Festival choir project invites different generations to face off in song

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (November 1, 2016) – Local singers from primary school age to retirees are invited to come together as four generational choirs for an innovative music theatre project at next April’s Southern Lakes Festival of Colour in Wanaka.

‘Sing It To My Face’ is an inter-generational confrontation on stage as each choir lets the others know how they really feel about society. The show draws out the murmured sentiments that different age brackets hold towards each other but do not say out loud, weaving them into a dynamic choral performance.

Introductory workshops take place in Wanaka on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 November for anyone wanting more information about the show and how they can get involved.

The first workshops take place at Wanaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College (MAC) on Friday 11 November. A separate workshop for those interested in joining one of the two adult choirs will be held in MAC’s performance room from 10am-12pm on Saturday 12 November.

All sessions will be led by musical director Julian Raphael and theatre director Jo Randerson from Barbarian Productions, the Wellington-based theatre company that created the project.

Up to 20 singers are needed for each choir that will perform two shows at the Lake Wanaka Centre during the Festival of Colour in April 2017.

Festival Director Philip Tremewan said the project continues the tradition of including local community productions in the festival programme.

“We’ve had wonderful feedback about recent theatre projects that were built around local talent like ‘Riverside Drive’ in 2011, ‘Tracing Hamlet’ in 2013 and ‘Like There’s No Tomorrow’ in 2015. This time we wanted to do something a little different and we’re delighted to bring ‘Sing It To My Face’ to Wanaka,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re already a member of a choir or a first-timer keen to give it a go. Everyone is welcome to come along to these workshops, learn more about the project and maybe have a sing themselves!”

Anyone unable to attend the workshops but interested in getting more information should contact Festival of Colour General Manager Lindsey Schofield on 03 443 4172 or via email.

The next Southern Lakes Festival of Colour takes place from 4-9 April 2017 with the full programme unveiled in February. The festival is supported by ‘cornerstone funders’ Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Creative New Zealand, Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust and Queenstown Lakes District Council. Anyone wanting more information should visit the festival website at www.festivalofcolour.co.nz.

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