NZIAF 2010 Programme to the Wellington Region

NZ International Arts Festival takes 2010 Programme to the Wellington Region

National and International artists will perform in communities in the wider Wellington Region as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival’s Art On The Move programme.

“Artists from Australia, the United Kingdom, Africa, India and France will take their music, theatre, dance, and visual arts to Porirua, Upper Hutt, the Kapiti Coast, Masterton and the Wairarapa, making it the most extensive programme of international theatre presented by the Festival in these communities,” says Lissa Twomey, Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

“The Festival’s Art on the Move programme is an important part of our commitment to making art and artists accessible to the widest possible audience helped by the New Zealand Community Trust and the New Zealand Major Events Fund,” says Sue Paterson, Executive Director of the Festival.

In Upper Hutt, the enchanted travelling theatre tent will arrive for performances by Australia’s magical storytellers Stephen Sheehan and Quentin Grant with The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy, a show for dreamers of all ages, at the Riverstone Recreation Centre and the Masterton Town Hall.

Also in Upper Hutt, the brand new play Mark Twain & Me in Māoriland written by David Geary and produced by New Zealand’s Taki Rua Productions will be performed at the Genesis Energy Theatre, Expressions. This comic tale is based on Mark Twain’s real life lecture tour through Australasia at the end of the 19th century.

At the Ascot Theatre in Upper Hutt Kids’ Flicks On Sunday will screen Short Films For Square Eyes – a collection of international award-winning animated and live-action short films, as well as The Ugly Duckling and Me in 3D, and the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with sing-a-long songs.

From the UK The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs will perform Dancing On Your Grave at Expressions in Upper Hutt. This is cabaret theatre with a devilish twist. The five performers look like vaudeville zombies singing and dancing on a tour through performers’ purgatory. They have performed in venues large and small from bridges and beaches, to the Tate Modern in London and the Glastonbury Festival.

The multi-award winning Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea is also from the UK and is presented by the 1927 company. A series of comic tales unfold with stunning films, animation, live music, performance and storytelling in a hilarious multi-media world. They will perform at Southward Theatre in Paraparaumu, and at the Masterton Town Hall.

Also at Southward Theatre in Paraparaumu, is Ship Songs from the Auckland Theatre Company, featuring epic tales and spirited sea shanties from writer/performer Ian Hughes who performs with much loved New Zealand musicians Don McGlashan, Chris O’Connor and Dave Khan. Gold Partners: New Zealand Post Group, TV3, Clemenger BBDO, Pacific Blue. Funders: Absolutely Positively Wellington, Creative New Zealand

In Porirua at Pataka Museum, Djan Djan will perform their special blend of world music. Grammy Award nominated kora player, Mamadou Diabate, and tabla virtuoso, Bobby Singh, play with acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Jeff Lang in a night referencing the music of Africa, India and Australia.

Also at Pataka in Porirua, is the musical He Reo Aroha written by Miria George and Jamie McCaskill, and directed by Hone Kouka. A beautiful love story with original waiata, He Reo Aroha is the story of childhood sweethearts Kaia and Pascoe. Kaia is training to be an opera singer and Pascoe works long days on the fishing boats with his father. He Reo Aroha has toured to festivals in Australia, Canada and Hawai’i.

The French company Arcosm perform their exhilarating Echoa at Kuranui College in Greytown. Echoa is a dance work that includes drums of all descriptions on scaffolding. It’s dancing drums and the sound of dancers.

“When putting Art on the Move together we choose performances that will speak to regional communities, provide further platforms for Schoolfest in regional areas, and include work that is engaging to broad audiences,” says Twomey.

In Festival 2010, the special visual arts programme is also a Wellington regional affair and part of the free events available in the Festival programme.

The Mahara Gallery at Waikanae will exhibit Frances Hodgkins: Kapiti Treasures – a collection of 30 paintings, lithographs, and drawings gathered together for the first time from several Kapiti collections.

At Pataka Museum in Porirua, three exhibitions are part of the Festival programme. West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit is a large exhibition presenting a personal collection of textiles, masks, drums and jewellery from West Africa. Bamiyan: In the Heart of Afghanistan explores the history and culture of this region through local crafts and photographs, as well as paintings by army artist Captain Matt Gauldie and information about the New Zealand reconstruction team in Bamiyan.

Also at Pataka, Light & Shadow Drawings: Catherine O’Donnell - an exhibition of large-scale charcoal drawings by the award-winning artist who lives in Blacktown, Australia – the sister city of Porirua.

TheNewDowse in Lower Hutt presents The Messenger by New York-based video artist Bill Viola who has led the development of video art. for more than 35 years.

Also in Lower Hutt, Shapeshifter returns for the New Zealand International Arts Festival in 2010. The Civic Gardens in Lower Hutt become a magnificent outdoor gallery with sculptures set in the grounds as well as the Tutukiwi Gallery and Conservatory in TheNewDowse. Picnickers are welcome around the 50 small and large sculptures that will also be for sale. For specific times and venues go to www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz

New Zealand International Arts Festival’s Art On The Move programme is supported by the Major Events Development Fund and the New Zealand Community Trust.

ENDS

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