You Should Be Into This

You should be into THE NZ INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL.

In 2010 you should be into the New Zealand International Arts Festival. For those of you who think this is some kind of Kiwiana-Fest of bad taste at Grey Lynn Park with ceramic wall mounts painted as frogs you must pay strict attention, and those of you who know what this culturally expanding, brave and directional event is about, please bear with us.

For the month beginning 26th February until the 21^st of March the capital of NZ is treated to a plethora of incredible artistic endeavours sourced from far, wide and close by. The Festival itself happens every four years and has grown into an acclaimed happening characterised by bold choices and the ability to open our eyes to new approaches in the arts. My virgin experience was some eight years ago when I was made to peddle down from my high horse of enlightenment and be audience to a dance company named Foi. At this stage the only thing ‘dance’ triggered in my mind was “nobody puts Baby in a corner”, so I was of the negative persuasion, a mood I might add I’m not easily broken of.  However it was to my surprise that this was easily the most engaging, intelligent, memorable and exquisite stage performance I have ever been lucky enough to view and in one and a half hours my simplistic view of dance/theatre/performance were torn apart, leaving me as stunned as a falsely accused war criminal and as excited as the one that got away!

This coming season is of no exception and in fact could be one of the most contrasting and sonorous collections of works that has been offered. The enlisted talents include Irish Playwright Edna Walsh (co-writer of the film ‘Hunger’, which aside from being genius was also awarded Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2008) with her new play ‘The Walworth Face, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainright, and world renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy who, aside from sounding like he should play up front for Arsenal, will be here with a host of the planet’s top soloists and the NZ Symphony Orchestra delivering Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.8 or Symphony Of A Thousand!

I do understand that this may not, as the crude term goes “be your cup of tea”, but that is the point – you must first try before you can decide on your preferred blend of Dilmah. Four years is a long time to wait for anything, even an All Blacks loss, so be into it, get the programme, fly to Wellington, eat at The Ambeli (Majoribanks St, best food in the country) and enjoy a show. You would if you were in New York or London you snob, it’s your back yard… be into it!

On now till March 21st… HERE