2016 Nelson Arts Festival Thrills

13 October 2016

Nelson's performance venues were a-buzz last night as the 22nd Nelson Arts Festival got off to a rip-roaring start. The sold out Trash Test Dummies filled the newly refurbished Suter Theatre, and audiences loved Songs for the Fallen at the Festival Mainstage and Guy Masterson's Shylock at the Theatre Royal. Guy's Under Milk Wood tonight is sold out, but tickets are still available for the second show of Songs for the Fallen - don't miss out!

There are further thrills to come this weekend, with internationally acclaimed dancer and WOW choreographer Ross McCormack gracing the stage of the Theatre Royal on Friday night in his contemporary dance piece, Triumphs and Other Alternatives. Be prepared for a physically demanding, visually striking work that focusses on the obsession of art in the physical form - a sculptor in love with his creations, bringing them to life through creative delusion.

Manifesto 2083 at the Suter Theatre on Friday and Saturday nights is another stunning but challenging work that has had rave reviews for its treatment of a difficult subject.

At the Theatre Royal on Saturday and Sunday nights, Live Live Cinema’s Little Shop of Horrors pushes the boundary of film, sound production and story-telling in a visual, audible and hilarious 4D feast.

Italian violin virtuoso Luca Ciarla plays at the Festival Mainstage on Sundaynight, and for classical music lovers there’s the extra bonus of a free Pic’s Granary Gig, Lucia Pepperoni investigating The World of Opera, beforehand. Luca Ciarla winds up his Nelson experience with a workshop on string improvisation on Monday 17th – don’t miss this chance to experience world-class musicianship right here in Nelson.

The Granary will be hopping over the weekend, with pre-show gigs including The Hermsen Sisters Band and collaboration band Cover Me, featuring some of NZ’s best musicians who just happen to live in sunny Nelson. Post-show party people will enjoy Granary Late gigs from DJ Truegrit and Dr Huup DJ. Plus there are still tickets available to some of the excellent Page & Blackmore Readers and Writers sessions.

Founders is also the place to go for a visual arts experience. The Billboard Project is an outdoor studio space, with this year’s artists working to the theme of Maungārongo – abiding peace – to celebrate Nuclear Free Aotearoa. A retrospective of Anne’s Rush’s works is on display around the venues at Founders, plus a new work created just for the Festival.

So to get in to the Festival swing, check out the programme online

Ends

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