Five of the best from Auckland Arts Festival
From an all-night concert, to Vietnamese circus, and a journey deep into the prehistoric ocean, to actor Cate Blanchett rehearsing early 20th century art manifestos, it is impossible to pick five highlights from the Auckland Arts Festival programme. In his debut as director, Johnathan Bielski aimed to make this festival different and fresh, and to usher in a distinctly new era.
Here is a taster of what the festival promises. You can find the programme at aaf.co.nz.
The amazing Cate Blanchett totally transforms to play 13 different characters reciting art manifestos from the 20th century in a series of movies. From Dadists to Futurists to Suprematists, these artists’ ideologies are crazy, intellectual and weirdly inspirational. Created by Julian Rosefeldt and showing at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta¯ maki, February 24 till June 10, $15/$12.50.
Neil performs from his latest album, Out of the Silence, recorded in a single session last year. He takes the stage with Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and guests, including SJD, Samuel Flynn Scott, EJ Barnes, Sandy Mill, James Milne and Jimmy Metherell. Silo Park, March 9 till 10, GA $120.
The boys are back on oldschool Pasifika turf, when they inherit a Ponsonby villa. They plan to sell it and make a killing in the Auckland’s housing market, but the house and its owner are not what they seem. Magic! The Civic, March 22 till 25. Tickets from $29 to $69.
Erth takes kids under the surface of the sea to meet giant, inflatable versions of pre-historic dinosaurs who ruled the waves. Bruce Mason Centre March 16 till 18. $25/$19, family $78. Virtual reality experience and puppetry workshop options.
English National Ballet’s new Spanish director, Tamara Rojo, has set about to reinvent classics including Giselle. Choreographed by dancing superstar Akram Khan, employing nearly 100 dancers and crew, with a new ‘‘ominous and Gothic’’ score, this show will be spectacular. ASB Theatre, March 1 till 4. $55 to $175.
Okay, that’s six, but Bielski sold this one brilliantly, describing it as an ‘‘espresso shot of joy’’. The troupe makes good use of baskets, as well as circus skills, to tell the story of urbanisation impacting on life in peaceful rural Vietnam. The Civic, March 15 till 18. $29 to $69.