Erupt Revealed

Erupt Revealed:

The wraps are off. Erupt 2012 is revealed and, as patrons at last night’s sizzling cocktail party at Taupō’s Hilton Hotel discovered, it’s a festival programme that promises to ignite their senses taking them on a whirlwind 11-day journey of theatre, dance, comedy, music, visual arts and taste sensations.

More than 60 incredible events are crammed into the biennial Erupt Lake Taupō Festival, which lifts off on May 10 and continues through to May 20. The Erupt to Light theme is evident throughout, and free events are certain to spark curiosity and bring an element of surprise and discovery to the Festival.

Festival Director, Amanda Wright says she’s brought together a programme that will appeal to everyone: the discerning theatregoer, families, young and older audiences. There’s an edginess that entertains as well as challenges.

“The Festival is fresh. It has a strong entertainment element together with emotional depth. Laughter and tears, funny as well as deeply moving,” she says.

“I’ve taken a different approach to programming Erupt. Even though I’ve followed the standard formula of theatre, dance, music, etc., it has a different flavour – it’s very accessible.”

Erupt has Amanda’s stamp on it, with plenty of music as well as multimedia installations and a couple of R18 items which may raise a few eyebrows while thrilling others.

“It’s hard to identify highlights and potential highlights because every show has those elements. The cultural events are impressive and I believe it’s the first time such a significant group of Tuwharetoa Ta Moko artists have worked alongside each other; that’s special.

“Erupt’s theatre pieces are evocative but there’s plenty of comedy as well. Nga Tae with Richard Nunns is another special event and Vospertron will be amazing, ” she says.

Erupt will be visible like never before. The Festival focuses on Taupō’s Great Lake Centre but alongside are specially constructed Festival venues - the Crater Room and Cube Club. Once the sun goes down the GLC will erupt to light with a video projection mapped to its architecture and a kilometre long path lit with more than 20 different light installations promises to delight.

Ticket prices start at $29 with plenty of free activities and community events. The full programme is on www.eruptfestival.co.nz from 23 March with ticket sales available from Ticketek from 26 March.

The Erupt Festival office is at the Great Lake Centre and open weekdays from 10am to 4pm

Ends.
Programme details:

Theatre
Guru of Chai
The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik
Beautiful Losers
The Second Test
Naked Samoans Go Home
Music
Tom Rodwell and Storehouse
Cub Club Jams
The Yoots
The Nukes
AK Barok
Josephine and the Alcyone Systems
Nga Tae
Adam PAge
Bobbito Brazuka
The Bellbirds
Dance/Physical Theatre
Venus Is
Atamira
Terrain
In Flagrante
Comedy
Idiots of Ants
Hot Pink Bits
Visual Arts
Art of Assemblage
Face Value
Ta Moko Tuwharetoa
Live Ta Moko
Culinary Arts
Degustation Delights with Simon Gaul
The Winemaker and the Cheese maker
Workshops
Lauren Lysaght
Nga Tae
Lantern making (released into Lake Taupo on the final night)
Free community projects
D.A.N.C. E FM 106.7
The Public Fountain (based on Taupo's geothermal story)
Finale parade/ Vospertron
Junk Mail - school students creating mail boxes from recycled materials to create an installation. People's choice award by posting a vote card through the box.

Other exhibits:
Lynden Over 'Robots & Rockets'
The Unison Erupt to Light Trail - light sculptures and installations and the Great Lake Centre becomes and artwork with specially commissioned 3D projection video artwork mapped to the building's architecture every night.

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