We face the final curtain
AST Sunday, when the curtain fell on the gritty and compelling Political Mother, the cheeky and imaginative audience it connects with? Or is it the social monitoring, critics’ reviews and the number of events deemed unmissable, or the emotional effect on audiences and their response? It is a more complicated question than it first appears.
We’ve welcomed more audiences into our shows in 2012 and we’ve smiled at the great reviews (and scratched our heads at one or two others). We’ve been overwhelmed by the stream of engaged, smart and entertaining dialogue on Twitter and Facebook, and we’ve been delighted to see and hear the profound impact of the festival directly from our audiences.
We have hosted dozens of visiting artistic directors and programmers from Britain, the United States, Asia and Europe who connected with New Zealand artistic practice and as a result, subsequent tours for New Zealand artists will follow. There are the unquantifiable benefits of community connection, inspiration and creativity, and the sheer number of New Zealand’s future artists and creators who have found inspiration from the festival.
I’ve been approached by many people in theatre foyers and on the street, both young and old, who’ve shared their mostly positive reactions with me – if their reaction is anything to go by, this has been a hugely successful festival.
At the end of such an extraordinary three weeks, it is worth remembering that the festival continues to build on its reputation as New Zealand’s largest cultural event.
Just as the festival’s programming references the richness of the past to inform present and future arts practice, this festival’s continued forward momentum comes from its rich and solid past. It has been a huge privilege to be custodian of this great event.
The festival belongs to this glorious city, which I still maintain is a perfect festival city. Festivals of this impact don’t take place in New York, London or Paris. The geography of Wellington, its community ownership and the city’s heart and soul contribute to its success.
Whilst the festival also belongs to its audiences, it wouldn’t exist without the generosity of its many funders, sponsors, partners, patrons, artists and staff who collectively make it happen.
For me, it is entirely fitting that with my family accompanying me at Circenses on Sunday, it will be curtain down on a remarkable six years. Lissa Twomey is the artistic director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival