2025 programme
February 2025
About the February 2025 Festival
The very first Samesame But Different festival in 2016 saw Peter Wells provide a space for LGBTQIA+ writers and readers to come together in a unique way. In 2025 we celebrated the 10th SSBD festival!
As we reflected on ten years of Samesame But Different, this festival was an opportunity to celebrate milestones, remember struggles and victories, and acknowledge both what has been achieved and also what we are still hoping for.
2025’s festival was a collaborative effort, put together by a volunteer board comprised of the following talented and passionate people: Izzy Robinson, Michael Giacon, Hiraani Himona, Nathan Joe, Pip Adam, and Fern Insh.
Poetry Speakeasy
Pride Poetry Speakeasy and Open Mic
5 – 7pm, Wednesday 12th February
Studio One – Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn
The 10th annual Poetry Speakeasy, held in collaboration with Auckland Libraries. Hosted by SSBD Board Member Nathan Joe, the evening included an open mic and a guest feature from regular host Michael Giacon.
Praise the lord playreading
A staged reading of the chosen playwright.
6:30 – 8pm, Thursday 13th February
A play-reading of Joshua Iosefo’s play NUMB to kick off their Praise the Lord playwright residency, which was presented in partnership with Auckland Pride.
OPENING NIght GALA
6:30 – 9pm, Friday 14th February
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
The 2025 opening night function began with the announcement of the winners of the Peter Wells Short Fiction Contest.
Presented in collaboration with Dead Bird Books, five of their authors then shared new work on the theme of celebration and milestones: Isla Huia, Liam Jacobson, Liz Breslin, Josiah Morgan, and Jenny Rockwell. The event was MC’d by Chye-Ling Huang.
In the body
8:30 – 9:40pm, Thursday 13th and Friday 14th February
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue
Welcome to a poetic forest, where even the soil is queer. Our guide is Redwood, an award-winning spoken word poet weaving lyrical stories of queer love and gender beyond the binary.
Queer storytime
10 – 11am, Saturday 15th February
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Tangaroa Paul read their incredible 2024 book for children of all ages, Rere Atu Taku Poi! / Let My Poi Fly! A beautiful story about gender fluidity in a school setting. This was followed by a Q&A which was facilitated by Trinity Thompson-Browne.
Doodling in the Margins
11:30am – 12:30pm, Saturday 15th February
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
A kōrero between artists about visual storytelling through graphic novels and comics. This panel discussion was facilitated by Fern Insh and featured Sam Orchard, Sloane Hong, and Alex Scott.
Finding the joy
1:30 – 2:30pm, Saturday 15th February
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Award winning comedian, writer and actor Johanna Cosgrove chaired this panel. She was joined by author Rebecca K Reilly, theatre maker Freya Finch, and comedian Eli Matthewson. Together they explored comedy writing across mediums.
Peter wells Keynote
3 – 4pm, Saturday 15th February
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Each year, we invite an author to deliver a lecture and provocation. In 2025, this keynote address was delivered by Trinity Thompson-Browne.
Trinity’s keynote was a reflection on how queerness influences the pursuit of creative expression.