What’s on in O¯ tautahi Christchurch
Last weekend of light festival
The week-long Tı¯rama Mai event, marking New Zealand’s first Matariki public holiday, concludes this weekend. There are lighting displays and artworks around Cathedral Square and the convention centre Te Pae with an aerial and fire show at 7pm today, tomorrow and Sunday.
A light and sound wonderland
Experience more lighting displays when the Mainpower Light Festival returns to Rangiora’s Victoria Park today and tomorrow.
Enjoy a fairyland of laser lights, neon, disco lights, interactive lighting displays, glow toys and more. Food, a UV dance floor, a licensed bar, stalls, children’s activities, roving entertainers and live music will also be on offer.
There’s plenty of parking nearby, including at the Waimakariri District Council public car park next door.
Door sales are available on the night, or visit rangioralightandsound.co.nz/buytickets to buy them online.
Spellbinding music theatre
From the best of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables to We will Rock You, Sister Act and more, the World of Musicals delivers a stirring musical concert theatre experience.
The show, featuring a world-class ensemble, has graced stages across the globe and will be performed at Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal today.
The multi-talented cast recreate classic hits, emotive ballad, big-screen anthems and iconic show tunes to create a show tailored for the whole family. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Pride of the South poets’ tour
Rebecca Hawkes, Jordan Hamel, Liz Breslin and Claudia Jardine are reinvigorating the tradition of the peoples’ poets taking their word smithery on the road.
Their tour begins today at Christchurch’s Little Andromeda when they perform as featured poets at Ray Shipley’s Late Night Poetry Hour.
Audiences can expect to hear poems about feminism, family, queerness, love, life on a dairy farm, interrogations of the classics, manhood and climate change All four poets have a connection to the south: Rebecca Hawkes grew up on a sheep and beef farm near Methven, Jordan Hamel was born and raised in Timaru, Liz Breslin lives in Dunedin, and Claudia Jardine was born in Timaru and grew up in Christchurch.
The Pride of the South tour visits Christchurch’s Little Andromeda today, Oamaru’s Grainstore Gallery tomorrow, Dunedin’s RdC Espresso tomorrow, and Timaru’s Hector Black’s on Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the door
Winter wonderland
Ice skating, rugby, light displays and an ice plunge pool are among the activities on offer as Canterbury’s resort village Hanmer Springs transforms into a ‘‘winter wonderland’’ from today.
The Alpine Winter Festival Hanmer Springs will run through the month of July and feature a Canterbury versus Tasman Makos pre-season rugby match on the last Friday of the upcoming school holidays.
New events include the ‘‘Bring the Cool’’ carnival, matinee movie screenings for the kids, and professional light displays around the village.
There will also be a fully covered ice rink, with music and disco lights from tomorrow to July 24.
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa marketing manager Shane Adcock hopes the calendar of events will entice more visitors to the town, which took a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘‘Events are important for the fabric of the town or region, [they] bring communities together, and provide vibrancy and variety, particularly for smaller towns,’’ Adhock said.
Harry Potter overload
Playing to sold-out houses all over the world, it’s now Christchurch’s turn to enjoy Potted Potter – a show condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real-life game of Quidditch) into just 70 minutes.
The event promises you don’t need to know difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff for this show to make you roar with laughter.
It was created by two-time Olivier Awardnominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, and is suitable for ages 6 to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).
The Guardian described it as ‘‘blissfully funny, a winner in every way’’.
Potted Potter opens at The Court Theatre tomorrow and runs until July 30. Tickets $28 to $37.
Senior school showcase
The Christ’s College and Rangi Ruru Girls’ School senior school showcase – Light at the End of the Tunnel – features the best of musical theatre.
From fabulous favourites to the greatest and latest Broadway shows, see the stunning young singers, dancers and actors step into the spotlight from Tuesday to Thursday at the Christ’s College Assembly Hall.
Tickets on sale through Eventfinda.