High stto hills the
Tarnished Frocks and Divas: Xanthia 25 to 28 September, Trustpower Arena, Mount Maunganui Song, dance, storytelling, revamped fashion, recycled costumes and theatre on the catwalk form the basis of Tauranga’s biennial visual extravaganza, which celebrates the power of the performing arts and the empowerment of creativity. Comedian Jackie Clarke, singer/songwriter Annie Crummer, actress Bryony Skillington and singer Caitriona Fallon stage the big-scale variety show with a mainly female production team. tarnishedfrocksanddivas.co.nz
Open Studios Coromandel Artstour 5 to 6 October and 12 to 13 October, Coromandel Thirty-four Coromandelbased artists open the doors to their creative studios and workshops — from pop-up studios and upcycled cottages to sheds and former shipping containers — and provide a snapshot of the region’s rich, artistic spirit. Pottery, printmaking, glass, harakeke weaving, metalwork, sculpture and felting are part of the mix in a programme including painters Jan Panther and Diann Cade, furniture-maker Greg Taylor, potter Petra Meyboden, jeweller Kim Brett and cartoonist Bob Drummond. coromandelartstour.co.nz
The Turn of the Screw 3 and 5 October, The Opera House, Wellington, and 18, 20, 23 October, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland Billed as a chilling ghost story saturated with menace, the New Zealand Opera’s production of British composer Benjamin Britten’s haunting work, based on Henry James’ 1898 novella, blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, stage and audience. Plot: A young governess arrives at a remote country house to care for two children with only written instructions from their guardian. A dark tale of obsession, sexual awakening and the destruction of childhood unfolds. Starring Anna Leese, Jared Holt, Madeleine Pierard and Patricia Wright with staging by leading New Zealand set and costume designer Tracey Grant Lord. nzopera.com
Kerikeri Open Art Studios Trail 26 to 28 October, Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands moves into arts mode with more than 50 practitioners showcasing their works in private studios, galleries and collective arts hubs in picturesque Kerikeri and surrounds. Featuring paintings, sculpture, jewellery, textile art, photography and ceramics, the line-up includes artist Catherine Dunn, printmaker Mark Graver, sculptor Jonathan Foley, jewellers Marlene Strode and Louisa Millett, painter Pete Cernis and potter Greg Barron. The arts trail traverses rustic hideaways, quirky coastal cottages and lakeside locations. koast.org.nz