Drones in a stage show?
Could this be the first stage show to incorporate drones in its choreography? A technologically reimagined Pinocchio is coming to Christchurch.
Hungarian production company BANDART’s show Ann-Droid could be just the ticket for the school holidays, with enough wonder for both parents and kids.
The show is the ‘‘dream’’ of couple Katalin Lengyel and Szabolcs To´ th-Zs, who starred in Hungary’s Got Talent and are now performing to Kiwi audiences for the first time during their 2018 tour.
‘‘We are very happy to be bringing the show to New Zealand,’’ Lengyel said as she spoke to The Press ahead of their first Christchurch performance at the Isaac Theatre Royal on Wednesday.
Their first show is in Hamilton on Tuesday, before they fly to Christchurch and on to Nelson and the Hawke’s Bay.
They were given the ‘‘golden buzzer’’ on the 2015 season of Hungary’s Got Talent, putting them straight through to the live finals show.
Describing the plot, Lengyel said: ‘‘An inventor creates a little robot girl who wants to become human. We have changed the story of Pinocchio to be more relevant in this new world.’’
Lengyel said To´ th-Zs was the ‘‘real inventor’’ behind the show, while she plays the part of the robot girl Ann.
‘‘My partner is a new media artist, he also studied computer programming, animation and graphic design.
‘‘We are a couple as well, so we do everything together, 24 hours a day. It’s sometimes difficult but this is also our dream, and we are living it.’’
Incorporating animation, graphic design, projection and drones, Ann-Droid is a classic tale of creator and creation, but also father and daughter.
‘‘In every story there is a conflict which needs to be solved.
‘‘Here, Ann doesn’t really take rules that seriously and is too curious, while Alfred, the inventor, takes the rules a bit too seriously,’’ Lengyel said.
‘‘By the end both of them have to change.’’ BANDART are also bringing their show Dancing Graffiti to Christchurch, a livedrawn digital art performance combining animation and dance in which Lengyel plays a girl developing from birth through to adulthood.
Catch all of BANDART’s performances on Wednesday at the Isaac Theatre Royal. AnnDroid is on at 11am and 2pm, Dancing Graffiti at 8pm. While in the city, take some time with the kids to explore our Antarctic past. As a gateway to the ice, Christchurch has a diverse history of Southern explorers and expeditions. Pop into the iSite at the Arts Centre, on Worcester Blvd, and pick up an interactive map. It will lead the family on a hunt into the Botanic Gardens, looking for clues to answer questions. Who knows, maybe your little ones will be explorers one day? Only one way to find out.