November 3, 2006

Auckland Festival, AK07  

"The Auckland Festival programme for 2007 is a winner. It’s diverse, challenging and exciting. I am very proud of what will be presented in March. Aucklanders can look forward to the best Festival they’ve experienced yet!"
Festival Director David Malacari, 1 November, 2006. 

Auckland Festival, AK07 Programme Highlights: 

French pyrotechnicians Groupe F, famed internationally for lighting up the Eiffel Tower, the Stade de France for the football World Cup, the Olympic Games in Athens and the 2004 and 2005 New Years Eve celebrations in London, will officially open the Festival with a free public extravaganza at the Auckland Domain. 

Theatre

·       From Germany and Switzerland renowned director Heiner Goebbels presents his seminal work, Max Black.

·       Penumbra; an epic and ambitious work in the style of Robert LePage

·       Canadian master of marionettes, Ronnie Burkett manipulates more than 40 puppets in his award winning show 10 Days on Earth which asks the question ‘if you were alone but didn’t know it would you feel lonely?"

·       Auckland Theatre Company explore the slaughter of more than three million penguins for the good of the environment in Hatch.

·       Silo Theatre embark on the mission of finding the ‘next generation’ of actors by casting two shows of ‘unknowns’; one directed by Oliver Driver, HAND MADE, the other by Michael Hurst, EXCAVATED CLASSIC.

·       A four metre Head on stage at Galatos is not a theatrical illusion. Or is it? Find out who the voices in your head really are.
·       Also part of the Intimate Theatre Season; Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, (Potent Pause) Productions’ The Homecoming, A Lethal Set’s Mother/Whaea Tama/Son, and Taki Rua’s Strange Resting Places.

·       Devonport’s Victoria Theatre is home to several shows including Façade- Comedie d’images, which is based on the poems of 1920s eccentric poet Edith Sitwell

Music

·       Contemporary musical genius Nitin Sawhney has composed the score for the exquisitely restored silent film-A Throw of Dice.  He and his orchestra join the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for a memorable night of film and music at the Civic Theatre, The Edge.

·       The NZSO celebrates its 60th anniversary with an exclusive-to-Auckland concert of Mahler’s monumental Second Symphony – The Resurrection.

·       Top New Zealand recording artists bring music to the beautiful words of loved New Zealand writer Hone Tuwhare for one night only in the acclaimed show Tuwhare, narrated by Whale Rider star Rawiri Paratene.

·       Three Australian improvisational jazz concerts will be performed by the Australian Art Orchestra and accompanied by renowned indigenous musicians Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.

·       The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra present a masterful Pacific Rim concert with music by Gareth Farr, Toru Takemitsu and John Adams’ Harmonielehre. Conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero.

·       Sit back and relax to the traditional music and rituals of Korean Tea making. Presented by the Korean Creative Music Society this majestical performance blends the traditional and modern transporting audience members to another time and place.

·       For the first time a full chamber Music Season is programmed, and indeed it is An Hour of Quality Time. Held at the St-Matthews-in-the-City at 6pm each night.

·       Instructions for Modern Living, performed by Duncan Sarkies and composed by Nic McGowan is performance music at it’s maddest, with a story… or three.

·       Discovering new sounds has never been easier according to the leading experimental sound geniuses behind the three-day sound workshop S3D.

Dance

·       Black Grace presents it’s new work Amata

·       For the first time in New Zealand acclaimed French Dance Company – Compagnie Preljocaj – take to the stage with its reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s iconic – The Four Seasons.

·       Lemi Ponifasio and MAU perform Tempest before talking the show overseas

·       Two provocative shows by Rifleman Productions, Dark Tourist and Terrain, transport audiences to new places and are not to be missed.

Red Square

·       At downtown Britomart is the hub of the Festival, housing multiple venues including The Famous Spiegeltent where the magic mirrors of this historic 1930’s Belgian cabaret tent have been seducing clients all over the world for many years; the Festival Club and an outdoor stage for free music weekends

·       There will be cafés and bars in Red Square plus a specially laid lawn enhancing the Festive feel of the Hub and encouraging artists and audiences alike to soak up the shows and the Festive spirit..

·       The Famous Spiegeltent will feature a nightly programme of cabaret and burlesque including international acts such as La Clique.

·       Every night the Spiegeltent will host performances by local artists among them Don McGlashan, Dave Dobbyn, the Topp Twins and Goldenhorse. 

·       An integral part of Red Square will be the Festival Club where artists such as controversial and hilarious Eddie Perfect will perform alongside the famed Spaghetti Western Orchestra, formerly the Ennio Morricone Expereince, and local talents including Nathan Haines, Whirimako Black, Tama Waipara and Jennifer Ward Leland.

·       The Two for One Box Office at Red Square means you have no excuse not to have fun!

·       Young Red Square sees two fantastic youth projects kick-off on alternate weekends during the Festival. The first event, Westpac Young Producers, provides the chance for eager young producers (14-18) to submit an event concept and walk a  $20,000 Westpac Student Pac Saver Account to make their dreams come true. On the second weekend 6-13 years olds will be trading their creative products at their own market stalls at the Spiegelmarket.

Visual Arts

The Auckland Art Gallery’s 3rd Auckland Triennial, turbulence is proud to be part of the Auckland Festival, AK07.

·       Complementing turbulence is a vast visual programme comprising 14 other exhibitions including several visiting international artists such as New York graffiti artist Eric Orr and Japanese artist Hiromi Tango who will be one of 10 artists residing in Auckland CBD shop windows throughout the Festival.

·       Local exhibitions include; Blow; by Sue Gallagher and Tracey Collins, Elam-Up Front, Joc-Jewellery Out of Context, Len Lye film screening at Tahaki Reserve Mt Eden, Mirror Worlds-Contemporary Video Installation from Asia, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, Wonder-land, Contemporary Visual Art of New Caledonia, Rare View, and Sky- A Projection Event.