City Voice: Fringe frenzy

CHECK out that Fringe… the programme for the month long (that’s a week more than the NZ Festival)Wellington Fringe Festival 2000 comes bundled with this week’s City Voice and is available in cafes around the city.

The festival kicks off on 26 Feb and includes 128 events in over 50 venues. These range from existing theatres through to the “they’re putting a show on where?” venues like the Renouf Tennis Centre and the Wright’s Hill Fortress.

The highlights are many but it’s refreshing to see a beefed up classical music component, especially daytime concerts.

These are conspicuous by their absence in the international festival programme and the Fringe has stepped in to fill the void with concerts at St Andrew’s on the Terrace. There’s evening concerts at Sacred Heart and The Corner Trio play at Circa. Janet Holborow pushes the boundaries with Resonance – an Electronic Cello Experience, possibly bridging the gap between classical and the free jazz of Amalgam who’s Junk Circus will be performed at a pinball arcade, the City Gallery and the Wright’s Hill Fortess.

There are also 10 dance shows including a newie from Footnote Dance Company and Jaunt from Wellington choreographers Kristian Larsen, Sumara Fraser and Sarah Spoull. The Graduate Dance company takes to the streets with Cry – Strangers in a Strange Land, a dance/drama.

The theatre programme features new works by established names like Lorae Parry and Linda Chanwai-Earle and up-and-comers like Glenda Tuaine. Jo Randerson and Gentiane Lupi combine for another of their shambolically funny comedy pieces and the Improvisors make it all up on the night in Toru, Toru, Toru.

In addition to theatre, dance and music the programme includes six comedy shows, eight multimedia events and 25 visual arts exhibitions and four spoken word/poetry shows.

Bookings can be made either at the official Fringe Festival ticket office located at Load Cyber Café in Cuba St, online at www.fringe.org.nz or by phone on 0800 2 BOOKIT.

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