Arts Festival set to challenge and delight

Friday 29 March 2019

Promising to push boundaries, inspire, and delight Southland audiences, this year’s Southland Arts Festival is encouraging even more people to celebrate diversity and enjoy the best of creative arts.

The 2019 Southland Arts festival is being held from 10 April to 15 May, 2019 and festival organisers are hoping its focus on accessibility and attempts to raise awareness of mental health, sexual misconduct and migration will entice more people to attend.

Festival director, Angela Newell said this year’s festival has secured events that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.

“We have Deaf interpretation shows, a special showing of the circus arts inspired production of Human for 2000 school children, and shows that continue conversations around mental health, diversity and women’s rights” she said.

The festival, now in its eleventh year, will open with The New Zealand Dance Company’s brand new work, Kiss The Sky.

The contemporary dance show is one of 15 events associated with the festival with a range of dance, theatre, music, comedy and storytelling on offer.

Newell said that while patrons could expect many entertaining and fun nights out, those looking for the festival’s growing hallmarks of edgy, provocative and innovative works, will not be disappointed.

“With Rob Mokaraka’s story, and the reflection of rape culture in our communities in Jane Doe, we’re offering raw and engaging events that will no doubt challenge those attending,” she said.

To further encourage the conversation about consent, a modified version of Jane Doe will be presented to Year 12 and 13 students called Yes Yes Yes
Newell said that in presenting shows to younger audiences, the festival is able to provide a forum for important conversations to be had.

Tickets are available to be purchased online from TicketDirect or from local ticket outlets Southland Chamber of Commerce, the Invercargill City Council Booking Office and from ILT Stadium Southland.

Thanks to the generosity of local funders, prices to the festival events are very reasonable and Newell urged people to make the most of it.

“We’ve got some of the best production houses in the country bringing their latest work to Southland, so April and May is going to be an outstanding month for entertainment in the city that you won’t want to miss,”

In brief, the shows on offer:
• A solo show that presents the journey back from attempted suicide to healing through aroha (Shot Bro, Confessions of a Depressed Bullet)
• A story of the exciting yet fraught decision to make a life in a new land (The South Afreakins)
• An award winning puppet show for all ages that delves into the darker side of storytelling (The Road that Wasn’t There)
• One of NZs most enduring girl groups celebrating 21 dynamic years of juke box favourites (The BeatGirls)
• A circus cabaret show with musicians, (including Shane Cortese), aerialists and acrobats...(Human)
• A forum-theatre solo show that encourages a robust conversation about consent, highlighting issues of rape culture (Jane Doe). A modified version of this show will be presented to Year 12 & 13 students, called Yes Yes Yes
• NZ rock legend, Mike Barker (ex John Butler Trio) drums up a storm (Swamp Thing)
• Versatility, virtuosity and artistry from internationally acclaimed NZ dance company (Kiss the Sky)
• Up-and-coming new NZ contemporary rock band The Killergrams, featuring Tom Maxwell
• A charming coming of age solo show, set in Dunedin in the 80s’ (My Best Dead Friend)

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