A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
TO THE BEAT: This year’s Tempo Dance Festival sees 11 days of awe-inspiring dance where world-renowned international dancers and choreographers star alongside some of New Zealand’s best-known and critically acclaimed artists. It seems almost unfair to pick out possible highlights but, from week 1, we’re particularly looking forward to:
Award-winning choreographer Moss Patterson wrangles the artistic talents of more than 50 performers and combines the rhythms of kapa haka and tai chi to create a powerful new contemporary dance work that explores the intriguing history of the Manukau region. ONE: The Earth Rises, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Thursday, October 3 MILESTONE PREMIERE: Atamira Dance’s Kotahi programme, which sees the company team with NAISDA Dance College, Australia's top Indigenous training college, for three new contemporary dance pieces made by choreographers Louise Potiki Bryant, Jack Gray and guest artist Frances Rings. The first, Potiki Bryant’s Onepū, plays on Thursday followed, on Friday, by Kotahi II, which sees Gray’s
Indigenous Stamina and Shapeshift by Rings take centre stage. This NZ premiere is a true milestone, bringing together Australian First Nations and Māori contemporary dance legacies. Kotahi I, Thursday, October 4 and Kotahi II, Friday, October 5, Rangatira at Q Theatre POLITICAL HUMOUR: You may recognise Robbie Nicol from his breakneck online talk show White Man Behind a Desk, a comical take on Kiwi politics. Nicol brings his new show WMBADx:
Ideas Worth Spreading to town this week, an “entirely humourless seminar” aiming to convince Kiwis that “politics and comedy should never mix again”. WMBADx: Ideas Worth Spreading, Basement Theatre, Tuesday, October 3 – Saturday, October 13
COMEDY WITH PUNCH: Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson won Best International Show at this year’s New Zealand International Comedy Festival with Seminal, and we’re not surprised. Our reviewer said Nicholson’s “ability to layer punchline upon punchline before even getting to his final slam dunk is incredible,” but that towards the end of the show, his humour “ended up somewhere quietly beautiful”. It’s a blend of riotous comedy and bitterly resonant social commentary. Rhys Nicholson, The Classic Studio, Friday, October 5