Festival Of The Arts Features Stunning Line Up

9 June 2005

Taranaki Festival Of The Arts Features Stunning Line Up

More than 250 international and New Zealand artists and performers feature in the line-up for the 2005 Taranaki Festival of the Arts in July and August.

Theatre, contemporary music, fine music, choirs, literature, dance, visual arts, film, cabaret and even ice skating combine in a programme of events which promises something for everyone.

The full programme was launched at the TSB Showplace in New Plymouth on Wednesday 1 June.

Performers for the festival hail from more than 10 different countries including Canada, England, Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Italy and France, as well as a strong New Zealand programme.

Highlights of the 18-day festival, which runs from July 27 to August 14, include the internationally-acclaimed Soweto Gospel Choir, hit circus act Cirque Eloize with Nomade – At night the sky is endless, stunning Scottish performer Eddi Reader (ex Fairground Attraction), the incredible gypsy Kabaret performers from Australia Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, the reunion of one of New Zealand’s most successful and longstanding Maori showbands, The Maori Volcanics, and the acclaimed Vienna Boys Choir featuring The Combined School Choirs of New Plymouth.

Exclusive acts for the Taranaki event include two theatre performances by British actress Linda Marlowe, Berkoff’s Women and No Fear, the world premiere of New Zealand dancer Raewyn Hill’s new work, We Are Gathered Here Today, the only New Zealand recital by acclaimed New Zealand tenor Keith Lewis and renowned pianist Michael Houston, and Canadian-based musicians H’Sao who draw on traditions from their country of origin, Chad;

The festival also features:

King and Country – a unique piece of national theatre about the experiences of ordinary New Zealanders in World War I

Acclaimed Auckland Theatre Company play The Bach

NZ International Comedy Festival hit Te Radar in Timor ODDyssey

Canadian play Lauchie, Liza and Rory

Australian 3D performance Sprung

New Zealand contemporary dance piece Terrain

The hilarious Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music

The Brendan Power Group from Ireland and Australia

Canada’s Mauvais Sort

New Zealand’s own Goldenhorse

Jazz pianist and singer Brenda Earle of Canada

A festival dance party featuring New Zealand’s finest dance bands and DJs and including Pitch Black, Pacific Heights, Kora and The WBC

Taranaki legends, Sticky Filth – 20 Years On

V8 Vocal Ensemble

The Taranaki Festival of the Arts has been held every two years since 1991, however this year, for the first time ever the festival has been moved to winter allowing for alignment with Christchurch Arts Festival, Queensland Music Festival and Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Festival director Roger King says this means a number of acts can be shared between festivals, enabling an incredible array of performers to come to Taranaki for this festival.

“This year’s festival features the strongest artistic line-up ever with international stars performing alongside the crème of New Zealand talent.”

Adding to the festival atmosphere is the ultimate wintertime event – an ice rink in the centre of New Plymouth!

The Taranaki Festival of the Arts follows the sell-out success of WOMAD New Zealand 2005. Both events are organised by the Taranaki Arts Festivals Trust.

“WOMAD was a huge success and really put Taranaki on the map as a festival city,” King says.

“We’re thrilled to bring another incredible line-up of performers to the region for the Taranaki Festival of the Arts.”

A major literary programme is also included within the festival and features a variety of well-known New Zealand authors. Lunchtime concerts, visual arts exhibitions, a schools programme and regional Taranaki events also feature.

Tickets for the Taranaki Festival of the Arts go on sale through Ticketek at 9am Thursday 2 June and the full programme is available online at www.artsfest.co.nz.

The Taranaki Festival of the Arts 2005 is funded and supported by the

following organisations;

CORE FUNDERS: New Plymouth District Council, Taranaki Electricity Trust

MAJOR FUNDING PARTNERS: TSB Community Trust, Creative NZ

GOLD SPONSORS: Hooker Pacific, Staples Rodway, The Zieltjes Family in

association with the Practical Education Institute

GOLD MEDIA SPONSORS: Classic Hits Taranaki, Taranaki Daily News, More FM

Taranaki

SILVER SPONSORS: Reeves Middleton Young, Clelands Construction Ltd, Price

Waterhouse Coopers, Transfield Worley Services, Plymouth International Hotel

BRONZE SPONSORS: Billings, Fuji Xerox, Swift Energy NZ Ltd, The Most FM,

Newstalk ZB, Westgate Transport Ltd, TSB Bank

FESTIVAL GRANTS: South Taranaki District Council, New Zealand Community

Trust, Venture Taranaki, Lion Foundation

ENDS

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