Digging the NZ Arts Festival
4/11/2009 12:40:00 p.m.
IT’S a love story about a man and a digger.
Transports Exceptionnels is one of the performances to look forward to at the 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival, and it will be played out at Waitangi Park from February 26.
“It’s a romance between a dancer and a mechanical digger. The dancer flirts and quarrels with it, it’s very human in a way,” laughs artistic director of the festival, Lissa Twomey.
She says this year she’s focused on broadening the programme, which has just been announced, to include as wide a range of audience as possible.
“We’ve got it all in there. We’ve also focused on free events. We’ve got lots of art talks and a project called Revolt of the Mannequins.”
This will see Wellington’s CBD taken over by comic strip scenes staged in 10 shop windows for nine days. Every night the mannequins’ scenes will change.
Twomey says the opening night will be huge, and no Wellingtonians have to miss out.
“As part of the celebration we’re relaying it live in Civic Square, so everyone can see it for free,” she says.
A total of 930 artists from 30 countries will perform theatre, music, dance and visual arts in the festival, and the line-up includes talks from writers like The God Delusion author Richard Dawkins and historian Simon Schama.
Twomey is particularly looking forward to the European theatre that will be showcased. “One I’m excited about is the Polish theatre company (TR Warzsawa) – it’s haunting and beautiful. Also, The Sound of Silence from Latvia (the New Riga Theatre). It’s punctuated with the sound of Simon and Garfunkel,” she says.
And for those who want to relax between shows, Shed 6 is receiving a complete makeover, and will house a bar, a hospitality lounge and a 500-seat performance space.
2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival, venues throughout Wellington, February 26 – March 21. www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz.
Transports Exceptionnels is one of the performances to look forward to at the 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival, and it will be played out at Waitangi Park from February 26.
“It’s a romance between a dancer and a mechanical digger. The dancer flirts and quarrels with it, it’s very human in a way,” laughs artistic director of the festival, Lissa Twomey.
She says this year she’s focused on broadening the programme, which has just been announced, to include as wide a range of audience as possible.
“We’ve got it all in there. We’ve also focused on free events. We’ve got lots of art talks and a project called Revolt of the Mannequins.”
This will see Wellington’s CBD taken over by comic strip scenes staged in 10 shop windows for nine days. Every night the mannequins’ scenes will change.
Twomey says the opening night will be huge, and no Wellingtonians have to miss out.
“As part of the celebration we’re relaying it live in Civic Square, so everyone can see it for free,” she says.
A total of 930 artists from 30 countries will perform theatre, music, dance and visual arts in the festival, and the line-up includes talks from writers like The God Delusion author Richard Dawkins and historian Simon Schama.
Twomey is particularly looking forward to the European theatre that will be showcased. “One I’m excited about is the Polish theatre company (TR Warzsawa) – it’s haunting and beautiful. Also, The Sound of Silence from Latvia (the New Riga Theatre). It’s punctuated with the sound of Simon and Garfunkel,” she says.
And for those who want to relax between shows, Shed 6 is receiving a complete makeover, and will house a bar, a hospitality lounge and a 500-seat performance space.
2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival, venues throughout Wellington, February 26 – March 21. www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz.
