Festival programme built on NZ strengths
WANAKA
KNOWN as New Zealand’s ‘‘best little arts festival’’, the much anticipated programme for the ninth Festival of Colour in April was launched at the Lake Wanaka centre yesterday in front of a packed audience of benefactors, sponsors and patrons.
Director Philip Tremewan said there was a ‘‘real appetite’’ for the festival, due in part to the ‘‘difficult year’’ of dealing with the Covid crisis.
He said the border lockdowns had meant there were no international acts, but the programme was just as ‘‘big, bold and exciting’’ as in previous years.
‘‘This festival has always been substantially a New Zealand festival and so we have really built on that and we have commissioned some special works,’’ he said.
Three world premieres will feature, including two works from the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Ultra Violet and The Autumn Ball as well as The Hall, an uplifting play about unconditional love featuring Voices Aotearoa and the community choir.
Mr Tremewan said the weeklong programme from Monday, April 12 to Sunday, April 18 would be a mix of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and conversation but he could not recommend one act over another.
‘‘It would be like asking a parent who is your favourite child and you can’t do that,’’ he said.
The Festival of Colour is held every two years, alternating with Aspiring Conversations.
Mr Tremewan has been the director of both festivals but will step down at the conclusion of the 2022 Aspiring Conversations event.
‘‘It is time to give someone else a shot and me to go before getting kicked out,’’ he said.