World-class line-up for 2016 Nelson Arts Festival

World-class line-up for 2016 Nelson Arts Festival

Triumphs and Other Alternatives - a dance theatre piece by Ross McCormack of Muscle Mouth.

The 2016 Nelson Arts Festival programme, launched on Wednesday 3 August, will reveal the depth of national and international talent being brought in for the Festival, which runs from Wednesday 12 October to Monday 24 October.

Early Bird discounts for many shows are available until the end of August.

The Nelson Arts Festival is an annual celebration of creativity in all its forms, with a choice selection of the best theatre, dance, comedy, music, writers’ talks, and community events on offer.

Highlights of this year’s Festival include:
• The World Premiere of New Zealand’s top circus theatre company The Dust Palace’s The Goblin Market – a fantastical contemporary circus re-telling of Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market
• Songs for the Fallen - a corset-busting cabaret about the last hurrah of Marie Duplessis – 19th century Parisian courtesan and lover of famous men, who inspired The Lady of the Camellias, Moulin Rouge! and La Traviatta
• Page & Blackmore Readers and Writers headliner Witi Ihimaera talking about his memoir Maori Boy: A Memoir of Childhood.
• A sashay through Kiwi rock history with Dunedin band The Chills live onstage, and Flying Nun founder Roger Shepherd talking to Grant Smithies about his book In Love with These Times.

Axel de Maupeou, Festivals Team Leader, says that this year’s Festival brings a wealth of local, national and international talent to the stage.

“The Festival is such a drawcard for visitors, locals and performers. This year they will see shows that are rich in true life stories, visually astonishing and, in some cases controversial, just like good art should be.”

The Festival continues to be based at Founders Heritage Park, which will serve as art gallery, outdoor studio and backdrop to all things extra-ordinary. The Founders venues will be decorated with a retrospective exhibition of Anne Rush’s work.

“Ten years of Anne's beautiful installations will be on display throughout the Park,” says Festival Programme Coordinator Charlie Unwin. “Last year’s successful Billboard Project – Maungārongo - will move to Founders, so show goers can enjoy watching art makers at work. And internationally acclaimed landscaper James Wheatley will be creating something special in the grounds – we’ll just have to wait and see what he does for us.”

The Festival team is excited to be back at the Suter Theatre, which re-opens shortly before the Festival starts. Other venues are the Theatre Royal and the Boathouse, the Free House Yurt and the Playhouse, Whakatū Marae and Neudorf Vineyards.

This year’s Festival offers chances for locals to get involved, with Stage One at the 1903 Square giving a platform for youth performance. A new initiative – Theatre in Development – will workshop local production Maungatapu with a collaborative audience. Sing it to My Face is the opportunity for a community conversation in song; there’s also PechaKucha and Couch Stories for those who like to share.

The family favourite Masked Parade on Friday 21 October will launch Labour Weekend with the inspiring theme of Flights of Fancy. After the parade the More FM Carnivale celebration will swing into action with street performances, food stalls and great bands.

The full Festival programme is available at www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz or as hard copy from Nelson City Council’s Customer Service Centre, Theatre Royal, libraries, retailers, cafes and key visitor outlets in the region. Ticket sales are available online from Thursday 4 August, with Early Bird discounts running until Wednesday 31 August. Tickets can also be purchased at the Theatre Royal Box Office.

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