Auckland Live Adds Free Art Installation ‘Checkmate’ To ‘We The Young’ Festival Programme

This September, Aotea Square will transform into a larger-than-life game board as Checkmate, a colossal interactive chess-inspired installation, lands as part of Auckland Live’s brand new Youth arts festival, We The Young.

Created by internationally renowned artists Amigo & Amigo, Checkmate invites visitors of all ages to step inside a whimsical world where oversized Bauhaus-inspired chess pieces tower above the crowd. More than just a game, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in art, design, and movement - for free.

Opening Saturday 13 September, and running until Sunday 5 October, this bold installation is one of over 20 performances, workshops and activations across We The Young, Auckland Live’s first ever arts festival created exclusively for tamariki and rangatahi. With interactive art, family-friendly theatre, and loads of outdoor fun, We The Young is set to take over the city’s iconic venues including Aotea Centre, Aotea Square, and Auckland Town Hall.

Daniel Clarke, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Performing Arts, leading Auckland Live says: “Checkmate is a brilliant example of the kind of interactive art we’re proud to bring to public spaces through We The Young. It’s playful and beautifully crafted - inviting tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau to experience creativity on a monumental scale. This installation captures the spirit of the festival: imaginative, inclusive, and unforgettable.”

Alongside Checkmate, the We The Young line-up features a playful mix of performances and experiences for all ages. Highlights include Creation Creation, a big-hearted theatre work tackling life’s biggest mysteries through real interviews; Paper Planet, an enchanting interactive forest installation; and The Tantrum, a joyful dance-theatre show exploring childhood emotions. Little ones can enjoy Up and Away, a gentle sensory performance for pre-walking babies, while Pīpī Paopao brings waiata and Te Taiao to life through te reo Māori.

There’s also The Imaginarium, a one-day creative sensory experience for Disabled and non-disabled youth, the epic Stand Up Stand Out youth talent final, and physical theatre workshops from Massive Company. For those at home, The Valentina offers a magical illustrated audio journey through space. A variety of free experiences can be enjoyed including A Taste of Art Battle – Young Guns, Little Language Lounge, and a live 95bFM Kids Show broadcast, along with free outdoor fun in Aotea Square, including Dance-O-Mat.

With tickets across the festival priced to keep experiences accessible, and over half of them completely free, We The Young promises to be a landmark new fixture on Auckland’s arts calendar.
Tickets and programme details at www.aucklandlive.co.nz/event/we-the-young.

ABOUT AUCKLAND LIVE

Auckland Live is the premiere organisation for performing arts, culture, entertainment and events in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest performing arts entity, we proudly present a programme of live arts and entertainment across our iconic venues: Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall, The Cloud, Shed 10, Viaduct Events Centre, Bruce Mason Centre, and Aotea Square. Auckland Live is part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a Council-Controlled Organisation.

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