Topp Class
The Topp Twins Tribute TV Special
Screening Prime TV, XMAS DAY 7pm
Available to view now on SkyGo and Neon (NZ Only)
On November 7th, 2022, at The Civic in Auckland, a glittering line-up of NZ’s top musicians and comedians came together to pay tribute to Dames Lynda and Jools Topp in a special variety show celebrating the extraordinary contribution these kiwi showbiz icons have made to Aotearoa New Zealand over 40 years. This extravaganza live event - hosted by Karen O’Leary - is now available to watch as a TV special on Prime / Sky TV and the audio will also be broadcast on RNZ.
Guest artists, including Tami Neilson, Anika Moa, Ria Hall, Dame Hinewehi Mohi, Troy Kingi, Jackie Clarke, Annie Crummer, Bella Kalolo, Hollie Smith, Don McGlashan, Sam Ford and Trudi Green (ex Neighbours) and rising country music stars Jenny Mitchell and the Mitchell Sisters performed Topp Twins songs with a twist, as well as curated originals that celebrate the Topps’ legacy as original singer/songwriters.
Musical director Don McGlashan has brought together some of the country’s finest musicians with the Blackbird Ensemble, Viva Voce choir, Kiwileles, the North Shore Brass Band as well as acclaimed musicians Chet O’Connell, Tom Broome, Chip Matthews and Jess Hindin ensuring the show is a musical feast like no other.
As if that is not enough, some of NZ’s funniest comedians also pay homage to the godmothers of the local comedy scene. Legendary kiwi musical comedy duo, the Front Lawn (Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair) re-formed after 31 years for this special night and the next gen of funny guys, Chris Parker and Tom Sainsbury, have a surprise in store. Te Radar also deliver comedy from the heart.
The Dames themselves appear on stage – their first public performance since Lynda’s cancer diagnosis and Covid lockdowns halted their plans for a national tour in 2022 to celebrate their 40th anniversary as performers - unparalleled by any other kiwi artist.
Produced by the Topp Twins long-time manager of 30 years, Arani Cuthbert, TOPP CLASS promises to be an extraordinary event, with acclaimed artistic directors, Mike Mizerahi and Marie Adams, and old friends of the Topp Twins, have certainly put the “show” back into show-business.
Don’t miss out on this stellar topp-class show, and the opportunity to experience a never-to-be-repeated night of Aotearoa NZ’s entertainment history.
Credits
Director
Editor
Artistic Director
Music Director
Technical Director
Director of Photography
Camera Operators
Ben Jonesy, Clayton Carpinter, Graeme Patrick, Gus Leota, Joe Lawry, Seb Doyle
Outside Broadcast
Commercial Manager Michael Gale
Tech Manager Doug Boyd
EVS Kale Richmond
Technician Jack Woodgate
Engineer Jian Jiao
Rigger Kevin Wu
Coordinator Pamela Cain
CCU 1 Peter List
CCU 2 - Rig Ashley Manukau-McEwan
CCU 2 - Event Thomas Tuthall
CCU 3 - Rig William Isherwood
CCU 3 - Event Brendan Quaife
Audio Director Leanne Ibell
Audio Tech 1 Matt Kemara
Audio Tech 2 Kris Thompson
Floor Manager Jay Law
Assist Floor Manager Melanie Swears
Camera Cablehand 1 Sofia Moreno
Camera Cablehand 2 Saikrishna Bungalore
Audio
Audio Designer Nick Maddren
Account Manager Deen Abukar
Monitor Heath Barlow
Project Manager Brent Greenwood
Patch Technician Dorus Hommels
Stage Hand Shaun Loper
Audio Post Production and Engineering Andre Upston, RNZ
Lighting
Angus Muir Design
Carl Wanoa
Spotlight Systems
La Lumiere
AV
AV Design Jon Baxter Perceptual Engineering
Video Supervisor Charley Draper
AV Operator James Consterdine
AV Assist Rakavi Jeyakumar
Lizzie Cheshire
Stage Crew
Stage Manager Carol Harding
Show Caller Lucie Camp
Backline Crew Gavin Downie
Assistants
Cathy Knowsley, Calvin Hudson, Megan Andrews, Elaine Walsh, Teiaro Taikato
Runner Josh Crossman
Hair and Make Up
Melle van Sambeek
Jules Armishaw
Greer Melrose
Amber Carroll
H&S Advisor
Cathy Knowsley
Music
Supervision
Jan Hellriegel Aeroplane Music
Conch, pūtatara and pūrereha players
Te Whare Karioi
Tarumai Kerehoma, Piripi Davis, Paora Davis, Hayley Hipa
House Band
Chet O'Connell, Chip Matthews, Tom Broome
Blackbird Ensemble
Claire Cowan, Vincent Hardaker, Peau Halapua Miyo Yoon, Rachel Wells, Eric Renick
Kiwileles
Artistic Director Philip Griffin
Mareikura Gournal, Coco Brown, Milla Orsbourn, Aroha Kawatra, Zoe Grant, Michelle Luo, Alyssa Whitley, Emma Gordon, Amy Nelson Wech, Berlin Clarke, Zoe Supeck, Charlotte McIntyre, Mila Rich, Ivy Van de Elzen
Viva Voce Choir
Conductor John Rosser
Helen Jackson, Ellen Callister, Alex Urquhart, Morag McDowell, Hilary van Lent, Melanie Bourke, Rowena Janes Post, Alison Dunlop, Roseanne Webb, Margaret Robertson, Anne Handley, Ronnie Karadjova, Arie Hoeflak, Benedict Tan, Mark Nettle, Warren Buckingham, Ryland Wood, Hamish Nuttall, Mark Rosser, Shona Mcintyre-Bull, Virginia Le Cren
North Shore Brass
Conductor Harmen Vanhoorne
John Sullivan, Colin Clark, Rhys McDonnell, Rachel Blunt, Liam Wright, Semisi Ahoatua, Dominic Cornfield, Kate Wright, Tim Large, Bridget Clark, Te Moana Pepere, Steve Foster, Peter O’Shaughnessy, Bronwynne Leech, Andrew Leech, Ken Cant, Dave Wright, Paul Chou, Dean Cromhout, Billy Middleton, Charlie Meek, Jarrah Dowrick, Keegan Lane, Wayne Barry
Solo Violin
Jess Hindin
The North Shore Brass
Untouchable Girls March
L Topp (Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
Tami Neilson
Big Boss Mama
T Neilson / J Mulholland (Concord Music Publishing NZ Ltd) / K Bell, S Haapu (Control)
arr. Don McGlashan
Anika Moa and Troy Kingi
Milestones
J.Topp / (Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
Sam Ford & Trudi Green
I’m Still Here
Sam Ford /Trudi Green (Control)
arr. Chris Nielson
The Front Lawn
I'll Never Have Anything More
Harry Sinclair/ Don McGlashan
(Concord Music Publishing NZ Ltd)
Ria Hall
Walk
R Hall ( Kobalt)
arr. Don McGlashan
Dame Hinewehi Mohi, Troy Kingi, Anika Moa, Topp Twins
Ngā Iwi E
H.Melbourne ( Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
The Mitchell Twins
Find A River
N Mitchell, M Mitchell (Control) / T Neilson (Concord Music Publishing NZ Ltd)
Jackie Clarke, Annie Crummer, Bella Kalolo, Ria Hall
Respect
Otis Redding
arr. Don McGlashan
Anika Moa
Calf Club Day
J. Topp ( Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
Friday Night Get Up
J Topp / L Topp (Songbroker)
Remix by Cam Ballantyne
Don McGlashan
Palomino Moon
J Topp (Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
Hollie Smith
Coming In From the Dark
H Smith (Concord Music Publishing NZ Ltd)
arr. Jeremy Mayall
Hollie Smith / Tami Neilson
Whiteline to Georgia
J Topp / L Topp (Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
All Cast
Untouchable Girls
L Topp (Songbroker)
arr. Don McGlashan
Auckland Live Production Manager Sami Vance
Auckland Live Lighting Systems Matt Border
Auckland Live Follow-spot Op Zac Ellet
Auckland Live Sound and Vision Techs
Joshua Rust, Erin Greenhill, Alan Steele, Elam Brown, Callan Buchanan
Head Mechanist / Venue Technician Bernie Brown
Flyman Ian Flynn and Kele Togapuna
Post Production
Editor
Brendan Withy
VT Editor
Wayne Cook
Post Director
Arani Cuthbert
Post Production Facility
Department of Post
Post Producer
James Brookes
Post Coordinator
Amelia Watts
Re-recording Mixer
Derek Metivier
Colourist & Online Editor
Gareth Dick
Archive
Getty Images (TVNZ digital production library)
Photographs used with permission courtesy of: John Miller, Gil Hanly, Bruce Connew, Kristian Frires, Mel Church, Sally Tagg, Felicity Morgan-Rhind, Lynda and Jools Topp, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
'Camp Leader' knitted doll, circa 1999, New Zealand, by unknown maker. Gift of Lynda and Jools Topp, 2000. Te Papa (GH007984)
'Camp Mother' knitted doll, circa 1999, New Zealand, by unknown maker. Gift of Lynda and Jools Topp, 2000. Te Papa (GH007985).
'Ken & Ken (the Topp Twins)', 2011, New Zealand, by Paul Rayner. Purchased 2011. Te Papa (GH021043)
Thanks to
Te Whare Karioi o Ngāti Whātua, Karen O’Leary, Tami Neilson, Chris Parker, Tom Sainsbury, Anika Moa, Troy Kingi, Ria Hall, Sam Ford, Trudi Green, Don McGlashan, Harry Sinclair, Dame Hinewehi Mohi, Te Radar, Maegan & Nicola Mitchell, Jenny Mitchell, Michele A’Court, Mark Trevorrow, Buckwheat, Nikita Iman, Vanessa La Roux, Shavorn Aborealis, Medulla Oblongata, Hugo Grrrl, Bella Kalolo, Jackie Clarke, Annie Crummer, Hollie Smith, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Paul Horan, Cathy Knowsley, Cody Frewin, Leonie Kaywood, Pip Wylie Catering, Rydges Hotel, Elephant Publicity
Special Thanks to
Dames Lynda and Jools Topp
and the Topp family
Network Executive
Annie Murray
Chris Parker Awarded Topp Prize in Comedy
The New Zealand Comedy Trust is delighted to announce that the inaugural Topp Prize has been awarded to the multi-talented comedian and self-proclaimed People's Princess of Aotearoa - Chris Parker.
Recognised as one of Aotearoa’s most generous and gifted comedians, Parker takes home $15,000 and two iconic milk bottle lolly artworks from Simon Lewis Wards - housed in a double hot pink crate to match Camp Mother’s pantsuit. But most importantly, Chris has the prestige and recognition bestowed by a kick-ass selection panel and Dames Jools and Lynda Topp – the namesakes of this new award.
Dames Lynda and Jools Topp say: “We are honoured to have our legacy acknowledged alongside kiwi comedy legends Billy T James and Fred Dagg. As young performers, we were not afraid to stand up for what we believed in and incorporated these issues into our live shows. Being out lesbians in the early 80s singing country music through comedic characters the Gingham Sisters was probably one of the most diverse combinations of political comedy in the world, and to have an award honouring those qualities in 2022 means so much to us. A message we would like to give to the next generation of comedians is "Believe in yourself, believe in your message and believe you are funny as".”
After surprising Chris with a Zoom call, the Dames told him he was now part of a special Topp comedy whānau forever, and he should proclaim loudly “I’m Chris Parker and I’m a Topp Man today!”
Chris Parker is at the top of his game. Since winning the New Zealand Comedy Trust’s prestigious Fred Award in 2018 he’s toured to sell-out audiences, won Celebrity Treasure Island NZ, had his felting hat exhibited at the Auckland Museum and Te Papa, published a book, and created the TVNZ special Chris Parker: Back To School. All of this, and he’s never compromised his unique voice and comedic flair.
“This is a huge honour. I’ve always truly idolised the Topp Twins and I spend an alarming amount of time watching them on YouTube. A performer like myself is a product of the work, advocacy and representation that they’ve put out into the world with such positivity and respect for Aotearoa. I’m so touched.”
– Chris Parker
The New Zealand Comedy Trust established the Topp Prize in 2022 as a non-competitive prize awarded annually to a practising individual, duo or group with a strong, clear and unique voice. It can be bestowed to a person or group making Aotearoa laugh with an out-of-the-box approach, whether that comedy takes place on the stage, on the screen or in a completely unexpected comedy space altogether. They should embody the wildcard spirit of the Topp Twins, our original trailblazers who have been entertaining us all for 40 years!
“Since erupting on to the Aotearoa comedy scene, Chris Parker has been the epitome of a wildcard and trailblazer. His unique comedy perspective and world-class talent has allowed him to create an amazing career that continues to inspire and entertain, while also being able to expand what comedy can be. Chris has welcomed new audiences to enjoy comedy in new ways.”
– Lauren Whitney, New Zealand Comedy Trust General Manager
This year’s selection panel led by comedy industry legend Paul Horan represented a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. 2022 panellists included Sam Brooks (The Spinoff – Journalist and Playwright), Morgan Waru (Piki Films Producer), Amie Mills (NZ On Air – Head of Funding), Tim Batt (Comedian and Producer), Salesi Le’ota (Playmarket Coordinator and Arts Practitioner) and Rhys Nicholson (Comedian and judge on Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under).
Paul Horan said a key consideration for the panel was recognising “People who make their own way and take others with them.”
Chris Parker will be awarded the Topp Prize on stage at The Civic during the Topp Class: The Topp Twins Tribute Show on Monday 07 November which is being filmed for Prime TV and RNZ.
Media Statement 27 March 2022
Dames Lynda and Jools Topp are facing a double cancer diagnosis.
“It has been a trying and emotional time for us over the last two months as we've both come to terms with being diagnosed with Breast Cancer” says Jools.
While Jools was diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago and the chemotherapy treatment she underwent at the time succeeded in securing her a long remission, she recently discovered that her cancer has metastasised. She is now undergoing radiation therapy and other treatments.
In December 2021, Lynda was diagnosed with Grade 3 invasive breast cancer and has undergone surgery for a double mastectomy. She is currently undergoing six months of intensive chemotherapy.
“This is a devastating blow to both of us as we were looking forward to getting back to our number one love performing live after two years of cancellations due to Covid -19” says Lynda
“2022 was also to be our celebration of 40 years of the Topp Twins, making us the longest-running NZ performance act. We were looking forward to taking a new show on the road. A national tour and many special events were planned to celebrate this milestone but now sadly are indefinitely on hold.
For us, this is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. We're looking forward to the day when we can get back together on the boards, the lights come up, and we're tipping our hats to you – we wish to thank the NZ public who have supported us unwaveringly over 40 years”.
“We would like to thank the incredible health professionals who have been involved in our care, and a huge thanks all our wonderful friends and family who've surrounded us with their love and support.”
- Dames Lynda and Jools Topp
Please join us on Facebook to keep up to date with our journey facebook.com/topptwins