Global acts in Fringe Festival
Actors from as far afield as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia will soon be flocking to Nelson for the third annual Nelson Fringe Festival.
‘‘It’s really a credit to the enthusiastic support of our community that we are now drawing exciting acts from multiple overseas destinations,’’ says Fringe director Laura Irish. ‘‘It’s great to be able to offer tickets to these shows for less than $11 - at least while the early bird tickets last anyway.’’
Bodane Hatten, of a Sleightly Funny Magic Show, is coming to Nelson from Hobart to deliver his show.
‘‘My show is an adult comedy show that involves a Russian roulette routine with staple guns, swallowing needles and many more bizarre routines,’’ says Hatten.
Also from Australia, Melbourne-based Rik Brown will be performing in the Museum of Broken Relationships with Wellington resident Christine Brooks. Brown has been a member of the Australian improv scene for the past 20 years. He has taught and performed throughout Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands.
He says he’s thrilled to be performing at the festival, and says that his show is inspired by the detritus of romantic relationships.
‘‘This show explores them all, the broken ones and the ones that remain intact … for now,’’ says Brown. ‘‘The audience will be invited to provide suggestions to inspire scenes by anonymously describing objects that are left over from previous relationships. We’ll then create stories and scenes inspired by them. It’ll be fun. And maybe even a little cathartic ...’’
He is also performing in a solo show, The Rabbit Hole, in which he goes down the ‘rabbit hole’ of his own mind to discover what characters and stories are lurking within.
From the UK, Gerard Harris, winner of last year’s Best Solo Show, will be back performing in a solo comedy show, Tales You Lose. He describes his show as ’’a philosophical investigation into freedom, fate and the paradox of choice in a world stuffed full of information ... but mostly it’s just an hour of me telling the craziest story I’ve ever told.’’
Early bird tickets to these and other shows and workshops are available until Sunday April 2. To find out more visit: www.nelsonfringe.co.nz.