Acclaimed immersive light experience Darklight: The Hidden World is set to transform NPDC’s TSB Showplace from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October 2026.
In a first for the 100-year-old venue, every corner will be completely reimagined, as visitors of all ages are invited to step into vivid worlds of light and sound.
Presented by New Plymouth Partners and created by the Darklight creative team, explorers can touch, play and interact as they journey from giant glowing gardens to beneath reflective pools and out into the cosmos, with surprises along the way.
“The Hidden World is playful, joyful and reflective, and unlike anything seen here before.” says TSB Showplace Lead, Fraser Ross.
“Every space in the newly refurbished TSB Showplace becomes part of a giant light and sound experience, including areas people wouldn’t normally get to step inside.”
Darklight has rapidly become a standout on Auckland’s events scene. It was created by Angus Muir Design, the creative force behind some of New Zealand’s favourite TSB Festival of Lights installations, in collaboration with event producer Dan Move, as a platform for ambitious, artist-led immersive installations.
Angus Muir, founder of Angus Muir Design, says New Plymouth has become a special place for their team.
“We've delivered a number of projects across the region over the years, so bringing Darklight here feels like a natural next step. We're thrilled to share this experience with a community that has embraced so much of what we do,” says Angus.
“Working with a venue like the TSB Showplace has been a dream of ours for a long time. It's an iconic and character-filled venue, and we're excited to transform it into a world of light, sound and imagination unlike anything we've created before.”
The experience isn’t just for kids, with grown-ups sure to get a buzz out of it too, especially with a newly revamped hospitality space providing the perfect spot to catch-up and relax.
With a distinctive creative vision and limited season, Darklight is set to be the must‑experience event of the year - drawing visitors from across the region and beyond for a unique journey into The Hidden World.
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