New NZIAF Nightclub on the Wellington Waterfront

New Zealand International Arts Festival Builds New Nightclub on the Wellington Waterfront

A 500-seat performance venue and nightclub will be built on the Wellington waterfront especially for the 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Wellington waterfront’s Shed 6 will be transformed into the Pacific Blue Festival Club – complete with theatre, lounge bar and catering for up to 300 guests.

Celebrated New Zealand theatre designer, Tony Rabbit, has designed the new venue for the New Zealand International Arts Festival. The nightclub lounge, features a glamorous sweeping staircase, where you can eat and drink before, after and during performances.

“The Pacific Blue Festival Club is the perfect dual purpose venue where you can see a show, grab a drink or bite to eat before and after performances, or simply a destination to soak up the Festival atmosphere as it is sure to be a magnet for artists,” says Lissa Twomey, Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

“During the Festival we, out of necessity, need to be creative when thinking about spaces for performances. We saw a need for an alternative music/theatre space - the Pacific Blue Festival Club is a made-to-measure space of a size and style suitable for the extensive variety of performances we have in store,” says Twomey.

The Pacific Blue Festival Club will feature eclectic indie rockers Calexico, the Grammy-award winning Yellowjackets, Sweden’s Irya’s Playground, and The Swell Season who won Oscars for their performance in the cult movie Once.

New Zealand’s own Jenny Morris comes back from Sydney, as do the world music trio Djan Djan. Tabla player Karsh Kale and Midival Punditz perform their original live score to Bruce Lee’s cult classic Enter the Dragon.

Also on the bill are theatre cabaret acts Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Dancing On Your Grave, and Frisky and Mannish all from the UK, alongside Ship Songs from Auckland Theatre Company with Don McGlashan and band accompanying actor Ian Hughes.

“We are continuing to programme acts for the Pacific Blue Festival Club and will announce them as we get closer to show time,” says Twomey. Gold Partners: New Zealand Post Group, TV3, Clemenger BBDO, Pacific Blue. Funders: Absolutely Positively Wellington, Creative New Zealand

The New Zealand International Arts Festival runs from 26 February to 21 March 2010. The Pacific Blue Festival Club will open on Saturday 27 February with its last call and performance on Sunday 21 March. The Pacific Blue Festival Club will be open from 5.30pm until late.

ENDS

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