February 15, 2007

FESTIVAL OF COLOUR ANNOUNCES 2007 PROGRAMME

The Festival of Colour has lifted the curtain on its 2007 programme, revealing six days and nights of art, drama, music, comedy and dance from national and international artists and performers, set against the autumnal backdrop of Lake Wanaka.

Running from 24 to 29 April, this year’s festival highlights include music from the rousing Jubilation Choir, Irish folk singer Mary Coughlan and top New Zealand pianists Michael Houstoun and Mike Nock together with performances from the New Zealand Army Band and lively Eastern European gypsy group, Doch.

On stage, award-winning comedy, The Tutor, heads the line-up joined by one-man shows Hatch, Odyssey and Playing Miss Havisham. The Lab will reveal a new synergy between science and music and audiences will enjoy the latest evocative dance from renowned New Zealand choreographer, Raewyn Hill.

A lively discussion programme will debate subjects such as "Is it art?", "Southern Man, Southern Woman" and "Writing for Stage and Screen" featuring high profile personalities such as Michel Tuffery, Oscar Kightley and Sam Neill.

The visual arts component of the Festival includes the astounding Earth from Above giant outdoor photographic exhibition as well as a unique exhibition of leading New Zealand artists from private Wanaka collections and a series of art installations around the township.

Southern Lakes Arts Trust chairman, John Beattie said the 2007 Festival of Colour would build on the success of the inaugural Festival in 2005.

"We set ourselves the goal of building a strong, stylish and distinctive festival for the region in 2005 and we achieved that – the 2005 Festival was acclaimed as the leading emerging arts festival in the country," he said. "This year we are moving on another step or two with the introduction of a substantial touring programme together with the Schoolfest programme that will allow students to see and work with leading professional artists."

Festival venues range from the magnificent Infinity Crystal Palace to the Wanaka lakefront. The touring programme visits locations steeped in local heritage such as the Bannockburn Village Hall and Arrowtown Cheese Factory.

Tickets go on sale to the public on 19 February, available through TicketDirect outlets nationwide or through the Festival website at www.festivalofcolour.co.nz.