ARTS BEAT: WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
1Dark Matter Ann Shelton explores t i me, place, narrative, t rauma and f emale agency i n her pictures; now the f i rst major review of t he Wellington- based photographer’s 20 years of work i s underway. The exhibition uncovers “t he dark matter or unknown substance” i n Shelton’s art and i ncludes a significant selection of past work, i ncluding previously unseen photographs f rom t he 90s, and a new series, j ane says ( 2015- 1 6). These pieces recover and reveal t he unseen and overlooked histories of abortifacient plants used historically by women t o control t heir f ertility.
Ann Shelton: Dark Matter, Auckland Art Gallery until Monday, April 17. 2
Brief encounter It’s that time of year again—no, not Christmas, but the office summer holiday knees- up. After a sell- out season at t his year’s Auckland’s Pride Festival and in advance of a booking at the Sydney Festival, the burlesque boys from Briefs return. It’s a madcap safari inspired by the artistry of drag, the imagery of theatre, traditions of circus and burlesque, debauchery of speakeasies and the showmanship of cabaret with a contemporary Antipodean twist. Briefs, Q Theatre until Saturday, December 10.
3From Russia, with love After their sell- out 2015 performances of Swan Lake, the Imperial Russian Ballet Company is back in town to perform The Nutcracker. It’s famous for Tchaikovsky’ s music, which has become one of t he most recognisable and enduring music scores ever written. The company will be joined by children from local ballet schools. The Nutcracker, Bruce Mason Centre, Thursday and ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre on Friday and Saturday.
4Summer sounds Nothing sounds like summer more than ukuleles—listen fora moment or two and you’ re instantly transported toa tropical island. Around 10,000 people are expected to get that summer feeling when they join in the 10 th NZ Ukulele Festival celebrations. It includes performances from The Nukes, the Creative Soul Project, our own Kiwi le les( it’s amassed orchestra of around 2500 school-aged ukulele players) and international guests Honoka and Azita. There’s also ukulele art, face painting, talent shows and the Great Kiwi Ukea long, where you can sing, strum or just hum some epic Kiwi songs. The 10th NZ Ukulele Festival, Vector Arena, Saturday from 11am- 4pm. 5
Christmas first There might not be snow, candied apples or mulled wine but there certainly will be the spirit of a traditional German Christmas when Bach Music a NZ performs its annual Christmas concert. German music and artistic director Rita Paczian has two rarely performed Christmas Cantatas by Georg Philipp Telemann to be presented for the first time on New Zealand soil. To round off the evening, Bach Music a NZ will launch its 201740 th Anniversary Subscription Series. Bach Musica NZ: A German Christmas, Auckland Town Hall, Sunday, December 4.