Celebrate the genius, music and phenomenon of John Lennon.

Lennon: Through A Glass Onion comes to Auckland for a New Zealand exclusive following its sold out seasons across New York, Australia and the UK!

Award-winning Australian actor and singer John Waters (Offspring, Underbelly, Godspell, Hair) takes to the stage with accompanist Bill Risby (Leo Sayer, The Supremes) to perform Lennon: Through A Glass Onion – part spoken word, part concert – a celebration of one of the most distinctive voices of his generation; John Lennon.

Featuring a catalogue of Lennon’s greatest songs including Woman and Jealous Guy, as well as his collaborations with Paul McCartney including A Day in the Life, Strawberry Fields Forever, Revolution and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, this intimate production reveals the essence of the life and times of one of the most admired icons of all time.

Just like a Beatles chorus, John Waters' two-man show Lennon: Through a Glass Onion has the knack of being instantly inviting and deceptively simple

- Stuff.co.nz

As Waters and Risby play and sing their own musical interpretations, it evokes a more suitably humanistic attitude than a more derivative impression might have

– Theatreview

Australian actor/singer John Waters’ breathes life into this biopic musical, his voice a fitting ode to Lennon in this unpretentious two hander show that is every bit clever as it is entertaining

– NZ Entertainment Podcast

John Waters

John currently appears on the hugely successful comedy/drama Offspring as Darcy, the patriarch of an eccentric family of big personalities. He was also recently seen as psychopathic criminal Edgar Thompson in TV's hit 'dramedy' Rake.

The son of Scottish actor Russell Waters, as a teenager John was a singer and bass-player with UK blues band The Riots, before traveling to Australia where he landed the lead role of Claude in the 1969 Sydney production of Hair.

John moved into work as a film and television actor in Australia and became known for his varied performances both as a character actor and leading man in TV series such as Rush and All the Rivers Run. He also featured in the new wave of Australian cinema in the 1970’s including Summerfield, The Getting of Wisdom, End Play and Breaker Morant.

John remained in music through his theatre work; in Godspell, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Little Night Music, Jacques Brel, They're Playing Our Song with Jacki Weaver, as well as the classic leading roles of Henry Higgins, Captain Von Trapp and Fagin.

In 1992 John and Stewart D'Arrietta devised and first performed Looking Through A Glass Onion, later named Lennon: Through A Glass Onion. It has continued to be reprised for extensive and successful tours, including a season in London's West End and most recently in an award-nominated run at the Union Square Theatre in New York City. Further seasons in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Liverpool have established this show on the international calendar of must-see music/theatre events.

Bill Risby 

Bill started piano at age 3, and after progressing through classical grades, studied Jazz at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. He is now regarded as one of the most accomplished musicians of his generation, in jazz, improvised and popular music. He has played with many visiting jazz artists such as Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, Kitty Margolis, Velotti Batiste jazz ensemble, Wayne Bargeron, Bobby Shew and Rob McConnell amongst others.

He is the music director for pop artist Leo Sayer, played on his latest two albums and has also toured extensively with him. Bill has played with Spandau Ballet, The Supremes, The Temptations, Russell Morris, Joe Camilleri, Richard Clapton, Glenn Shorrock, Marcia Hines and supported Dionne Warwick and Steve Lacy.

In country music Bill has played on many albums including those of John Williamson, Kasey Chambers, Adam Harvey, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Brand, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider, Graeme Connors, Sara Storer, Lyn Bowtell and Felicity Urquhart. Bill has 9 albums to his name and is on the Ponca Jazz recording label (Norway) and Universal Music.