Ballet collects Christmas fare
A ballet about hungry children will ensure fewer kids go hungry this Christmas.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) is teaming up with food banks in seven cities this month and next, collecting donations at performances around the country.
Hansel And Gretel opens in Wellingtontoday, and the company will be collecting non-perishable food and personal care items at every performance.
Bins will be placed in theatre foyers during performances, with audience members able to drop off donations.
Artistic director Patricia Barker said Hansel And Gretel was a magical fairy tale. ‘‘But for many children and families in New Zealand, poverty and hunger is a daily reality.
‘‘From conception to reality, I wanted Hansel And Gretel to have a greater message and give us the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives by bringing awareness to children’s hunger.
‘‘With a hungry family at the heart of our story we have found a way to make a difference this Christmas.
‘‘We ask everyone to remember what Christmas means – a time of sharing, a time of gathering and a time for compassion for others. Let’s stand together to fight hunger.’’
Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge said Christmas was a challenging time for families tight on cash.
He urged donors to think about what they would like to see on their Christmas table (non-perishable of course), and make that happen for others.
Inspired by the old-fashioned magic of silent movies and music hall vaudeville, this production of Hansel And Gretel promises to transport audiences to a magical world with large-scale cinematic effects. Think vaudeville, steampunk, flickering silent film and fleetfooted flapper fairies.
The choreography is by Loughlan Prior, with a specially commissioned score by Claire Cowan.
Cowan has received commissions and awards from the Auckland Philharmonia and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s National Youth Orchestra, and recently won a prestigious Silver Scroll for her television series soundtrack Hillary.
Hansel And Gretel is the first full-length ballet score commissioned from a female composer in the RNZB’s history.
The company’s entire 2020 season will feature works by female choreographers.
For more information, visit rnzb.org.nz/ foodbanks, and buy tickets at rnzb.org.nz/shows/hansel-gretel.