As a professional performing musician both here in New Zealand and overseas,
I wish to express my sense of positivity each time I played the PlayHouse Cafe and Theatre Restaurant. I find it to be a venue of fine distinction both in it’s front of house management and in its’  well trained staff. Nothing seems to phase the friendly atmosphere and i have observed at the end of the night- all patrons leaving with a smile, bearing that unmistakeable look of…’we had a great night’.
Similar to the performing arts….it’s imperative and a rite of passage, for one to pay their dues before achieving the reward of longevity,
The Playhouse has done that and now it’s time for the industry to give them the nod.
Yours sincerely
Paul Ubana Jones

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in regards to the wonderful performance experience we had at the Playhouse Theatre in Decemeber 2013. We had sold out our show at the Mapua hall on the 28th. Due to demand Nic from the Playhouse offered us another night in the area at the Playhouse Theatre on the 29th. With only a weeks notice and no marketing spend Nic was able to sell this show out as well.
We found the venue to be the most incredibly intimate performance space with by far the best acoustics we have experienced for some time. The fact that the audience came early and dined was a sublime experience. The dancefloor was packed by 8pm and the 150+ crowd were in great spirits. The performance space allowed us to interact with the audience in a way that larger venues can not. The Salmonella Dub crew were extremely thankful for the great hospitality the Playhouse provided. The food is exceptional, the staff were extremely accommodating and the setting was entirely unique. We can’t wait to play the Playhouse again.
 Kind Regards
Andrew Penman
Salmonella Dub

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
I (and my friends : Hammond Gamble,Sam Hunt,Paul Ubana Jones,Mayor Tim Shadbolt) have done numerous shows at the Playhouse Café.
I was delighted when Nic and his partner took over and rescued such an important performance venue. They have proven to be
a) Committed to providing a good performance venue.
b) Very hard-working.
c) Supportive of performing artists.
d) Honest.
e) Extremely efficient.
f) Very easy to work with.
Given that being a performance artist is a tenuous occupation at best…..  it has been an enormous help to know that we can count on the Playhouse as an “anchor” venue in the Nelson –Mapua area.
Warm regards,Gary McCormick 

The Playhouse Cafe is a specially unique venue where it can double as a seated / dining / listening crowd or clear the floor and have everyone on their feet dancing.
The cave like quality of the roof and the large stage give the performer the confidence of grandeur, and the crowd a ‘can see the stage from any spot’ experience.
I would like to endorse the Playhouse Cafe 
Oakley Grenell
Musician

The Playhouse is one of the most unique and hospitable venues we’ve ever played. Great stage, great room, great food & beverage and most of all great people. – Julian Temple

The Playhouse Café in Mapua, NZ is a gem on the South Island. As a performer, it’s a pleasure to play on their beautiful stage and in such a nicely-designed interior with great acoustics. The size allows for a couple hundred people but in a way that we don’t lose the intimacy with the audience. It’s also great that their reputation draws people from all over the region to come hear the bands – this really helps us expand our audience, and makes for a really nice vibe in the crowd. Nic & Manu’s hospitality towards the performers is amazing! As an audience member, it’s great to have live music in this area of the country, where otherwise it would mean a long drive to see bands play. They manage to attract artists from all over the country and even internationally, which is very difficult for many venues. It’s so important to have nice locations for artists to perform, and the Playhouse is ideally located to encourage bands to come to this part of the country. Oh, and their food so good! The hosts, Nic & Manu, are always very welcoming and make us feel at home.
Mike Field
International Trumpet Player

To Whom it May Concern
I have been touring extensively throughout New Zealand for about 15 years, mostly with my trio Hot Club Sandwich, and have played thousands of gigs at hundreds of venues in both rural, provincial and metropolitan areas from Stewart Island to the Far North.
I have been a regular at the Playhouse Theatre Cafe in Mapua since early 2000, when it still operated as ‘Silkwood’. Once the improvements were made it quickly became clear the venue would attract both performers and clientele from far and wide, given the lavish attention the designers gave to both groups’ needs.
The venue is unique in New Zealand as far as I know, insofar as it is a purpose-built entertainment venue with excellent acoustic properties, plenty of room for even large groups of performers, and uniform line-of-sight for the audience. The addition of in-house lighting and sound facilities made it ideal for small intimate cabaret-style theatre shows, comedy and music of almost every genre.
I believe the semi-rural location and striking outdoor art installations add to the appeal for performer and punter alike, although the location obviously presents an additional challenge in attracting an audience from the scattered local population. The current owners have always recognised this, and succeed by having developed promotional mechanisms which in my view could serve as an instructional template for every other entertainment venue in the country. They have established personal relationshipswith the locals, nurtured press and radio contacts in the area, and taken advantage of internet-based facilities including an extensive email database, well-maintained website and social media trends.
The fare is always excellent and the service impeccable as far asI am aware – and my supporters are always very quick to give me the lowdown on their experience at the venues I drag them out to, especially if it’s negative. I have never had anything other than the most glowing feedback about the Playhouse.
For these reasons I always try and secure a date at the Playhouse when organising a tour, and build our South Island leg around it. I am happy to be contacted for discussion.
yours faithfully
Andrew London

Madsen Promotions have been performing at the Playhouse for around 3 years.
Our first impressions on Nic and Manu were that they would have this Venue humming !
3 years down the track its a happening Entertainment hotspot ! Its isn’t easy promoting a Venue thats situated slightly of the “beaten track” bit Nic and Manu have won through with great food and hospitality topped of with carefully selected Entertainment.
The decor of the cafe is great with a Rustic /contemporary feel to it ….
It could now be said ”What would we do without the playhouse?
Good on ya Nick and Manu ! A dynamic Team!
Paul Madsen , Manager / Director Madsen Promotions

I have been performing as an actor at the Playhouse since it first opened in December 2007, and I have to say it’s my favourite venue for dinner theatre in the Nelson region. I love the immediacy and intimacy of the venue, the fact that as a performer you are so close to your audience. It’s quirky look ticks all the boxes as far as I’m concerned.
Hugh Neill Theatre Alive Nelson

The Playhouse is a lovely place to play. Great hospitality, good stage and system and lovely people.. the kind of venue that makes you feel like you’re on holiday rather than on tour!Flip Grater

“The Playhouse Café at Mapua has hosted a number of our touring acts, both theatrical and musical, with considerable success.
They offer a quality stage area for the performance  and treat the acts with respect. They work hard to attract an audience, who appreciate quality artistry and entertainment.
They are careful to create a supportive environment for the artists to perform to their best abilities, while also providing patrons with a quality dining experience.  
This is not an easy thing to do and they accomplish it with flair.”
Steve Thomas, Arts on Tours Director

“I have performed  in venues all across NZ and Australia and the Playhouse Cafe still stands out in my top 10. Lovely atmosphere and staff are always friendly & well organised. To present our music in venues like this is simply an honour and I hope they win the award.” Bryce Wastney (NZ Singer/songwriter) www.brycewastney.com