The next round of theatre and performance courtesy of the REAL NZ Festival starts this week. BATS Theatre has two shows starting – Death by cheerleader on Tuesday, and The first Asian AB on Thursday. Both have a good buzz from their Auckland seasons. Until 24 September and 1 October respectively. Circa Theatre hosts He reo aroha from Wednesday. It’s a love story with waiata starring the original performers Kali Kopae, and Jamie McCaskill. I missed it at the Festival last year so I’m really looking forward to catching up with it. Until 30 September. Four flat whites in Italy continues playing, also at Circa, until 7 October. Downstage continues with Te Radar’s Eating the dog until 1 October. (You may have heard that Downstage has postponed their Presenting Partnerships programme. They’ve released further information on their website. Performances by Stroma and Carnival Hound  are unaffected by this decision. Their financial situation is not the reason to go and see Te Radar – go and see him because he is funny and it’s a great show.) In Flagrante continues at the St James Theatre until 24 September. Footnote Dance Company present Made in New Zealand on Wednesday and Thursday. TheNew Zealand Symphony Orchestra and guests perform Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and a new work from Gareth Farr on Thursday. Starting on Friday is Illuma from by Inside Out Productions. (I know it’s not strictly theatre or performance but it promises to be pretty cool.)