LIVE April - June 2015

APRIL – JUNE 2015

BROUGHT TO YOU BY AUCKLAND LIVE

FEATURE

IN THIS ISSUE

RAINSTORMS FORECAST Singin' in the Rain comes to The Civic in May

COMEDIANS & WRITERS Take the stage as festival season hits

CINDERELLA’S STORY The dazzling fairytale gets the opera treatment

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

CLASSIC MOVIES

Bermardo Bertolucci’s THE CONFORMIST

PG Cert

AT THE CIVIC

Stanley Kubrick’s

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

Bernardo Bertolucci’s

THE CONFORMIST

R16 violence, sex scenes

G Cert

“A stirring classic.”

– Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

The Beatles

A HARD DAY’S NIGHT

Stanley Kubrick’s

SPARTACUS

PG medium level violence

BIG SCREEN DOCS DIRECTORS IN PERSON “ A definite must-see.”

– Jamie Oliver

Damon Gameau Presents PG nudity, coarse language

THAT SUGAR FILM

Cert TBC

A film by Christopher Pryor & Miriam Smith

WORLD PREMIERE

THE GROUND WE WON APRIL 16 — 19 CIVIC THEATRE

FOR SESSION INFO, FILM DETAILS & BOOKINGS NZIFF.CO.NZ or BOOK NOW AT TICKETMASTER.CO.NZ 0800 111 999

LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

LIVE Picks HELLO

WIN Enter our competitions: aucklandlive.co.nz/comps Q&A Read our Q&As:

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Instead of getting the autumn blues we’re embracing the weather with musical theatre blockbuster Singin’ in the Rain, coming to The Civic this May. The West End hit is set in the era that The Civic was built as a picture palace and features some of Gene Kelly’s iconic dance scenes re-imagined for the stage.

WATCH Watch our videos and picks:

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DIRECTOR'S PICK

LIVE LIVE CINEMA: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 13 – 24 May | Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Film features large with NZ International Film Festival Autumn Events screening seven specially selected films in April – including two of Stanley Kubrick’s greatest films! NZ International Comedy Festival is bringing Live Live Cinema to the Herald Theatre with a screening of Little Shop of Horrors complete with live voice actors and musicians.

Grab your umbrella and get out to enjoy the many events on offer this autumn!

EDITOR Josie Campbell – media@aucklandlive.co.nz

WIN

THE FABULOUS BEATLE BOYS 5 June | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

WATCH

NZIFF AUTUMN EVENTS 16 – 19 April | The Civic

ADVERTISING AND LISTING ENQUIRIES Rahul Patel – live@aucklandlive.co.nz COVER ARTWORK Andy Salisbury – andy@tickle.org.nz

SALUTE

13 & 14 June Bruce Mason Centre 17 – 20 June ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Salute features five short ballets to mark the centenary of World War I, including two new works choreographed by Neil Ieremia and Andrew Simmons.

Every effort has been taken to ensure details in LIVE are accurate at time of publication but some may be subject to change. Individual companies reserve the right to add, withdraw or substitute artists or vary programmes should the need arise.

Auckland Live takes no responsibility for any incorrect event information in this publication.

Q&A

NZSO: HILARY HAHN PLAYS BEETHOVEN 20 June Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

WIN WATCH

QUEEN – IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC 6 May Bruce Mason Centre

Auckland Live Director Robbie Macrae says the RNZB’s mixed bills are among the most eagerly anticipated events on the dance calendar. “I expect these performances to be very moving as the dance, music, design and sense of history come together to create something truly beautiful.”

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

What a glorious feelin’ Break out the brolly, Singin’ in the Rain hits Auckland this May. Boasting the producers behind the stage hits Jersey Boys, Annie and The Sound of Music, the show is a world-class adaptation of the film that made it socially acceptable to talk about the weather.

By Sarah Illingworth.

FEW MOVIE SCENES ARE MORE memorable than the one in which Gene Kelly splashes and twirls his way across the screen, dancin’ and singin’ in the rain. It’s no surprise, then, that a stage adaptation of the 1952 Hollywood musical Singin’ in the Rain has proved such a hit.

Having been picked up for a West End residency within weeks of its launch at Chichester Festival in 2011, Singin’ played London’s Palace Theatre for a year and a half before touring internationally.

New Zealand is the first country to welcome the latest incarnation of the production, which boasts a new cast.

Filling the roles of the show’s leads, Don Lockwood and Kathy Selden, along with that of Don’s buddy Cosmo, was no easy task. A remarkable level of vocal and dancing talent is required, along with comedic sensibility and charisma.

“All three of [the leads] need to be triple threats,” explains associate director Cameron Wenn, who has been with the show since its West End run.

“They all need to be able to sing, dance incredibly well and act, and do different levels of comedy. [That combination] is not unusual in the genre of musical theatre, but it’s unusual in the musical theatre landscape at the moment. It does require a skill base and a training that is not as common as probably it once was.”

He’s in no doubt that the show heading to The Civic presents a suitably talented ensemble. Audiences will recognise Bethany Dickson (as Kathy Selden) from her 2014 run as Maria in The Sound of Music, whereas it will be the first visit to New Zealand for Grant Almirall (Lockwood), Steven van Wyk (Cosmo Brown) and Taryn-Lee Hudson, who plays doomed silent film star Lina Lamont.

To prepare the three main leads for the intensity of the performance, they are put through a one-week boot camp at the start of rehearsals.

Choreographer Kelly Ewins-Prouse acknowledges the show is one of the most physically demanding in musical theatre, hence the rigorous training.

“There aren’t many big dance shows around now where you get to really dance. Andrew Wright’s choreography in this piece is just incredible. The energy that you have to put in to it eight shows a week – it’s hard but it’s so enjoyable.”

Aside from the titular number, during which 12,000 litres of (recycled, treated) water rains on stage, the show’s magic relies heavily on its ensemble, as opposed to technical tricks. “A lot of the [props are] manually brought on,” says Cameron.

“We do that within the cast, bringing stuff on as if they’re setting up the set

“They all need to be able to sing, dance incredibly well and act, and do different levels of comedy.’’

LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

Meet the new Don Lockwood

“We had to, in two or three days, try to get a basic feel for sword fighting, and then learn the choreography of the fight and have it ready to perform on camera.

[Fight coach Anton Moon] would normally spend quite a lot of time with the actors to prepare them for that, so it was really exciting to know that we hit those marks.

It was a great feeling, I must be honest, having never done any stunts before.”

Grant Almirall is fast becoming one of the world’s most impressive stage stars. About to add the role of Singin’ in the Rain’s dapper Don Lockwood to his portfolio, his career has seen him traverse roles as diverse as Mungojerrie in Cats and Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys.

The role of Don Lockwood is reputed to be one of the most physically demanding in musical theatre. Almirall himself simply describes it as “quite gruelling,” adding that he’s up for the challenge.

“There’s just so much dancing. One number in every scene, and then you’re doing four scenes back to back. You just

keep on going. The only time I’m not on stage I’m doing a costume change.”

As well as stamina, the role requires a high level of artistry. Ducking between tap, contemporary dance and song, it even necessitates a crash course in sword fighting, for a filmed sequence that screens within the show.

Those familiar with the Singin’ storyline will know that Don himself breaks into the big time after bluffing his way into stunt work. To see that Grant is similarly nimble when it comes to adopting new skills bodes well for the show.

The production is full of classic routines, but what is Grant most looking forward to? “Good Morning, he says, “and of course Singin’ in the Rain, where you get to dance in the rain. That whole scene is beautiful. And Moses Supposes, which is a great, fast pace. It’s me and Cosmo and the dialect coach, and we just do this crazy number, lots of tapping. It’s great.’’

Commenting on the filmed sequences, Grant adds, “It’s been fun to try and play that old movie star, silent movie persona.

And then of course there’s Don’s normal character in the show, who he actually is – this star, this superstar in a way, of that time. The silent movie stars really were the absolute superstars of that time.”

of a film studio each day. We’re pretty human-centric.”

This is in part because the rain limits the other electrics that can be employed as part of the set. The water relies on a sophisticated sprinkler system and custom-built stage.

“There’ll be a big tank offstage that pumps water up through an overhead sprinkler system. When we say ‘rain, go’ it drops on to the floor. At the same time we flood the stage from below, so there’s enough water for the characters to splash in. The audience gets wet too, and tends to love it.”

Capturing Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies, a period that saw a brutal end to the careers of many silent film stars, the show also includes two filmed sequences.

The first, a pastiche of The Three Musketeers, requires Grant – and his two understudies – to learn the art of

sword work. The filming itself is no small feat, as both Don and Lina (the leading lady in the silent films) have two understudies each.

“We have to film with every possible combination of all [the actors], which gives us nine combinations we have to film each time,” explains video designer Ian William Galloway, who has filmed the sequences for every version of the show since it opened. To date, 48 different versions of the two scenes have been created.

The cast and company’s commitment to both the original stage production and the film version is clear. An extraordinary, fun-filled telling, it’s hard to argue with producer James Cundall when he insists that no one can see the show without feeling better for it and thoroughly entertained. If perhaps a little damp.

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN From 1 May Live at The Civic

WIN one of three double passes to the opening night of Singin’ in the Rain. Visit aucklandlive.co.nz/comps to enter.

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

ALL THAT JAZZ “THE ARTS DON’T OPERATE IN A VACUUM,” says APO chief executive Barbara Glaser, “so for us it’s important to reach out and give everyone the opportunity to experience the thrill of a live orchestral concert. Performances that move away from traditional classical repertoire, like our Blues to Bebop concert with James Morrison and our Divas concert with Julia Deans and Anika Moa later in the year, are wonderful ways for us to invite new audiences to hear music they might already know and love, with the powerful backing of a full symphony orchestra.”

The juxtaposition of jazz with a symphony orchestra is always interesting, and a combination with which Blues to Bebop creator and frontman James Morrison is extremely familiar. He has performed numerous times with big-name jazz stars and major orchestras alike, as well as for royalty and presidents.

James is a multi-instrumentalist, too. He’s most famous as a trumpeter, but he plays several other

brass instruments, as well as piano, double bass and that glorious instrument the keytar.

The Australian jazzman takes the stage with the APO and a handful of special guests for April’s concert, which features his personal selection of highlights from the history of jazz.

Conductor Brett Kelly describes James as an encyclopaedia of jazz. “He seems to effortlessly leap across a century of jazz with a wonderful sense of freedom. He has this remarkable technique in a huge range of instruments, and a perfect ability to capture all jazz styles.

“One of the exciting things about this concert is that all the nuts and bolts are in place by concert night, but what happens on that stage at any given minute is malleable. For me it’s really invigorating to pull the players out of the usual symphonic ecosystem and into James’s world.”

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra performs more than 50 times this year, including a handful of concerts designed to open the concert hall doors to new audiences. By Josie Campbell.

Artist: Lisa Nicole Moes

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It won’t be too serious, promises Brett.

“The performance will be interspersed with James’s witty and affectionate humour, and I defy anyone to walk away from this concert without a smile on their face.”

“Blues to Bebop is going to be an exciting concert for us,” Barbara promises. “The APO together with James’s mastery of the jazz genre is going to bring the concept of a jazz band to an incredible new level of sound and style.”

BLUES TO BEBOP 9 April Live at Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

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Photo from Opera Queensland season

A delicious night out

Forget what you know about Cinderella: Rossini’s La Cenerentola has music, costumes and sets as enchanting as any fairytale but it dazzles with a story where stepfathers are tyrants, a silver bangle replaces that glass slipper and Cinderella is no mousy scullery maid. By Dionne Christian. change that mirrors Cinderella’s own transformation – for inspiration?

Just ask those involved with bringing new magic to La Cenerentola, the first co-production in the trans-Tasman partnership between Opera Queensland and New Zealand Opera. Everyone thinks they know the story of Cinderella yet there are many versions of it often far removed from the Disney re-telling now centre stage in popular culture.

“Classic stories like Cinderella often work in different periods,” Lindy says.

“I had staged this before and set it in a 1930s-style cabaret but I wanted to pay homage to its history in this part of the world. I started thinking about the Victorian era, the types of settings in the stories of Charles Dickens, the massive changes the Industrial Revolution was bringing and how it really was hard work for servants.

And many aren’t as sweet as Disney’s.

The Brothers Grimm adaptation has Cinderella’s evil stepmother cutting off her daughters’ toes so their feet will fit the glass slipper. Eventually, punished for their wickedness, the sisters’ eyes are pecked out by wild pigeons.

Rossini was a contemporary of the Grimms but took La Cenerentola in a different and more political direction while keeping the magic and fun of an earlier re-telling, the 1697 Cendrillon by Charles Perrault.

Musing on this, Lindy Hume, artistic director of Opera Queensland, was delighted to learn that an 1844 staging of Rossini’s work was probably the first opera performed in Australia. If she, conductor Wyn Davies and designer Dan Potra were to create a fairytale for grown-ups, why not look to this era – one of rapid and far-reaching social

“Rossini’s story sat beautifully in that period and allowed us to create a world that reflects Cinderella’s character, which is inspired by love rather than possessions.”

Imagery from Victorian Britain informed many of the sets. Prince Ramiro’s castle was inspired by the 18th century Castle Howard while Cinderella’s step-father, Don Magnifico, runs an emporium modelled on Dickens’s Old Curiosity Shop. It is packed to the gunwales with hundreds of knick-knacks and oddities, meaning the prop list for this alone runs to several pages.

Cinderella herself is a different type of character than the more passive ones we may have seen recently. Lindy describes her as no pushover and says she is a feisty and complex woman who

black with dirt and smog, describes La Cenerentola as beautiful and quirky, with music that is fast, florid and allows each character to find their own voice.

Rachelle Pike

RE-CREATING A FAIRYTALE LIKE CINDERELLA ISN’T CHILD’S PLAY.

isn’t interested in the prince simply because of his looks or money. When Cinderella forgives her family for its treatment of her, she does so only after making it publically known what she’s forgiving them for.

“I think in this, she’s a character who women relate to in the feminist context of our lives.”

That’s probably just as well because Lindy sees La Cenerentola as an opera with especial appeal for women. She describes it as the perfect girls’ night out.

It certainly offers delicious roles for its female cast members. In New Zealand, Sarah Castle plays Cinderella while Amelia Berry and Rachelle Pike portray her wicked stepsisters.

Mezzo-soprano Rachelle, speaking to LIVE from New York where she says it is freezing and the snow has turned

“It’s a story rather than a fairytale, with more comment and substance but it stays true to the characters people love,” says Rachelle. “As the stepsisters, we have catty and gossipy lines where it’s very fast and there’s some talking over one another. Amelia Berry and I are very good friends so it will be a joy to work with her; I’m looking forward to causing absolute havoc with her in these roles.”

La Cenerentola is accompanied by Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, features the New Zealand Opera Chorus and is sung in Italian with English surtitles.

LA CENERENTOLA 30 May – 7 June Live at ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

WIN a special night out on us!

LIVE has four tickets to La Cenerentola and a voucher for coffee and cakes at BOX Café & Bar up for grabs. To be in to win, visit aucklandlive.co.nz/comps

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

LIVE CALENDAR April – June AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL BOLTON Grammy legend Michael Bolton brings a hit -filled set list of soulful classics and power ballads to New Zealand for the first time for an exclusive Auckland concert.

18 May, 8pm | $99 – $149* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Let It Be

FOSTER & ALLEN The legendary Irish folk music duo are number one stars across the globe and their easy listening sound remains as fresh and exciting as ever.

19 May, 7pm | $69.90* Bruce Mason Centre

Read story at aucklandlive.co.nz/stories

Mt Smart Stadium THEATRE STAGE CHALLENGE AND J ROCK 2015 Stage Challenge and J Rock NZ is part of a global event reflecting the personalities, concerns, hopes, dreams and interests of students.

23 – 26 June ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

MUSIC GIPSY KINGS World music superstars The Gipsy Kings will be bringing their gypsy flamenco genrebending sound to Auckland as part of their 25th anniversary tour.

2 April, 8pm | $98.90 – $141.50* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Stage Challenge

DAVID GRAY: LIVE IN CONCERT David Gray captured the world's attention in 1998 with his breakout multi-platinum album White Ladder and remains one of the UK’s most admired singer-songwriters.

9 April, 8pm | $96 – $142* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE “The Imperial Ice Stars are to skating what Cirque Du Soleil is to circus – inspiring, original and great theatre” Sunday Telegraph, Sydney 24 – 28 June | $69 – $109* The Civic Mt Smart Stadium MUSICAL LET IT BE Direct from London’s West End comes this fully-staged celebration of the music of The Beatles. Over 40 hits in a show critics have raved about!

26 March – 5 April, various times | $65 – $95* The Civic TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR: OLIVER 130 students of the school and Belmont Intermediate give a dazzling performance of this much loved musical whose songs are in the blood stream – Food, Glorious Food, Where is Love, Pick a Pocket or Two, and I’d Do Anything.

29 March – 1 April | $20 – $30* Bruce Mason Centre SINGIN' IN THE RAIN From the Producers of Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music and Annie. Direct from the UK, Singin’ in the Rain showers you with everything you could wish for in a hit musical!

From 1 May, various times | $69 – $149* The Civic

COUNTING CROWS Iconic alt-rock band Counting Crows make a welcome return to New Zealand for a one-off show at The Civic.

14 April, 8pm | $99.90 – $119.90* The Civic MORNING MELODIES 2015 CONCERT SERIES Enjoy the music of the talented brass bands from our armed forces. Join us each month for a morning of fantastic music, featuring some of New Zealand best brass and military bands, playing favourites from years gone by.

27 April, 18 May & 22 June, 11am | $5* Bruce Mason Centre DENNIS LOCORRIERE PRESENTS DR HOOK An evening of Dr Hook’s timeless hits fronted by the legendary voice of founding lead vocalist Dennis Locorriere, the true voice of Dr Hook and his celebrated live band.

29 April, 7.30pm | $79.90 – $99.90* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre JOHNNY IP: 45 YEARS OF GOLDEN HITS Johnny Ip has been involved in the Hong Kong music industry for 45 years. The ageless star is coming to Bruce Mason Centre for his first New Zealand concert.

2 May, 7.30pm | $89 – $128* Bruce Mason Centre QUEEN: IT'S A KINDA MAGIC A live recreation of Queen’s 1986 world tour concert with state-of-the-art production and authentic costumes – as close as you’ll get to the real thing!

6 May, 8pm | $49 – $59* Bruce Mason Centre KING OF POP: THE LEGEND CONTINUES... STARRING NAVI The world’s No.1 Michael Jackson impersonator brings his incredible show to New Zealand on his 2015 World Tour! The only tribute ever chosen by Michael himself.

7 & 8 May, 7.30pm | $44 – $119* Bruce Mason Centre

THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA The living embodiment of swing, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra will bring their 80th anniversary tour to New Zealand.

28 May, 8pm | $99.90 – $139.90* The Civic THE PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE Two and a half hours of Pink Floyd featuring the Album Wish You Were Here performed by a stunning 11 piece band with state-ofthe-art sound and lighting.

29 & 30 May | $99 – $110* Bruce Mason Centre CHICK COREA & HERBIE HANCOCK At long last, jazz legends Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock return to New Zealand, on stage together for a rare and historic duo performance.

30 May, 8pm | $89.90 – $129.90* The Civic A STRANGE DAY'S NIGHT A celebration of The Rolling Stones – that raucous, unruly five-piece band which was poised to carve out a historic career of recordings and live shows, first played Auckland Town Hall in 1965.

3 & 4 June, 7pm | $35 – $49* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall THE FABULOUS BEATLE BOYS: THE BEATLES 50 YEARS ON A faithful recreation of The Beatles, historic 1964 tour of New Zealand plus highlights of the 1965 record-breaking Shea Stadium concert in New York.

5 June, 8pm | $89.90* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall Mt Smart Stadium CLASSICAL CMNZ: BRODSKY QUARTET One of the greatest chamber music ensembles of our time, the Brodsky Quartet performs Schubert, Shostakovich and Beethoven’s monumental ‘Heiliger Dankgesang’. Free pre-concert talk 6.45pm.

1 April, 7.30pm | $40 – $80* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: BLUES TO BEBOP A trip through the history of jazz with Australia’s master of the medium, James Morrison, and the APO. 9 April, 8pm | $21 – $92* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: OPEN ORCHESTRA A fun and informative afternoon for all the family. Meet the musicians and hear the full APO live in performance.

11 April, 1pm – 4pm | Free Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall BACH MUSICA: BRAHMS REQUIEM & CANTELOUBE SONGS Brahms German Requiem, Canteloube Songs of the Auvergne, Patricia Wright – soprano, Edward Laurenson – baritone, Rita Paczian – conductor, Choir and Orchestra of Bach Musica NZ. 12 April, 5pm | $10 – $65* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: OUT OF THIS WORLD Music out of this world: from the brilliance of Bach to the power of Shostakovich. Part of the New Zealand Herald Premier Series.

16 April, 8pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall ASO: LEST WE FORGET – ANZAC 100 An ANZAC tribute concert featuring orchestral favourites, wartime songs and commemorative music. Peter Thomas – conductor.

19 April, 2.30pm | Donation ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre 26 April, 2.30pm| Donation Bruce Mason Centre NZSO: SPIRIT OF ANZAC – LETTERS FROM THE FRONT Commemorate the WWI centenary with two trans-Tasman special commissions, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Vaughan William’s Fantasia on a Theme

by Thomas Tallis.

23 April, 7pm | $15 – $126* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: CHANG AND BOLÉRO International superstar violinist Sarah Chang makes her APO debut, in a programme that features favourites by Bizet, Ravel and Dvořák.

Part of the Bayleys Great Classics Series.

30 April, 7.30pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall NZSO: AOTEAROA PLUS Trombone titan Christian Lindberg, voted ‘brass player of the century’, leads the NZSO for a modern brass classic and, for Lilburn’s centenary, Lilburn Symphony No.2.

2 May, 7.30pm | $15 – $126* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND Trumpet sensation Guiliano Sommerhalder makes his APO debut with Haydn’s sparkling trumpet concerto. Part of the New Zealand Premier Series.

6 May, 8pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: INSPIRED BY FOLKSONG Exciting young conductor Ilyich Rivas leads the APO through a programme of folkinspired favourites.

14 May, 8pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall APO: UNWRAP ELGAR'S ENIGMA VARIATIONS Listen, laugh, learn and enjoy as presenter Richard Gill and the APO uncover the mysteries behind this perennial favourite.

21 May, 6.30pm | $15 – $25* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall NZSO: INTO THE STORM – BRITTEN AND SIBELIUS British violin star Anthony Marwood performs Britten’s Violin Concerto. Celebrate Sibelius’s 150th anniversary among the crashing fjords of Finland with his Second Symphony.

22 May, 7pm | $15 – $126* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall CMNZ: OPEN STAGE Come along and support amateur kiwi musicians in this fun lunchtime concert as part of NZ Music Month. Chamber Music New Zealand opens their main stage for a special ‘open mic’ style event.

23 May, 12.30pm | $15* Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall AYO: NEW WORLD Borodin’s exotic and energetic Polovtsian Dances contrast with the optimism and excitement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

Here plays the future.

23 May, 7.30pm | Donation Great Hall, Town Hall

LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

BOOKING TICKETS

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Online: www.ticketmaster.co.nz | Phone: 0800 111 999 or 09 970 9700 In person: Ticketmaster outlets including Aotea Centre and Bruce Mason Centre

Go to aucklandlive.co.nz for information on venues, parking and where to go for pre-show refreshments or call us during business hours on 09 309 2677.

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*Service/booking fees will be applied when purchasing tickets.

NZCF: THE BIG SING Stunning performances from Auckland’s secondary school choirs showcase choral music presented with skill, diversity, enthusiasm and musicianship. Encourage this journey by teenagers with your presence.

9 – 11 June, various times | $19 – $23* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: DIVAS Julia Deans and Anika Moa. Two sirens of the New Zealand music scene combine with the APO to present their own songs with full orchestra.

25 June, 8pm | $21 – $92* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall ASO: LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS Last Night of the Proms is a musical celebration of the best of British. Be taken on a musical escapade of British pomp and ceremony. Conductor Peter Thomas.

27 June, 7.30pm & 28 June, 2.30pm | $49.50 – $59.90 Bruce Mason Centre

DANCE

THE PIANIST A spectacularly funny one-man circus catastrophe that is perfect for the whole family. The pianist is all set for an elegant recital… until his piano rebels and all hell breaks loose.

8 – 18 April, various times | $18 – $35* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre APO 4 KIDS: RAINBOW CONNECTION A sing-along, dance-along, conduct-along concert for pre-schoolers and their families.

11 April, 10am & 11.30am | $15* from apo.co.nz Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall MRS MCGINTY AND THE BIZARRE PLANT Based on the classic New Zealand children’s book by Gavin Bishop. Zac and Zoe spend their time annoying grumpy Mrs McGinty until the day she buys a plant that just keeps growing.

16 – 18 April, 10.30am & 1pm | $15* Bruce Mason Centre

AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL Your chance to see 150 international and New Zealand writers and thinkers as they challenge, inform and provoke at NZ’s largest literary festival. See writersfestival.co.nz for the full programme.

13 – 17 May, various times Aotea Centre and around Auckland

COMEDY AN EVENING WITH COMEDY LEGEND MICHELE A’ COURT Named ‘Female Comedian of the Decade’ at the 2010 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, Michele A’Court is a professional stand-up comedian and writer. She is a regular guest on TV and radio, including TV3’s awardwinning comedy show 7 Days.

15 April, 7.30pm | $24* Bruce Mason Centre THE LAUGHING SAMOANS: FINK ABOUT IT Back by popular demand is the latest offering from one of New Zealand’s premier live comedy acts. Buy your tickets now and avoid disappointment.

23 April, 8pm | $15 – $60* Bruce Mason Centre NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL Now into its 23rd year, the 2015 NZ International Comedy Festival kicks off with the Old Mout Cider Comedy Gala on 24 April and will keep you laughing all the way until 17 May. Check out our stories and festival calendar on pages 10 & 11.

24 April – 17 May | various prices Various venues

VISUAL ARTS FESTIVAL

Rotunda

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION GRAND FINAL The three finalists go head to head in the grand finale of this prestigious competition, each performing a concerto with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

13 June, 7.30pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

FAMILY

THE NEW ZEALAND DANCE COMPANY: ROTUNDA A tribute to the Centenary of the WWI ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, Rotunda is a unique production that features the beautiful collision of a live brass band with the raw power of contemporary dance.

23 – 25 April, various times | $20 – $65* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Turnovsky Jubilee Ensemble

CMNZ: TURNOVSKY JUBILEE ENSEMBLE Celebrating the 50th jubilee of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest, this stellar ensemble of nine Contest Alumni performs works by Mendelssohn, Bach, Lilburn and Britten. Free pre-concert talk 6.45pm.

12 June, 7.30pm | $35 – $70* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NSYM 13TH ANNUAL CONCERT NSYM presents the 13th Annual Combined Concert of six ensembles. Over 150 children will take to the stage to showcase their talent in this exciting concert.

24 June, 6.30pm | $7 – $15* Bruce Mason Centre

BALLET REVOLUCIÓN Cuba’s Ballet Revolución returns to Auckland with a new production. Don’t miss this explosive fusion of ballet, contemporary dance and hip hop. Featuring 18 stunning dancers and a live Cuban band on stage.

17 – 21 June | $69.90 – $99.90* The Civic

Trygve Wakenshaw:

NZ OPERA: LA CENERENTOLA [CINDERELLA] Based on the Cinderella story, Rossini’s La cenerentola provides an irresistibly playful happily-ever-after evening where goodness triumphs in the most vivacious, effervescent and heart-warming fashion.

30 May – 7 June, various times | $49.50 – $189.50* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

NZSO: HILARY HAHN PLAYS BEETHOVEN – INKINEN FESTIVAL Violin superstar Hilary Hahn reunites with Pietari Inkinen and the NZSO following their internationally acclaimed European tour to bring music lovers the concert of dreams!

20 June, 7.30pm | $15 – $126* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant

CMNZ: COMPOSER CONNECTIONS Celebrate our musical cultural heritage with this concert as part of NZ Music Month. The New Zealand Chamber Soloists will perform a programme specially curated for them by composer John Psathas, showcasing the music that deeply influences him in his work.

23 May, 7.30pm | $10 – $65* Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

APO: ENIGMA VARIATIONS Part of the New Zealand Herald Premier Series, the APO present Elgar’s extraordinary orchestral tour de force, plus Bartók’s vigorous Violin Concerto No.2 with Benjamin Schmid.

18 June, 8pm | $26 – $125* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Ballet's most loved fairytale. The illustrious Moscow Ballet takes you on a mystical journey to the fairytale world of Princess Aurora, The Sleeping Beauty.

22 May, 7.30pm | $55 – $95* Bruce Mason Centre

NZSO: WAGNER GALA – INKINEN FESTIVAL International Wagnerian opera stars Simon O’Neill and Christine Goerke join Pietari Inkinen for the famously beautiful highlights from Wagner’s legendary operas Siegfried and Götterdämmerung.

19 June, 7pm | $15 – $126* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

RNZB: SALUTE The Royal New Zealand Ballet is honoured to collaborate with the New Zealand Army Band in this programme marking the centenary of World War I. 13 & 14 June, various times | $20 – $97* Bruce Mason Centre 17 – 20 June, various times | $25 – $110* ASB Theatre

NZIFF AUTUMN EVENTS The organisers of the annual New Zealand International Film Festival present a weekend of big-screen docos and spectacular classics at the mighty Civic Theatre.

16 – 19 April, various times | $10 – $18* The Civic CHROMACON ARTS FESTIVAL 2015 Freely open to the wider public, Chromacon is a curated indie festival of visual arts that celebrates the coming together of community, creativity and innovation.

18 April & 19 April, 10am – 5pm | FREE Aotea Centre Chroma Connect 2015 ChromaTalks is a professional developmentfocused, pan-industry forum with masterclasses, panel discussions, networking opportunities and case studies presented by international guests and local industry leaders.

17 April, 9am | $80.50 – $138* Aotea Centre

DIGITAL ART LIVE Birds of a Shadow This playful interactive installation invites participants to work together to reveal a bird's image on the screen by matching their silhouette against the bird’s shadow.

14 March – 18 May | FREE Level 2, Aotea Centre Tourmente by Jean Dubois Tourmente (2015) is an interactive video installation created by Jean Dubois an international recognised Digital Artist from Montréal, Canada. On the screen, a series of portraits from residents of central Montreal will be transformed by your breathe.

28 May – 20 August | FREE Level 2, Aotea Centre

TALK TO US

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

Des Bishop returns for this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival.

He talks to Richard Betts about acting silly, performing in Mandarin and fathering children.

DES BISHOP IS A SUCCESSFUL MAN BUT IT’S hard not to wonder what his life would be like if it weren’t for Colin Farrell. In recent years Des, one of the major drawcards of this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival, has placed second to Farrell in a poll naming the person Irish women most want to take on holiday, and third (again behind Farrell but also a rugby player) as the man Irish women would like to father their children.

Des isn’t quite sure what to make of that.

“I’m dying to have a child, I just don’t think that’s the best way to go about it,” he admits over the phone from somewhere in the north of Ireland, where he has just gigged with friend and fellow comedian Eric Lalor.

When he gets to New Zealand in April, Des will share the stage with several comics when he appears in the festival’s popular Old Mout Cider Comedy Gala. Des’s discursive storytelling proved a smash when he was last here in 2012, but it’s a style that doesn’t seem entirely compatible with the hit-and-run format of the gala, where performers get just four minutes to impress. Actually, Des is looking forward to it.

“These types of shows are definitely fun, plus I’m out of my comfort zone, so that’s always exciting. And it’s a different vibe because there are so many comedians.”

DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE BISHOP?

It’s a vibe that seems mostly collegial. Mostly.

“I don’t like to use the word competitive but everyone’s trying to do their best, and there’s a lot of attitude around. After you get offstage you have to walk past 10 other comedians and they’re like, ‘Great set.’ But if you feel you haven’t done very well, you have to face everyone.”

Watching someone else slay the crowd brings pressure, too.

“There’s a quote that says, ‘Every time I see a comedian doing well, a little piece of me dies.’ It’s not like that for me, but seeing someone doing really, really well is a little unnerving. But it’s also motivating; it makes you raise your game.”

If he wants to trump the other performers, Des could simply give his show in a different language.

Few comedians will have spent a year studying a language then have the nerve to do stand-up comedy in their new tongue. Des did it twice, first learning Irish then Mandarin, both occasions documented for Irish television.

One of the strengths of his Chinese TV show is that it’s not just the standard fish out of water story of an Irish-American guy in China. Instead, he looks for –

and finds – the commonalities, a more difficult, less obvious route.

“It is amazing how much common ground there is.

So much stuff is universal.”

Des gets to test that in Auckland. As well as performing in the gala, he has a week-long residency at the Herald Theatre. One of those shows will be in Mandarin. It’s only the second time he’s done this outside China, and the first time he’s performed for a full hour in Mandarin. Doing stand-up in a different language necessarily alters his comedy, and the show is not simply a translation of his Englishlanguage act.

“When I speak in Chinese I’m a little sillier. I make a lot of mistakes and they’re not part of the show, but I say something wrong and I just have to go with it, so there’s a lighter flavour to what I do in Chinese, and I rely a lot more on my physicality.”

Des also uses beatboxing, which has formed part of his routine since the beginning. His themes often tend towards the risqué. When he was here in 2012, for example, Des composed a topical rap about Paula Bennett and contraception. But then, what else would you expect from Ireland’s third most eligible father?

LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

Our NZ International Comedy Festival Calendar

OLD MOUT CIDER COMEDY GALA: HOSTED BY ED BYRNE Kick-off the Comedy Fest with a top selection of comedians from across the world giving you a taste of what’s to come over the next three weeks.

24 April, 8pm | $79.90 – $94.90* The Civic

COMEDY ALL-STARS AT THE BMC Check out the hilarious all-star selection of world-class comedians every Thursday to Saturday on the shore.

30 April – 16 May, 8pm | $30 – $35* Bruce Mason Centre DES BISHOP: MADE IN CHINA One of our favourite Irish-American comedians is here to share his hilarious & unique experiences from living in China for a year.

28 April – 2 May, 7pm | $30 – $33* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

COMEDY ALL-STAR SHOWCASE: ONE NIGHT ONLY, ON THE SHORE Seven international Festival stars come together for one big two-hour show.

25 April, 8pm | $45.50 – $49.50* Bruce Mason Centre

DES BISHOP: SPECIAL PERFORMANCE IN MANDARIN Our favourite Irish-American comedian spent some time in China and will be performing a special one-off show completely in Mandarin!

2 May, 5pm | $25 – $33* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

THE BIG SHOW 2015 Four international comedians in one big two-hour show, and this year we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary with Andrew Watts, Nish Kumar, Joel Dommett and Lloyd Langford.

27 April – 9 May, 8.30pm | $38 – $49.50* Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALL The Secret Policeman’s Ball brings together some of the best comedy under one roof.

All proceeds go directly towards Amnesty International’s work protecting human rights.

3 May, 7pm | $35 – $40* Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

TRYGVE WAKENSHAW: NAUTILUS Be the first in New Zealand to see the exciting new 5-star creation by an awardwinning idiot and maker of cult physical comedies KRAKEN and SQUIDBOY – will sell out!

28 April – 2 May, 8.30pm | $22 – $30* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD: THE UNAUTHORISED PARODY YouTube sensation Miles Allen covers 60 Breaking Bad episodes in 60 Minutes.

See your favourite characters come to life in this Breaking Bad tour de force.

4 – 9 May, 7pm | $25 – $30* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

The Comedy Gala isn’t the only forthcoming event to feature a prime selection of comedians.

The Big Show, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and Comedy All-Stars, at Takapuna’s Bruce Mason Centre, also showcase artists new and established.

The person responsible for the shows is Scott Blanks, owner of the legendary Classic comedy club and the guy widely considered to be the godfather of New Zealand stand-up.

Scott’s known for talent spotting – he’s introduced Auckland audiences to numerous previously unknown comedians. The internet has made unearthing artists easier, but Scott says there’s no substitute for seeing someone in the flesh.

“No matter how good people are at filming comedy, you can’t capture the immediacy of being in the room.

My rule of thumb is that if someone’s funny on TV, they’re generally twice as funny in person.”

Noel Fielding

Ed Byrne

The Naked Magicians

The Comedian Whisperer

AN EVENING WITH NOEL FIELDING Noel Fielding from The Mighty Boosh, brings a magical mix of his unique humour and characters which promises to be anything but a normal evening.

9 May, 8pm | $79.90 – $89.90* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre THE NAKED MAGICIANS Following sold-out shows across Australia, the world’s boldest and cheekiest magic show will premiere in Auckland for an exclusive NZ International Comedy Festival season.

12 – 16 May, Various Times | $29.95 –$39.90* Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall LIVE LIVE CINEMA: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS One classic movie. Four actors. The ultimate live cult film experience. "We clutched each other and screamed like teenagers… exhilarating" – NZ Herald 13 – 24 May, Various Times | $22 – $30* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

That rule means he’s been comedianhunting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 10 times, often selecting who he’ll see based on other comedians’ recommendations.

Picking a comedian for New Zealand requires two skills. “You have to know your audience and have a feeling for what they are into; and at the same time you need the confidence to take them somewhere new, and maybe expose them to recent trends.”

This year Scott’s tipping Andrew Watts.

“He’s an ex-lawyer. I’m always intrigued when a lawyer becomes a comedian. That in itself is a discussion: you gave up the worthy profession of law to become a very unworthy comedian,” he laughs.

Scott has a professional background too, starting out as an accountant.

Was ditching that for the unworthy world of comedy the right choice?

“Yes,” he says, a little doubtfully. “I would have had a completely different life if I’d stayed an accountant. I wouldn’t have had all the adventures I’ve had.”

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

MORE THAN CLOWNING AROUND He’s originally from Taranaki, has trained as a clown in Paris and now Thomas Monckton makes cross-genre theatre and circus shows that travel all over the world and even performs to royalty! Next up though, is a season of his one man circus work The Pianist at Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre.

Tell us a little about your background – you trained as a clown?

Yes but that doesn’t mean I’m available for children’s birthday parties or that the movie It is relevant conversation.

That’s the equivalent of when you’re overseas and someone asks where you’re from and you say “New Zealand” and then they start telling you about that time they went to Australia. Just so we’re clear. I have a red nose but that’s just natural because I’m ginger.

We get sunburn even in moonlight.

I don’t wear big shoes or wigs, and I couldn’t make a balloon animal if my

life depended on it - except maybe if you asked for a tapeworm.

I have trained in acrobatics, bounce juggling and aerial straps at CircoArts in Christchurch and in physical theatre at the school of Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

How does a work like The Pianist develop from an idea to a whole show?

The director (Sanna Silvenoinen) and I had the piano as a prop and the context of a piano recital to start with and then we just played around with all the different physical elements of the piano and the piano stool and sheet music to see what ideas we could come up with. We choreographed individual pieces and then put them into a cohesive order which I then performed and realised that I may have slightly over estimating my physical fitness level.

What can audiences expect from The Pianist?

You can almost definitely expect some kind of seating arrangement where all the seats are facing the same direction, which is difficult for face to face communication but quite good for watching the same stuff as everyone else in the room. On a less definite note – on stage you may witness some fighting knee-nuns, a few seconds of

bull-fighting, wine tasting, a trick that took two years to be able to do, and maybe some piano playing. Possibly.

The Pianist is for five year olds upwards – do you have a ‘typical’ audience. How do they respond?

The best audience is one that is a complete mixture. Old, young, and from different cultures and social environments. It can be a show of its own when an audience starts laughing at itself. I have had some shows where the laughter starts to roll constantly because someone with a weird laugh

will be barking or yelping at a point where no one else is laughing and then that sets the rest of the audience off.

I have had two elderly women come to the show expecting a real piano recital.

They were quite surprised at first but were giggling away happily by the end of the show.

THE PIANIST 8 – 18 April Live at ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

LIVE NATION & MARNIE FOULIS PRESENT

“BY THE END OF THE SHOW, YOUR JAW WILL HURT FROM LAUGHTER” - THE HERALD

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

Global influences Auckland Writers Festival has announced a programme that looks set to continue the festival’s upward trajectory. Auckland food writer Delaney Mes spoke with first-time visitor Kim Thúy about food, writing and family.

says that attending a literary festival in Sweden, during which a translated version of Ru was read aloud, made her feel she could understand Swedish.

Kim has also found that different countries take different meanings from her story. In Italy immigration was relevant and topical, while in France the focus was on the book’s structure.

Romanians could relate to the Communist issues, while in Quebec the story holds historical significance.

These things are all in her books, as is her relationship with food. Mãn dissects the entwinement of food and love – it’s a concept, says Kim, that is implicit in Vietnamese culture. Her mother was always forcing food on to her family, and in her opinion there was no better way to show love. From making congee for her unwell husband to letting Kim have the best part of the fish cheek, food was a way to display affection and express emotions that lie beyond words.

KIM THÚY WAS JUST FIVE WHEN SHE WAS bundled in to a boat and, with her parents, fled Vietnam as a refugee. Her family eventually settled in Montreal, Canada. She still lives there, with her own husband and children.

Since arriving in North America, Kim has worked as a seamstress, an interpreter, a lawyer and a restaurateur. Her life has been more eventful than most; it’s hardly surprising that it seeps in to her award-winning novels, Ru and Mãn (a third book, Á Toi, was co-written with Pascal Janovjak).

Being a writer with a law degree who dreams of running a restaurant, I’m delighted to speak with her, and our Skype interview – her in freezing Montreal, me in Auckland – lasts for an hour. We chat like friends about food, writing and literary festivals.

Kim visits New Zealand in 2015 as part of the Auckland Writers Festival, an event that continues to grow in stature. The calibre and variety of authors is always increasing, while more than 50,000 attendees made it through the door last year.

The chance to travel to international festivals is a bonus of the job. Festivals offer Kim opportunities to meet other writers, and also to see how her books are read and interpreted in different contexts and cultures. She

Delaney’s Festival Picks HARUKI MURAKAMI He’s a bit of a quiet superstar of modern literature, and is so cool that he even recently started an agony uncle column online where readers could ask life advice.

He’ll be amazing.

DAVID MITCHELL Even though I didn’t quite get to reading it for book club a few years ago, I’ve heard Cloud Atlas is fantastic and I can’t wait to hear its author.

Given that sort of relationship with food, it seems natural that Kim would open her own restaurant.

Unfortunately, by her own admission, Kim was no businesswoman. She began her restaurant by serving just one dish per day. Her wealthy former law clients thought it was quaint and cool. Actually, it was because Kim was disorganised. And, as any restaurateur will tell you, running a business is incredibly draining. By the time Kim got to the point where she was falling asleep at traffic lights, it was clearly time for another career change.

Luckily for us, Kim is now a full-time writer, a situation made possible by the success of her debut novel. Not only did Ru win the Governor General’s Award – the roll call of previous winners is a who’s who of Canadian French-language writers – it was also released in more than 20 countries and has been translated in to multiple languages.

Kim says she is excited to be coming to New Zealand for the first time for Auckland Writers Festival, and promises to present a fascinating, relevant and poetic piece of work.

AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL 13 – 17 May | Live at Aotea Centre

KIM THÚY The restaurateur and lawyer turned author is a fascinating woman. Her work has been translated into numerous languages and I know she’ll be great.

STEPHANIE ALEXANDER I love her approach to food and the fact she’s most definitely a cook, so I look forward to hearing this great food writer speak.

JORDAN BASS I’ve loved online literary journal McSweeney’s for a very long time; so much of it is hilarious, so it’s great to see its editor here.

Highlights for children AWFUL AUNTIE: DAVID WALLIAMS Saturday May 16 9am – 10am ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre Ticketed but free for 12 year olds and under.

MORRIS GLEITZMAN Saturday May 16 1.30pm – 2.30pm Lower NZI, Aotea Centre CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS Sunday May 17 9.00 – 10.00am ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre Ticketed but free for 12 year olds and under.

FAMILY DAY | SUNDAY 17 MAY Events for unders 5s and 5 – 10 years will run at the Herald Theatre & Herald Theatre Foyer. Family day is free for all ages however bookings via Ticketmaster are essential.

BEST MATES: PHILIPPA WERRY 10.15am – 10.45am | 5 – 10 years Philippa Werry takes her audience on a journey to faraway lands as she tells the story of best mates who go to fight at Gallipoli, inspired by her Bob Kerrillustrated book Best Mates.

MONSTER-SIZED: RAYMOND MCGRATH 10.25am – 10.40am | Under 5s Drawing and storytelling about monster-sized friendships with Raymond McGrath, author of the exuberant picture books Have You Seen a Monster and It’s Not a Monster, It’s Me! ALPHABET SOUP: JENNY PALMER 11.15am – 11.45am | 5 – 10 years Jenny Palmer leads an energetic session of poetry crafting, taking animals and the alphabet as the starting point for creating a Festival rhyme live in the theatre.

STORY READING WITH SALLY SUTTON 11.25am – 11.40am | Under 5s Sally Sutton dons her hi-vis vest and hard hat to read some of her much loved books including Construction and Catch That Plane.

MONKEY BOY: DONOVAN BIXLEY 12.15pm – 12.25pm | 5 – 10 years Award-winning children’s illustrator Donovan Bixley takes his young audience on a rollicking ocean-going adventure with Young Jimmy, the youngest member of Nelson’s navy, and the hero of his hit comic novel Monkey Boy. ANIMAL POEMS WITH JENNY PALMER 12.25pm – 12.45pm | Under 5s Enjoy action rhymes and animal poetry with Jenny Palmer concluding with a reading of the poem Y for Yeti and colouring sheets so children can draw their own poem illustrations.

MAORI MYTHS: ZAK WAIPARA 1.15pm – 1.45pm | 5 – 10 years Animator and illustrator Zak Waipara shares Maori myths and legends with a modern twist.

STORY READING WITH DONOVAN BIXLEY 1.25pm – 1.40pm | Under 5s Donovan Bixley reads from Little Red Riding Hood Not Quite, the very funny follow up to The Three Bears Sort Of, which was the children’s choice at the 2014 NZ Post Book Awards.

SWELL: TRISH GRIBBEN AND JUDY MILLAR 2.15pm – 2.45pm | 5 – 10 years Judy Millar’s art twists and twirls, swells and swirls.

She and writer Trish Gribben will enchant with their delightful pop-up book SWELL, an art book for children of all ages.

MONSTER-SIZED: RAYMOND MCGRATH 2.25pm – 2.40pm | Under 5s Drawing and storytelling about monster-sized friendships with Raymond McGrath, author of the exuberant picture books Have You Seen a Monster and It’s Not a Monster, It’s Me!

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LIVE | APRIL – JUNE 2015

The Cuban sensation returns

BALLET REVOLUCIÓN 17 – 21 June LIVE at The Civic

WHEN CUBAN DANCE COMPANY BALLET REVOLUCIÓN CAME TO AUCKLAND IN 2013, NZ HERALD dance reviewer Bernadette Rae said the dancers were “spectacularly talented, bodies honed to an athletic and technical perfection,” and the live band “equally virtuosic”. They’ll be back this June with a brand new show that promises to deliver the same talent, intensity and colour, in a fusion of classical ballet and Cuban street style.

10 TH ANNIVER SARY WOR LD TOUR

‘THE IMPERIAL ICE STARS ARE TO SKATING WHAT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL IS TO CIRCUS –

INSPIRING, ORIGINAL AND GREAT THEATRE’ DIANA SIMMONDS, SUNDAY TELEGR APH, SYDNEY

24– 28 JUNE · THE CIVIC · BOOK AT: TICKETMASTER.CO.NZ

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The Ballet Revolución Company & ATA Allstar Artists present

Direct from CUBA with a new production

with the music of BEYONCÉ RIHANNA • JESSIE J SIA • BRUNO MARS USHER • J LO • LORDE

“…dazzlingly fast-paced, humorous and sizzlingly hot-blooded”

“An endorphin high” THE GUARDIAN, UK

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The The Civic Civic from from 11 May May