School Children Flock to National Arts Festival

Media release: February 2007

School Children Flock to National Arts Festival

The Capital E National Arts Festival has already received record bookings from schools in the Wellington Region eager to bring their children to its award-winning national arts festival, March 12-24. Around 28,000 seats have already been sold to schools, far exceeding projections, and public seats to the weekend and evening performances are also selling fast.

Capital E Director, Stuart Grant says, “I’m thrilled that so many schools recognise this opportunity to give children what we believe will be the most comprehensive performance experience of their lives – so far at least!”

The third, biennial Capital E National Arts Festival is the largest festival of its kind in New Zealand. The 2007 programme features professional works from local and international artists that are both innovative and inspiring. A specially tailored schools programme makes the Festival as accessible as possible for teachers. Schools can book “packages” of shows at discounted rates, with performances in the first week primarily aimed at junior students and the second week more suitable for older children. Capital E has even achieved extra funding to provide free bus transport to Wellington schools.

“Teachers and schools, like our family audiences, face a range of logistical issues before they even get to their seats in the theatre,” says Stuart, “It’s not only a matter of creating a world-class artistic programme, Capital E has also drawn on our experience in the education sector to deliver this programme that meets safety, accessibility and learning needs of schools and their communities.”

With five world premieres, the 2007 Festival will be dynamic and unique; a frenzy of fun! Highlights include: Native American Kevin Locke’s Hoop of Life, his spectacular mastery of Lakota Sioux hoop dancing and traditional flute playing; Australian Linsey Pollak, world-renowned for making music from carrots, chairs and even blow-up frogs, creating music from a bicycle in the world premiere of his brilliant new show Cycology; amazing costumes, stilt dancers and acrobats in Ship Song, AkeAke Theatre Company’s brand new show; Spinning Mountain, the stunning new production from Capital E National Theatre for Children with original music from acclaimed composers Gareth Farr and I Wayan Gde Yudane. Sharon, Keep Ya Hair On is a fully-fledged rock musical based on Gillian Rubinstein’s books, from Australia’s Patch Theatre Company and The Animal Undie Ball is a toe tapping, hip swinging, hands clapping great time from the Java Dance Company.

The Green Sheep, from Australia’s Windmill Performing Arts, is set in interactive environment inspired by Mem Fox's award-winning book and internationally acclaimed puppeteer, Rebekah Wild, brings the classic Celtic tale of The Selkie Bride to New Zealand for the first time.

There’s also Around the World in Wellington from Footnote Dance Company and two great, free family events in Civic Square: The Dominion Post Create-It Carnival, a carnival where children can make their own art, and GlobalFest, a huge cultural celebration of performance, craft, food and fun.

ENDS

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