Scoop  Features  Festival 2006

Scoop's Festival 2006 Coverage

This page contains Scoop coverage of the 2006 Wellington Fringe Festival and Arts Festival. Come back frequently for the latest reviews, news and views from the streets of Wellington.

Fringe 06

10 February - 5 March
Website: http://www.fringe.org.nz
Daily events calender: http://www.fringe.org.nz/calendar/
Click here for Scoop's Fringe coverage
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New Zealand International Arts Festival 2006

24 February - 19 March
Website and Daily Events: http://www.nzfestival.co.nz

Scoop Coverage and Reviews:

Dominic Groom reviews Parsifal (17, 19 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation (17, 18 March)
Tyler Hersey reviews Ba Cissoko (15 - 18 March)
Jack Gray reviews Aterballetto (15 - 18 March)
Tyler Hersey Reviews Subramaniam (14 March)
Nick Tipping reviews The Hilliard Ensemble - Passio (14 March)
Richard Thomson reviews Talvin Singh's Tabtek (14 March)

Arts Festival Preview: DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation (audio interview) - Rebirth of a Nation sees DJ Spooky remixing the 1915 film Birth of a Nation, known both for its technical innovation, setting many of the standard techniques of cinema, and as pro-Klu Klax Klan propaganda. Miller spoke to Scoop about Birth of a Nation, how he uses Rebirth of a Nation to explore how it resonates in the present day and to confront the past, and his personal approach to remixing.

Writers and Readers Week: Joe Sacco (audio interview) - Joe Sacco is a cartoonist best known for his journalistic comics focusing on war zones. He spoke to Scoop about how he came to comics journalism, the effect that the visual medium had on documentary storytelling, the current Israel/Palestine situation and what he intends to do next.

Writers and Readers Week: Louise Erdrich (audio interview) - Louise Erdrich spoke to Scoop about how the storytelling traditions of her family and heritage Ojibwa Indian heritage have influenced her and about writing from outside the mainstream culture. She also compares the state of first people issues in the United States to what she has seen of New Zealand.

Writers and Readers Week: Nuruddin Farah (audio interview) - African prose writer and playwright Nuruddin Farah was exiled from his native Somalia in 1976 as a result of his provocative writing. He spoke to Scoop about his history, the need for women's rights in family structure, the relationship between narrative and politics and his use of English as a language for writing.

Writers and Readers Week: Robert Fisk (audio interview) - UK Independent Newspaper foreign correspondent Robert Fisk is in New Zealand this week for the Wellington International Arts Festival's Writer's & Readers Week. This Wednesday and Friday he will discuss his recent book The Great War For Civilisation – The Conquest of the Middle East in two solo sessions at the Embassy Theatre chaired by former nine-to-noon Radio NZ host Linda Clark.

Writers and Readers Week: Ronald Wright (audio interview) - Ronald Wright describes his recent book A Short Historty of Progress as "a police profile of a repeat offender by the name of Homo Sapiens". He spoke to Scoop about humanity's history of short-term thinking and the political and economic obstacles in the way of improving things.

Writers and Readers Week: Aleksander Hemon (audio interview) - Hemon spoke to Scoop about being compared to Vladimir Nabokov, working with English as a second language and a language of migrants, the relationship between himself and his characters and the subject of current work.

Reviews 7 - 12 Mar
Tyler Hersey reviews The Pat Metheny Trio (12 March)
Tyler Hersey reviews Tuwhare (11 - 13 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews The Dragons' Trilogy (11 - 13, 16 - 18 March)
Nick Tipping reviews James MacMillan Conducts (11 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews The Holy Sinner (10 - 13 March)
Richard Thomson reviews Instructions for Modern Living (10 - 15 March)
Alison Little reviews Orchestra Baobab (8 March)
Ethan Tucker reviews Goldenhorse (9, 10 March)
Ethan Tucker reviews Over the Rhine (9 - 12 March)
Lorraine Ward reviews Eva (March 8 - 12)
Lyndon Hood reviews Page 8 (8 - 12 March)
Erica Challis reviews the Tower New Zealand Youth Choir (7 March)

Arts Festival Preview: The Dragon's Trilogy actor Tony Guilfoyle (audio interview) - Tony spoke to Scoop about the experience of reworking and performing in The Dragons' Trilogy, his work on Father Ted and his connections to New Zealand.

Arts Festival Preview: The Holy Sinner's Mike Mizrahi (audio interview) - Mike Mizrahi spoke to Scoop about coming back to theatre and The Holy Sinner and bringing Inside Out's lavish production skills and storytelling techniques to the indoor stage in New Zealand.


Len Lye's Water Whirler, which was launched on the Wellington waterfront on March 7.
Click for full story.
Reviews 27 Feb - 5 Mar:
Tyler Hersey reviews The Colin Hemmingsen Quartet (5 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews Aarero Stone: Two Solos in a Performance Landscape (4 - 8 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews James Campbell's Comedy 4 Kids (4, 5 March)
Lorraine Ward reviews Maori Showbands - Taking On the World (4, 5 March
Richard Thomson reviews Bright Abyss (2 - 6 March)
Nick Tipping reviews The Sharon Shannon Band (4,5 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews Tristan and Yseult (3 -7 March)
Tyler Hersey reviews Zeibekiko (3 March)
Tyler Hersey reviews Fat Freddy's Drop (2 - 4 March)
Ethan Tucker reviews Batallion (2, 7, 9 March)
Lyndon Hood reviews Super Vision (1 - 5 March)
Erica Challis reviews The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Feb 28 and Mar 1)
Erica Challis reviews the Aroha String Quartet (28 Feb)

Arts Festival Preview: Instructions for Modern Living's Nic McGowan (audio interview) - Instructions for Modern Living brings together writer/performer Duncan Sarkies and composer/musician Nic McGowan to explore the hidden life of late-night New Zealand using words, music and video.

Arts Festival Preview: The Songs of Kurt Weill's Janet Roddick (audio interview) - German theatre composer Kurt Weill is best known for the song 'Mac the Knife', composed for Bertold Brecht's The Threepenny Opera. The Songs of Kurt Weill will be sung by Janet Roddick with music from David Donaldson, Steve Roche, David Long, Chris O'Connor and Jeff Henderson - a collaboration founded in projects such as the Six Volts and soundtrack studio Plan 9.

Arts Festival Preview: Maori Showbands' Manny Abrahams (audio interview) - This year's Arts Festival recognises New Zealand's unique brand of all-round entertainers with Māori Showbands - Taking on the World. Manny Abrahams, musical director of 'The Māori Allstars' (a tribute band put together for the concerts) spoke to Scoop about the Māori showband phenomenon and how it feels to be sharing a stage with the legendary Māori Volcanics.

Arts Festival Preview: Bright Abyss's James Thiérrée (audio interview) - After a highly successful season of The Junebug Symphony at the last New Zealand International Arts Festival, James Thiérrée's company will be returning with their spectacular new production Bright Abyss. Thiérrée spoke to Scoop about the production and using circus-style spectacle to make atmospheric physical theatre.

Reviews 24 - 26 Feb:
Richard Thomson reviews Dr Buller's Birds (25 Feb - 25 Mar)
Tyler Hersey reviews Jan Preston (26 Feb)
Stephen M Thompson reviews The New Zealand String Quartet (26 Feb, 10 Mar)
Erica Challis reviews Tea: A Mirror of Soul (25, 27 Feb and 1 Mar)
Alison Little reviews Les Arts Sauts (24 Feb - 19 Mar)
Tyler Hersey reviews The Antonio Forcione Quartet (25 Feb - 2 Mar)
Alison Little reviews The Earth from Above (24 Feb onwards)
Richard Thomson reviews The History Boys (24 - 28 Feb)
Lyndon Hood reviews Eraritjaritjaka (24 - 26 Feb)
Ethan Tucker reviews King and Country (24 Feb - 1 Mar)
Alison Little reviews Mikelangelo & the Black Sea Gentlemen (24 - 26 Feb)


Click for big version
The Earth from Above, with Les Arts Sauts' dome in the background (Photo: Alison Little)

Arts Festival Preview: Eraritjaritjaka director Heiner Goebbels (audio interview) - Director and composer Heiner Goebbels spoke to Scoop's Lyndon Hood today about his production Eraritjaritjaka - Museum of Phrases. The work is based on text by Nobel prize-winner Elias Canetti and includes performances by actor André Wilms and the Mondriaan Quartet, as well as featuring live video, sound and lighting. See... Arts Festival Preview: Eraritjaritjaka director Heiner Goebbels

Wellington's 'Prisoner'-Style Giant White Dome Explained - There has been some consternation on the streets of Wellington over the appearance of a gigantic white dome on Waitangi Park. The 28-metre high bubble - kept round by internal air pressure - is the setting for French company Les Arts Sauts' new work Ola Kala ("All's Well" in Greek). It opens the Friday as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival. See... Arts Fest Preview: Les Arts Sauts' Sara Sandqvist

Arts Festival Preview: Tristan & Yseult Director Emma Rice (audio interview) - Emma Rice is artistic Director of the Cornish theatre company Kneehigh. She is the director of their production Tristran & Yseult, which will be at the NZ International Arts Festival from 3-7 March.

Arts Fest Preview: Super Vision's Marianne Weems (audio interview) - In the interview, Weems discusses Super Vision, personal information issues in America and Internationally and the approach and methods of the Builders Association.

Arts Festival Preview - Robert Lepage (press conference images and audio) - Robert Lepage, Canadian director, playwright, designer, filmmaker and performer held a press conference in Wellington today during a brief NZ visit.

Festival News:
King and Country - Homegrown Festival Hit Returns
Prize in Modern Letters: Shuker scoops top literary prize
Wellingtonians Flock to Patricia Piccinini and Michael Smither
From tarantula bites to Bach – Italian contemporary ballet
The play of the story of his life... (Page 8)
Eva Yerbabuena – Festival Debut for Flamenco's Finest
Picnic in the Park (Saturday 4) postponed until Sunday 5 March
John Psathas at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts
Prize in Modern Letters countdown
Lights, camera, action!
Only two days to go until opening night!
Parsifal: Sir Donald McIntyre Q & A
Pataka - Upcoming Festival Events
New Artistic Director International Arts Festival
Piccinini Headlines Arts Festival at Gallery
A Tribute to the Maori Showbands of Yesterday
Festival fever takes hold
Change of Cast - Dr Buller’s Birds
Whale Rider Star to narrate Tuwhare production
Jan Morris cancels trip to NZ due to ill health
The Don Returns for Parsifal
Cliff Curtis Heads ‘A-List’ Cast In Holy Sinner

Wi Kuki Kaa - It is with a profound sense of shock that the cast and crew of Dr Buller's Birds learned of the death of Wi Kuki Kaa. The role of Keepa Te Rangihiwinui, or Major Kemp, was written specifically for him and it was a huge blow when he had to withdraw from the production on medical advice. He was a man of strong convictions and a wicked sense of subversive humor. See... Wi Kuki Kaa
ALSO

Maori Party - Obituary : Wi Kuki Kaa

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Fringe 06

10 February - 5 March
Website: http://www.fringe.org.nz
Daily events calender: http://www.fringe.org.nz/calendar/

Wots On this week: 10-18 Feb
Fringe is going off! (Week Two)
Bats: Corrections to printed Fringe programme
Last call for Fringe at BATS!

Winners at Fringe "Monsta" Awards 2006

Scoop Coverage:
Lorraine Ward reviews This Time Next Year (Feb 28 - Mar 2)
Alison Little Reviews Superbeast (28 Feb - 4 Mar)
Lorriane Ward reviews The Operation of the Sun in the Garden at the End of the World (25 - 26 Feb, 28 Feb - 3 Mar)
Lorraine Ward reviews Newtown Spoken Word (24 Feb)
Lorraine Ward reviews The Amazing And Impermeable Cromoli Brothers (23-25 Feb)
Alastair Thompson reviews Conspiracy 911 (22 - 24 Feb)
Richard Thomson reviews Micetro (22 - 26 Feb)
Lyndon Hood reviews Triffic Travel (21-25, 28 Feb, 1-4 Mar)
Lyndon Hood reviews Full of Sound and Fury (20 Feb - 4 Mar)
Alison Little reviews Freakin’ in the Cemetery (Feb 18 only)
Scoop Images: Excess, Loonesco
Alison Little reviews Heavenly Burlesque (16-18 & 23-25 Feb, 2-4 Mar)
Richard Thomson reviews Playing Miss Havisham (17 Feb - 4 Mar)
Scoop Images: Hexstatic Plays Wellington Fringe
Richard Thomson reviews The Silent Reflections of Hone Mawhero (15-18 Feb)
Lyndon Hood reviews Lance A. Boyle's Audition (15-18 Feb)
Paul Ross reviews You Know What, I Really Don’t Like You (11-16 Feb)
Alison Little reviews Absolutely Positively Walking - Ye Olde Horrore Tour (10-19 Feb)
Alison Little reviews Shanghai Sheba & The China Monologues (10 Feb)
Lyndon Hood reviews The Drunk Monologues (7-11 Feb)
Lyndon Hood reviews Despatch (1-11 Feb)


Click for big version
The Rise of the Creative Economy by Michael Hawkins.
Civic Square, 10-21 Feb

Fringe News:
Fringe 06 Closing Night ‘Monsta’ Awards Ceremony
Hexstatic light up the waterfront with music and video
Build Up To Fringe 06 This Is It. Yeehah!
Fringe 06 On the Way
The Thirteenth Annual Fringe ‘Monster’ Awards
Fringe 06 Programme Released

Some Fringe Productions

So, how was Japan? The Ladies’ Auxiliary Path Light Jez Lowe And the Bad Pennies Voices in the Void Lingering Still Free Feet Deep Filling in the Spaces Unsolved Crimes of Art: Part One This Time Next Year Please Don’t Feed the Models Biscuit and Coffee The Other Side of the Fence Couch Soup SuperBeast Bush Fires Inside My Head, Out of My Mind Newtown Spoken Word – Summer 06 The Operation of the Sun in the Garden ... Delicates Sweets 1,2,3 Footnote Dance: Perforum 2006 The Life of Eileen 'A Celebration' Sculpture by Di Conway Festival Artist in Residence The Best of the Cromoli Brothers Micetro Conspiracy 911 Reading Robertson Davies on Rangitoto Arctic-Antarctic: a bipolar play Snapshots 06 Treefrog’s Goats And Antelopes Blue Movies on a Redvespa

loonesco EXCESS: The Suitcase show Playing Miss Havisham Full of Sound and Fury 32 Flavours Heavenly Burlesque: a Fuse Production Shadows of Care – Two Plays Music for an Elastic Jazz Band Love Birds by Linda Gilbert The Silent Reflections of Hone Māwhero (Pink Johnny) Stagecraft Theatre’s Cold Fire Gameshow Anything to Declare? I, Keyboard Te Tapa Toru The Rise of the Creative Economy After Service Theatre Militia’s Symposium Emporium Busking Showcase The Drunk Monologues Absolutely Positively Walking! Zirkus Goes Bizurkus at Bats 'It’s a Jungle in There' It's a Jungle Out There: The forest is still growing... You Know What, I Really Don’t Like You Lance A. Boyle’s Audition Despatch The Cottage Triffic Travel Two Come and Sing Opera

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