Auckland Town Hall: What a difference a day makes. On Friday night, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra pays homage to the world's largest celebration of science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and all things "pop culture" in a special Comic Con-themed concert featuring music from TV, film and video games — think Star Trek, Game of Thrones, Spider-Man and … Sonic the Hedgehog. Then, on Saturday night, conductor Hamish McKeich takes up the baton again when the NZSO accompanies the five finalists in New Zealand's most prestigious classical singing competition, the Lexus Song Quest. With $90,000 in prizes up for grabs, it really is a life-changing opportunity.
NZSO, Auckland Town Hall, Comic Con, Friday; Lexus Song Quest, Saturday
Q Theatre: The Changeling has been doing the rounds of Auckland theatres and now it comes to Q Theatre where, hidden in the bowels of the building, is an intimate underground theatre just perfect for upping the ante and taking audiences into claustrophobic worlds. In The Changeling, that world is one of obsessive sexuality and tragedy when Beatrice hires a hitman to murder her fiancé, only to become trapped in a "vortex of lust and deceit". It's a Jacobean tragedy directed by Michael Hurst which means while it's around 400 years old, it'll still be as relevant as ever.
The Changeling, Vault at Q Theatre, until Saturday
Basement Theatre
: McLeod's Daughters gets a hilarious improv remix in the astonishingly funny Mackenzie's Daughters, back at the Basement after a sell-out Auckland Fringe season. The show, which won Best Ensemble (Comedy) in Fringe, features a rotating cast of some of Auckland's funniest performers including Alice Snedden, Kura Forrester, Brynley Stent, Melanie Bracewell and Alice Canton. The completely improvised show parodies soap operas, farm living and heartbreak over a completely ridiculous but totally amazing hour. Don't miss it.