Pulp Fiction on programme at festival

Thwarted by the Covid restrictions earlier this year, the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival will be back in early 2023 with fresh shows and a new name.

The festival, to be held from February 24 to March 5, will now be known as Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa. The new moniker reflects the fact the 10-day event has literally grown beyond its usual location in the Hamilton Gardens to other venues in the city, including the Meteor and Clarence Street theatres and the Victoria on the River performance space.

Yesterday morning festival organisers announced the first show in next year’s programme will be The Soundtracks From Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs & Pulp Fiction.

Originally scheduled as part of this year’s cancelled festival, the concert features a star-studded list of Kiwi musicians including Tami Neilson, Laughton Kora, Milan Borich from the band Pluto, and Booga Beazley from Head Like a Hole. They and others will perform the soundtracks from two of auteur director Quentin Tarantino’s best-loved films. The show will take place at 8pm on Saturday, March 4 at 8pm on the Rhododendron Lawn at the Gardens.

Festival director Geoff Turkington said the rebrand reflected ‘‘the festival’s journey over the last few years into one of national significance’’.

‘‘After what have been tough and unprecedented times for the arts, it’s a good moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we see ourselves going. Not only has our presence grown locally, the festival has also evolved into a destination in its own right, with visitors travelling from all over Aotearoa to experience it.’’

For more than 25 years the festival has been Waikato’s premiere arts event, incorporating popular local events like the Sunset Symphony and Summer Shakespeare with big name national and international shows.

‘‘For 10 days each year Hamilton Kirikiriroa is transformed with over 1000 artists converging on the city to present rich and diverse storytelling that connects with our personal and national identities,’’ Turkington said.

The rebrand is accompanied by a change in the way the festival looks and feels, with a new website, logo and 2023 programme to be rolled out in the coming weeks. The Gardens would be the festival’s primary venue space, Turkington said.

‘‘The Hamilton Gardens are our greatest asset and our relationship with the Gardens has only deepened over the last few years.‘‘

The te reo name ‘‘Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa’’, was chosen by Te Reo Rangatira expert Rahui Papa, a tribal leader, historian for Kīngitanga, and a co-chairman of Pou Tangata, the National Iwi Chairs Forum.

Early Bird tickets for the Quentin Tarantino concert are now on sale via the festival’s new website (www. hamiltonartsfestival.co.nz).