ARTS BEAT: WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
1 Summer i n the Square
Auckland Live celebrates the arrival of the festive season and (hopefully) sunnier weather with its annual“backyard summer party ”. Music includes everything from orchestra sand opera to fantasy jazz and al t-country; there’ s an Auckland exclusive of the street ballet Trolleys, courtesy of The New Zealand Dance Company. Activities include gardening workshops and themed weekends. Auckland Live Summer in the Square, Aotea Square until December 23; January 9- February 24.
2 He’s back
Santa Claus, that is, and at the Pump House Theatre in Takapuna where, for the 15 th year, Tim Bray Children’ s Theatre stages its annual The Santa Claus Show. Written by Tim Bray for his nieces it tells the story of best friends Kelly and Alana, who decide to write to Santa Claus. When he receives Kelly’s list—the longest list he’s ever seen—Santa decides to fly her to the North Pole where she can learn the true meaning of Christmas. The Santa Claus Show, PumpHouse Theatre. Tomorrow until Dec 22.
3 Small- town theatre
Sort of—it wouldn’t be Christmas without the Basement Theatre’ s annual festive season show and, in the last eight years, the team has pretty much exhausted every Yuletide topic from remakes of Jesus
Christ Superstar and Charles Dickens to Christmas murder mysteries and pantomimes. This year explores the only topic left: how to make a Christmas show. Written by and starring Thomas Sainsbury and Chris Parker, tensions run high when a small- town’s Broadway- aspiring director wants to do a Santa-free show. The Opening
Night Before Christmas, Tuesday- December 22.
4 Dramatic kids . . .
who can sing and dance, too. The National Youth Theatre Company introduces kids and young adults to musical theatre. This Christmas, a cast of 200 young performers, including alive band, stage Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dream coat, direction from NZ Opera’ s Jonathan Alver. Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Aotea Centre, Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 1.30 and 7pm.