CULTURE CLUB

TWO SUGARS AND A SPLASH OF MILK, PLEASE

Liam Stretch Culture Editor

How are you doing? Getting through winter okay? Can you believe we’re already in July? The cold can take its toll, and sometimes the only thing to make it better is a day cosied up by the fire and binge-watching a television show. In an effort to alleviate the mid-year-mid-winter blues, I’ve curated some recommendations for you, which are best served with a warm bowl of vegetable soup and a milky, sweet cup of tea.

For those heading out, the stars are truly out to shine. Jimmy Barnes is taking to the boards at the Christchurch Town Hall on 7 July and queens Trixie Mattel and Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova (known as Katya), from RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, are sure to have the audience in stitches at The Theatre Royal on 22 July.

SHE’S A POPSTAR NOW

Following coming out on top of TVNZ’s reboot of Popstars,singer Christabel Williams AKA Christabel, has released her single If You Ain’t Looking.It’s the type of upbeat pop number we need in the winter months – for a road trip, a brisk walk in the cold air, or for shaking your booty to as you dust the bookshelf. It is inspiring and warming for the soul.

A WILD WORLD

Fresh to Netflix is Sweet Tooth. DC Entertainment’s latest foray into television follows a boy who is half-human and half deer as he struggles to discover the truth of his existence. Filmed in our backyard, you’ll see many iconic Kiwi landscapes transformed into postapocalyptic wildernesses. It’s excellent and gripped my attention from start to finish.

TE AO MĀORI

If you’ve watched The Casketeers, you will be familiar with Kaiora and Francis Tipene. Their second book, Tikanga,describes how they bring Te Ao Māori (theMāoriworldview which acknowledges the interconnectedness and interrelationship of all living and non-living things) into their day-to-day living by connecting to tradition through whānau, mahi (work), and manaakitanga (hospitality). It’s an eye-opening, educating read with plenty of humour throughout.

TOP DOG THEATRE

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ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL present

william shakespeare

ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL

TRY GALILEO’S EXPERIMENTS

Experiment with scales, clocks, pendulums, and telescopes and learn about the revolutionary Renaissance discoveries of Galileo Galilei. Called “the father of modern science” by Albert Einstein, in his lifetime, Galileo’s radical theories about Earth’s place in the solar system saw him imprisoned by church authorities. Developed by The Artisans of Florence, whose wildly popular Da Vinci exhibitions have been shown previously at the Museum, Galileo: Scientist, Astronomer, Visionary explores Galileo’s contributions to science through handson, interactive exhibits. This touring exhibition from Italy is sure to be a hit with people of all ages. Until 31 October 2021, Canterbury Museum, canterburymuseum.com

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WINETOPIA

Christchurch, it’s our turn! The first-ever South Island Winetopia event is in Christchurch this month, with over 45 of New Zealand’s best wineries offering everything from Riesling to Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc to Syrah in a full schedule of tastings, talks, and fun surprises. Step into this wonderland of wine and let Winetopia help you discover your new favourite drop! 9–10 July, Air Force Museum winetopia.co.nz

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

The musically entertaining Narropera at Lansdown returns with additional performances for winter. Narropera informs through accompanying narratives. It untangles complex plots, deftly enhancing the enjoyment of opera. It is also a perfect ‘prep’ for staged performances, here, in the case of Mozart’s Figaro, and a perfect introduction to unknown operas such as Der Freischütz. 3 July, 25 July, 7 August, Lansdown Homestead, Tai Tapu, lansdownsummer.com

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COURTNEY BARNETT

Courtney Barnett made the best of the pandemic and wrote and recorded a new record. Locals are in for a treat as Courtney dials things right down and prepares to deliver gems from her catalogue in an intimate setting, armed with just a guitar, her renowned banter, and some of the best indie-folk songs of the past decade. This is Courtney’s first set of live shows in 12 months.

15 July, Blue Smoke bluesmoke.co.nz

CULTURE CLUB

RESPECT THE EXPERIENCE

WORDS Liam Stretch PHOTOS Supplied

Neil Lambert remembers the excitement of cinema gone by. Theatrics like a tipped over Jeep in the foyer of the Moorhouse cinema complex for the premiere of Jurassic Park are things you just don’t see anymore. For Neil, going to the movies should be an experience worth leaving home for.

But out of the ashes of direct-to-tv films, a slice of movie magic is set to open in the ever-growing community of Wigram Skies, in west Christchurch. Business partners and cinephiles Neil Lambert and Ahmed Almukhtar want to bring back the excitement of the big screen with their passion project Silky Otter Cinemas.

After meeting around 15 years ago while working in cinema, the pair have gone on to run various businesses, independently and together, and five years ago, the concept for Silky Otter was born.

Silky Otter redefines what it means to go to the movies, designed to deliver an amazing experience for all customers. Every time.

The duo spent years engineering the concept, travelling the globe to test cinema experiences in other countries, and studying the market to forecast what the future of cinema was going to look like.

“The landscape was always going to change. So, we met with industry leaders to look at the future of cinema and how it needed to pivot in New Zealand,” Neil said.

After getting a grasp on how their model would function, the first Silky Otter opened in 2019 at Ōrākei Bay Village in Auckland. But the Auckland site was just a taster of what was to come at The Landing in Wigram. Wigram is “the full noise”.

Carefully hand-picked to create a seamless and immersive experience, Wigram will feature 50 seat auditoriums, bespoke stateof-the-art technology, a full-service kitchen with a curated menu, and perhaps best of all, movies with no ads.

Silky Otter is a game-changer, Ahmed said. “Words almost don’t do it justice; when you experience it, it will be unparalleled.”

Although delivering cutting-edge technology is at the forefront, customer service is still the top priority for the cinema.

“We have technology there to make the process fast and seamless when you visit, but there will always be one of our friendly team members on hand to help – whether you need a movie recommendation or help with the kiosks.”

And this experience won’t be limited to the big cities. It was important for the duo to make sure Silky Otter could be rolled out to a range of locations.

“We believe every Kiwi deserves the best cinema experience, no matter where they live. Silky Otter is for everyone, whether you’re in a main centre or regional town – it’s been built for you.”

Wigram is set to open this month, and Neil and Ahmed are excited to continue to be champions of the big screen experience. “There are millions of dollars spent on making movies, and it’s our responsibility to provide the best viewing experience possible.”

silkyotter.co.nz/wigram