Top names in Arts Festival line-up

Hawke’s Bay’s most hotly anticipated cultural event returns this spring with a stunning line up of performances planned for Napier. This year, the Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival is rolling out its most diverse and exciting programme so far, with more than 55 events in 10 venues across the region. Artists and companies from Hungary, Canada, UK, Spain, USA and Australia will join forces with the best of local and national talent from our own backyard in what promises to be a spectacular 13 days of arts and culture.

Napier’s MTG Century Theatre will set the scene for theatre, music and three Readers and Writers sessions.

Classical music lovers won’t want to miss Emily Sun and Gamal Khamis. Australian violinist Emily Sun is rapidly gaining international recognition as an emerging soloist, while one of the UK’s rising stars, pianist Gamal Khamis, has a fistful of formidable awards and collaborations to his name. Together they will share a sumptuous programme of romantic and virtuosic music, including works by Faure, Grieg and Schubert.

A lunchtime concert, Cuentos de Espan˜ a (Stories of Spain), presented by Festival Opera, explores the fount of inspiration criss-crossing the globe between Spain and New Zealand through the conduit of music and Spanish composition. Pianist Lorelle McNaughton returns from studies in Barcelona with her award-winning affinity for Spanish repertoire. She is joined by acclaimed conductor and singer, Jose´ Aparicio and Hawke’s Bay soprano Anna Pierard.

Still Life with Chickens is a masterfully crafted, beguiling and very funny play, unafraid of the uncomfortable truths of life. Award-winning playwright D. F. Mamea’s slice-of-life story tells of an ageing Samoan woman’s valiant fight against loneliness and an unlikely friendship with a mischievous chicken. It vividly portray the local neighbourhood, colourful characters, and Mama’s dreams for herself and her family.

Achingly funny and poignant, Mark Hadlow’s MAMIL (Remounted) explores the male midlife crisis, where the super bike and cycling culture reign supreme.

Back by popular demand, this phenomenally successful middleaged man in lycra has entertained more than 40,000, and counting. Over Anniversary/Labour weekend White Night returns when Napier’s art precinct comes to life on Saturday, October 20 with a series of free exhibitions, interactive events and live performances. Supported by Napier City Council, this free event is a great way for families and friends to come together and celebrate the diversity of art and culture in our local community.

There will also be a free performance of Atamira Dance Company’s Pango/Black in the Napier Municipal Theatre as part of White Night. Six male dancers ignite the stage, bringing movement, energy and life to explore the concept of starting from nothing, or blackness. Te Kore features Shayne Carter (Straightjacket Fits) on guitar, taonga puoro by master player James Webster, and an electronic score by Peter Hobbs.

Also, at the Municipal Theatre, By a Thread isa visually rich, imaginative display of cutting-edge acrobatics from seven of Australia’s best emerging circus artists using the simple apparatus of a rope and pulley, and the physics of counterweight, tension, muscle and flight. A stunning, awardwinning show.

■ Festival programme from Napier City Council, iSites, libraries, galleries, cafes or Harcourts Hawke’s Bay offices. Visit www.hbaf.co.nz. Tickets to Napier shows from the MTG and Municipal Theatre box offices or ticketek.co.nz