Voices Unbound - Creative Showcase - Pride Wairau Festival 2026

Voices Unbound : A Pride Wairau Creative Showcase

Doors open 6:30pm | Bar available

Pride Wairau Festival presents a special evening of storytelling, performance and conversation celebrating creative voices from the Chinese rainbow diaspora.

Headlining the evening is Nathan Joe, an award-winning Chinese-Kiwi playwright and spoken word artist. Joe is the recipient of the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award and the 2020 National Poetry Slam Championship, and his work explores identity, culture, sexuality and belonging through powerful and deeply personal storytelling.

Nathan will perform a selection of live spoken word pieces alongside digital works, offering audiences a glimpse into the creative practice that has made him one of Aotearoa’s most exciting contemporary voices. Following the performance, Nathan will take part in a live Q&A session exploring storytelling, identity and the role of art in shaping cultural conversations.

The evening will also feature the creators of the powerful short film 'Fearlessli', directed by Lee Li and produced by Tyler Redmond. The film tells the story of Li’s journey as a transgender asylum seeker who left China after her gender identity was denied, documenting her search for freedom, belonging and self-empowerment in Aotearoa. 

Following the screening of 'Fearlessli', Lee Li and Tyler Redmond will join audiences for a conversation about the making of the film, the importance of representation, and the role storytelling can play in amplifying voices that are often unheard.

Blending spoken word, film and conversation, this special showcase offers a powerful opportunity to hear stories of identity, resilience and creative expression from voices shaping the cultural landscape of Aotearoa.

Tickets are strictly limited and expected to sell out. Secure yours early.

Ticketed Event

Pride Wairau Festival 2026 – Let Marlborough Radiate.