Final preparations as festival fever hits town

PRESS RELEASE

Final preparations as festival fever hits town

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (April 11, 2013) – With less than one week to go before the curtain goes up on this year’s Southern Lakes Festival of Colour, remaining tickets are being snapped up and organisers are making final preparations.

Construction of the main venue on Wanaka’s Ardmore Street, the Central Lakes Trust Crystal Palace, is well underway. The familiar 330-seat auditorium will once again be the beating heart of the festival complete with chandeliers, drapes and stained-glass windows. Also reappearing this year are the huge flags on Cardrona Valley Road, courtesy of Resene, to herald the arrival of autumn colours and awesome entertainment.

Ahead of Tuesday’s official opening, the festival’s pouwhenua billboard project begins tomorrow (Friday 12 April), weather permitting. New Zealand artists Richard Adams, Flox (aka Hayley King), Priscilla Cowie and Tai Kerekere are creating unique, large-scale works on the Wanaka lakefront inspired by the idea of markers that tell something of people and place. Gallery 33 on Helwick Street also hosts a special exhibition from tomorrow featuring other work by the four artists called simply Festival.

In a change to the billing of the Aspiring Conversations session Politics – The New Generation, Julie Anne Genter stands in for fellow Green Party list MP, Holly Walker. Originally from the US and now resident in Auckland, Julie Anne is another young and highly talented politician passionate about tackling this country’s economic, ecological and social issues. Her debate with Nikki Kaye (National) and Jacinda Ardern (Labour) on Sunday 21 April will be a fascinating glimpse into our political future.

Festival Director, Philip Tremewan said that tickets were still available for this session and most other shows but he expected a flurry of sales over the weekend as the festival build-up gathers pace. He also urged those who have already bought tickets to collect them from the Lake Wanaka Centre soon to avoid big queues during the festival itself.

“The flags are flying, the venues are looking great and performers are starting to arrive. Excitement is really building and we’re raring to go!” he said.

The 2013 Festival of Colour takes place from 16-21 April and features an international mix of theatre, art, dance, conversation and music set against the spectacular autumn scenery of the Southern Lakes region.

The festival is generously supported by Central Lakes Trust, The Community Trust of Otago, Creative New Zealand and Aurora Energy. For further information and ticket sales visit www.festivalofcolour.co.nz.

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