RESTAGE to Support New Zealand Performance

New Zealand International Arts Festival launches RESTAGE to Support New Zealand Performance

The New Zealand International Arts Festival launches a new initiative RESTAGE that brings New Zealand theatre and dance work back to the stage following their next phase of development.

“It takes more than one season for performance to find its feet, and the Festival recognises it has an opportunity and a responsibility to help support and develop New Zealand work to its full potential,” says Lissa Twomey, Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

The Arrival by New Zealand’s Red Leap Theatre is a major work of physical and visual theatre adapted from the award-winning graphic novel by Australian artist and author Shaun Tan. Combining music, movement, comedy and puppetry, The Arrival is the story of an immigrant who flees his homeland searching for a better future. It is an enthralling story for all the family. The Arrival premiered in Auckland in March 2009, and further development sees it not only on the New Zealand International Arts Festival’s stage, but also at the Sydney and Hong Kong Festivals.

He Reo Aroha from Tawata Productions is written by Miria George and Jamie McCaskill, and directed by Hone Kouka. Beautiful original waiata, performed by Kali Kopae and Jamie McCaskill, weave a compelling story about childhood sweethearts Kaia and Pascoe who meet at a high school party one warm summer’s night. Their voices create a love that remains with them for a lifetime. He Reo Aroha has been performed in Australia, Hawai’i and Canada and regionally in New Zealand.

Auckland Theatre Company’s Ship Songs is a funny and visually stunning production that celebrates love, courage and adventure on the high seas. Written and performed by Ian Hughes, Ship Songs spans five centuries and four continents, and is inspired by how Hughes’ own parents fell in love. Hughes jumps between characters and countries in a performance that for the Festival’s RESTAGE season, is enhanced by the introduction of live music by Don McGlashan, Chris O’Connor and Dave Khan.

HACKMAN presents Apollo 13: Mission Control on a far larger scale than its first performances which won it two Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards in 2008. This interactive production puts audience members in the control seats to make the critical decisions necessary to bring home safely three astronauts, trapped 200,000 miles from Earth. Apollo 13: Mission Control transforms the theatre into a 1970s replica of Mission Control with retro computers and giant video screens. Seats are also available in the ‘Press Gallery’ for those who prefer a quieter trip into lunar orbit.

Winner of the Best Choreography by an Established Artist or Company at the 2008 Tempo Awards, MTYLAND is choreographed by New Zealand born Claire O’Neil who is based in Brussels. She and six Gold Partners: New Zealand Post Group, TV3, Clemenger BBDO, Pacific Blue. Funders: Absolutely Positively Wellington, Creative New Zealand

dancers from Footnote Dance have reworked this intoxicating production about the search for calm amid life’s chaos. This work evolved from O’Neil’s interest in random events, journeys of survival and the practice of defence and attack. MTYLAND highlights how some unexpected collisions can result in the most beautiful transformations.

The Arrival is sponsored by Wild at Heart Wellington Airport, with support from New Zealand Major Events and Creative New Zealand. He Reo Aroha is supported by Creative New Zealand and Te Puni Kōkiri. Ship Songs is sponsored by CentrePort Wellington, with support from Creative New Zealand and New Zealand Major Events. Apollo 13: Mission Control is sponsored by Nielson with support from New Zealand Major Events, Creative New Zealand and the Embassy of the United States of America. MTYLAND is supported by Creative New Zealand and New Zealand Major Events.

ENDS

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