Buskers festival returning to CBD
The biggest act at the next Bread and Circus World Buskers Festival isn’t human at all.
Rather it’s a 1000m² inflatable artwork called Arborialis Iuminarium – a pneumatic sculpture with tunnels, domes and a “sensory-drive experience of colour, light and sound”.
It will be hard to miss in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square and tickets cost $18 to $20 for a 20-minute experience.
Overall, 2024’s festival will run for 10 days – from January 19 and 28 – and is focused on the central city.
Three busking pitches will established at Hack Circle (at the corner of Cashel and High streets), the Bridge of Remembrance, and the corner of Hereford and Colombo streets.
The recently opened Church Pub on Manchester St will host adult-oriented, night events on the opening weekend that require tickets. Among them will be previous Iron Chicken-winner Jarred Fell in a comedy-magic show called Belief.
The Isaac Theatre Royal will host the annual and often sold-out festival gala (age 15+, hosted by Guy Williams) and a kids gala on the closing weekend.
Returning acts include Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours, to be held several times a day on most days. Tickets cost $27.
Local favourites MulletMan and MiM will busk almost every day in the central city sites. New Zealander Louise Kerr, in her Punk the Clown act, will also busk almost daily in the CBD.
Piano Man Trevor Jones will host a singalong at Christchurch Casino the first Saturday night.
Newcomers include Gaku the Juggling Drummer, who boasts over 4 million TikTok followers, and Estupido Compania from Argentina and Uruguay, who do “freakshow physical comedy”.
Other new performers to Christhcurch include Chicago-born Leah Orleans, who blends contortion and acrobatics in her Tiny Girl Big Show; Gracie B’s hula-hooping lifesaving adventures with A Day at the Beach; and Sam Goodburn, who combines unicycle and tightwire.
“The 2024 event is more immersive, encouraging people to step out of their daily routines, laugh, dance and interact with performers on a more intimate level than ever before,” festival director Scott Maidment said.
The full schedule and tickets are available on the Bread and Circus website.