An Exhibition for New Zealand
The Topp Twins – an exhibition for New ZealandDeveloped in heartland New Zealand by the award-winning team at Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North, The Topp Twins exhibition offers an exciting opportunity to celebrate the outstanding contribution these inspiring women make to our nation’s social, cultural and political landscape.
AVAILABLE NOW
RECENTLY SEEN AT: National Library Wellington Ashburton Museum Expressions Whirinaki
“The Topp Twins are iconic Kiwi entertainers. They represent the best of Kiwi values – fairness, hard work, down-to-Earth.”Synonymous with small town, rural New Zealand and that Kiwi “can-do attitude”, Lynda and Jools Topp are among New Zealand’s best-loved entertainers. They’ve been cultural touchstones for more than 40 years, their playful, powerful and political creative work continuing to resonate with a broad audience across generational and political divides.
As Camp Mother and Camp Leader, the Gingham Sisters, Westie girls Raylene and Brenda, posh socialites Prue and Dilly or the Kiwi bloke and townie combo of Ken and Ken, the Topp Twins continue to champion the communities and causes near and dear to us.
The Topp Twins have also cleverly brought a range of important topics to our living rooms – including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) inclusion, feminism and gender equality, Bastion Point and Nuclear Free – all with a big dose of humour and an ethos of fairness.
This is a celebration of the things that have shaped us as a nation, and the spirit and values of the things that unite us rather than divide us.
The show celebrates the Topp Twins as national treasures, as well as vital contemporary artists and commentators on New Zealand’s social, political and cultural scenes.
Key themes include family background, creating the characters, contribution as popular musicians and entertainers, political activism, freedom and inclusion, LGBTQI empowerment and achievements.
Introductions to each segment are bi-lingual, and content is easily accessible.
The exhibition offers archival footage, writing, objects and documents from their comprehensive archive to illustrate and embody a lifetime of creative work.
Audiences can engage and participate in a variety of hands-on interactives which highlight the methods of creative political activism used by the Topp Twins, and offer audiences the opportunity to express their own thoughts and opinions.
Information and SpecificationsEXHIBITION SCOPE & SIZE
Original costumes and memorabilia from the Topp Twins collection.
Eight AV screens (two with touch-screen menus), with interviews and archival footage placing the twins centre-stage throughout the exhibition.
Digital reproductions of archived documents unable to tour.
Five sets of replica costumes for audiences to try on/photograph.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
INCLUSIONS
Marketing materials; education materials; exhibition manual.
Please note any live performance by the Topp Twins is not included in this package and would have to be negotiated separately with their management company, Diva Productions.
HIRE FEE ($NZ)
$1000 + GST per week of public showing; minimum hire 4 weeks
+ forward freight via our nominated touring agency Anderson Design, who will provide a quote for a small truck including assistance with moving crates into each venue.