our Story
So far..
Silvan Steps
Amphitheatre
Over the last year and a half we have erected a world class venue - an outdoor amphitheatre nestled in the the Richmond hills. Created with the ambition and vision to have a major international headline within 3 years. We are halfway through this journey with 5 successful events under our belt, growing each time we are confident it can happen..
Dorado Whaktū has showcased a diverse range of performances. From the inaugural koha BBQ event, to large-scale rock festivals, showcasing our local culture to its finest. Bringing the public a variety of musical genre, fire dancers, arts, and theatrical production. Here is the Journey so far..
Silvan Steps Sizzle
Our first event was an experiment — a bold test to see what could happen if we activated the raw beauty of the Silvan Steps Amphitheatre. With no established infrastructure, locals came together to help shape the terraces. It wasn’t just the start of a show — it was the birth of a venue.
Everything used came from Dorado Whakatū’s own resources or from local businesses/supporters who believed in what we were building: a world-class arts space rooted in Whakatū and powered by local hands and hearts.
spring
to life
Now that we knew the space could work, we brought our next event to the public. - "Spring to life" presented a fully ticketed music festival in small sampling. Complete with a shuttle system to transport guests on site. This was our chance to prove that a professional, world-class event could be created right here in Whakatu, by its community.
Every element - the musicians, staging, sound techs, beer and wine, food vendors - was sourced locally. "Spring to life" showed that you don't need to outsource excellence. The festival was a huge success, with many guests quoted as saying "it is the best they'd ever been to." high compliments for humble beginings, fueling our vision to see this venue succeed for the community and draw people into the region.
summer
daze
Summer Daze was our boldest event yet, drawing 550 attendees to Silvan Steps for a vibrant day of music, food, and community. Building on the success of Spring to Life, which sold out at 400, Summer Daze proved that the venue could handle larger crowds without compromising the quality of the experience. With local bands, food trucks, and plenty of activities for everyone, it became a perfect example of how Silvan Steps could host an unforgettable, inclusive event. It solidified our reputation for creating top-tier experiences and deepened our connection with the Whakatū community.
shake your
spears
Our fourth event was a milestone: the first-ever theatre performance at the Silvan Steps Amphitheatre. Shake Your Speare’s premiered Macbeth – A Sassy, Sexy, Bluegrass Twist!, a bold new adaptation by The Barden Party — a company proudly born in Nelson. Set at golden hour with Tasman Bay as the backdrop, it brought Shakespeare to life in a way no one had seen before.
Audiences were treated to gourmet picnic baskets, a curated wine bar, DJ sets before and after the show, and a seamless shuttle system.
The night ended with a powerful fire ceremony — two spinners embodying masculine and feminine energy in a striking final act. With this event, Dorado Whakatū cemented its vision: creating world-class experiences for all kinds of art lovers, while championing local talent.
rock the steps
Dorado Whakatū transformed the Silvan Steps Amphitheatre into a rock arena for our boldest event yet. Sponsored by the Rock FM - a high-energy festival showcasing seven styles of rock, from blues and funk to classic and heavy.
We elevated the experience with two bars, VIP tickets, and towering 7-metre Greek-style pillars framing the stage. Fire dancers lit up the night, and a local actor introduced each band in full character costume, adding a playful theatrical thread to the day.
The highlight? Three young bands, including Jawz — an intermediate-age group who opened the show with raw talent and energy. Their performance, and the overwhelming support from the community, lit a spark for many young attendees to dream big and see what’s possible.
