Reset 2020 Festival coming to Taranaki
A new festival coming to Taranaki will help revive a struggling post-Covid-19 entertainment industry, organisers say.
Reset 2020 replaces the Right Royal Cabaret Festival, which was meant to run from June 25 to 28, and the Box of Tricks Festival, which was set for September 26 to October 4.
Both were cancelled by the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT), which has instead created Reset 2020, a smorgasbord of cabaret, comedy, music, and theatre from November 5 to 15.
But who will be performing is under wraps until the festival’s official launch on August 13.
TAFT chief executive Suzanne Porter said she was thrilled to be bringing live performances back to the region after successfully hosting Womad NZ 10 days before lockdown.
‘‘This festival is providing a platform for New Zealand artists to get back to work, and equally just as vital, giving our local communities the opportunity to engage again with the festival experience.’’
Festival manager Lisa Haskell said the event was created during lockdown. ‘‘Initially, the project was a way to allow our festival team to maintain our practice, and remain sustainable during a time of uncertainty,’’ she said.
Taranaki musician and founder of New Plymouth Singer Songwriters, Anand Rose, said it was important for the entertainment scene to have events like this after Covid-19. ‘‘It will be good for our national musicians to get work. It’ll be good to bring them here to Taranaki.’’
He said 50 per cent of the lineup from the TSB Festival of Lights entertainment schedule were local acts, and he hoped they were given a chance at Reset 2020.
The festival coincides with the final weekend of the Taranaki Garden Festival, which runs from October 30 to November 8 and is also operated by TAFT. The Taranaki Arts Trail will also run from October 30 to November 1.
Devon Hotel proprietor Peter Tennant said it had been a tough time for all sectors, and another festival in the region would help pick up the town post-Covid-19. ‘‘For the region it’s fabulous. It’s bringing wallets into town.’’