Buskers provide crowd with a lift
Nelson’s city centre was full of activity as stalls and buskers took to the street.
On Saturday Trafalgar Street was closed to vehicles from Bridge Street up to the new pedestrian zone area at the church steps, making way for entertainment and a market.
Amongst the stalls of food, crafts and local businesses, a woman dressed in white lifted her hooped skirt, wowing the crowd with her underwear on show. She was a performer from the Buskers Festival.
It was Lady Whistle’s signature move as she ‘spoke’ to festivalgoers with her whistle and revealed stockings and suspenders under her outfit.
At the Buskers Festival stage below the church steps, the first act of the day saw Sport Suzie amuse the crowd with her fun 80s act laced with comedy, a unicycle and jump rope.
Louise Kerr who plays Sport Suzie travelled to Nelson from Christchurch to be part of the festival line up.
She said the Nelson crowd were ‘‘awesome, lovely and friendly’’. ‘‘They’re quite playful. ‘‘They seem fresher. I don’t know how much of this style of theatre comes to Nelson so they’re more appreciative maybe if they haven’t seen that sort of stuff as often.’’
A young volunteer from the audience helped Sport Suzie during her act and was rewarded with a $10 note at the end of the show.
A member of the audience, Kathryn Jennings was with her children and said she was enjoying watching Sport Suzie.
‘‘She was really gorgeous with her assistant from the crowd.’’
Despite Thursday’s ex-cyclone Fehi damaging one of the festival venues, it was a case of the show must go on.
The festival was due to start on Thursday morning.
Nelson Busker Festival producer Giles Burton said weather had lost them the first day. Shows scheduled to run at the Boathouse were moved to the Musical Theatre in The Wood.
‘‘It was great them being available and able to help out.
‘‘We’ve muddled through ... you could say.’’
Hundreds gathered to watch the first weekend family entertainment.
‘‘It’s looking like people are loving the shows.’’