This weekend we want to go to . . .
Hilton Exhibition Centre
One of the most talked-about exhibitions in the world is in Auckland and this weekend is the perfect time to go and check it out. Body Worlds is the internationally acclaimed exhibition of real human bodies — more than 150 donated specimens which have gone through a year-long process of plastination. It’s been visited by more than 45 million people around the world and is described as a “life changing experience”. With a focus on how contemporary diseases, ailments and lifestyle choices affect us, it promises to give visitors a greater understanding of how the human body works. Body Worlds, the Hilton Exhibition Centre at Princes Wharf until July 13.
The NZ Comedy Festival
This kicks off this weekend. One of the festival’s first events is an all-star showcase featuring six world class international comedians. UK festival favourite Jimmy McGhie headlines the gig with a style of comedy which has been described as “blindingly good”. He’s joined by UK rising stars Fin Taylor, Lauren Pattison, Phil Wang and Ian Smith as well as the outrageous Mexican character, El Jaguar. The Comedy All Star Showcase is on at the Bruce Mason Centre on Saturday and promises to be a great taster of what’s to come during the festival, which runs from today until May 20.
Speaking of the Comedy Festival, one act to catch is Dane Baptiste. The prolific UK comic is coming to New Zealand for the first time with his show G.O.D (Gold. Oil. Drugs) which is about our worldwide pursuit of wealth, power and pleasure and has played to rave reviews overseas. Baptiste made comedy history in 2014 when he became the first black British act to be nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award. He delivers clever and hilarious takes on race, gender and sexuality as well as technology, money, religion and more in one easy-to-swallow set guaranteed to make you laugh. Dane Baptiste, Loft at Q Theatre, Friday and Saturday.
Auckland Town Hall
We’re a nation that loves to dance — indeed, dancing rates higher than rugby in surveys of our favourite sport and physical recreation activities. NZ Dance Week, held every year, celebrates the talents of local dancers and choreographers and aims to get us all thinking about putting on our dancing shoes — and there are all kinds of dances for all kinds of people from ballroom to hip hop. Chance to Dance highlights six of these — Bollywood to musical theatre moves — in a series of fun one-hour classes for beginners. Chance to Dance, Auckland Town Hall, Saturday.