou Theatre from April 8-11
Purchase tickets here
Review written by Josh McNally
Purchase tickets here
Review written by Josh McNally
Edited by Alex Moulton