LIVE May-July 2012

MAY – JULY 2012

Comedy Festival strikes the right chord

RiverdancE

The Irish dance phenomenon’s final tour

Jersey Boys revealed With songwriter Bob Gaudio Oliver Jeffers talks writng, reading and inspiration

atmosphere by design a cocktail in the art deco styled Housebar, an espresso on a red sofa next to a roaring ďŹ re, or an intimate dinner by candlelight under a glass-roofed atrium. upstairs in Hotel DeBrett, 2 High St ajoining Kitchen Restaurant

live / May – July 2012

Hit Picks Black Confetti 28 June – 22 July | Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre Eli Kent is one of New Zealand’s most exciting playwrights, already winning the Bruce Mason Award and Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards in his short career for The Intricate Art of Actually Caring. Black Confetti, commissioned especially for this season by Auckland Theatre Company, focuses on Siggy and his mate Elvis as they deal with Generation Y life, family issues and earthquakes. Read Eli’s take on being a playwright at www.the-edge.co.nz/QandA

Queen of the Whole Universe

Rigoletto

21 July | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

7 – 17 June | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

The Queen of the Whole Universe pageant is taking its final curtsey with an extravaganza of lip-synching, dancing, dazzling costumes and enormous headgear. This 10th and final show aims to outdo the Guinness World Record-holding largest drag queen stage show, a record QWU® set in 2009!

Artistic Director Jonathan Smith shares his QWU® memories at www.the-edge.co.nz/QandA

The NBR New Zealand Opera production of Verdi’s melodramatic Rigoletto comes to Auckland for five performances. Australian baritone Warwick Fyfe takes the lead role, saying: “Rigoletto is full of soaring music which makes one feel one’s heart is going to burst.” Read our Q&A with Warwick at www.the-edge.co.nz/QandA

Wonderland – Made in New Zealand 9 June | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Scan for season details

NZSO’s annual Made in New Zealand concert is conducted

by Hamish McKeich and features mezzo-soprano Helen Medlyn. The concert will showcase works by three Kiwi composers – Chris Cree Brown, Lyell Cresswell and Gillian Whitehead. Read Hamish’s thoughts on conducting and the upcoming concert at www.the-edge.co.nz/QandA

Request your free 68-page brochure now and become a Season Ticket Holder for as little as $75.* Concession, Family, Student and Under 35 prices also available. *Booking Fees Apply.

SMASH HITS 70’s 29 April | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre See pop icon Eve Graham of The New Seekers perform some of the biggest songs of the 1970s, including I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing, the song she sang for Coca-Cola’s first international campaign 40 years ago! Eve is joined by Philip Wright and Cliff Fish of Paper Lace fame for a double bill of classic pop. Eve and Philip share some memories at www.the-edge.co.nz/QandA

On Sale Now. Details at nzso.co.nz

call 0800 479 674 visit nzso.co.nz email nzso@nzso.co.nz

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live / May – July 2012

Salute to an Irish success story After 17 years and more than 10,000 performances in 40 countries with a combined audience of more than 22 million people, this is your last chance to see those flying legs in Riverdance. By Diana Balham.

T

hat’s only brilliant, as they say in Ireland. I got off on the wrong foot, so to speak, with Breandán de Gallaí, Riverdance royalty, original cast member and current dance director of the mammoth Irish dance phenomenon. Trying to play the devil’s advocate, I made the mistake of calling the famously fleet traditional step dancing that is at the heart of the show a ‘folk dance‘. “Why,” I asked ponderously, “is it that this folk dance has become a show so popular?”

“Erm,” said Breandán, pausing thoughtfully and trying to find a way not to call me a feckin’ eejit down the line from Dublin. “It’s interesting that you use the term ‘folk dance‘.

Folk dance to me is something that in a given small set of time most people would get a grasp of it; so, for example, round dances or ceilidh dancing or Scottish country dancing.

Irish traditional step dancing isn’t that. It requires years and years and years of training and a kind of a level of excellence that would not be found in normal folk dancing. Folk dancing, I think, is an inaccurate term.”

Oh, bollocks. So, why has this, er …, display of highly trained excellence been such a hit around the world? Is it because of the sheer numbers of people with Irish ancestry flocking to the theatres? Not necessarily, says Breandán. “Most of the time I was in places that had no Irish diaspora. The UK and Ireland I understand. North America I understand, but it was popular in places as far east as St Petersburg, Moscow, Japan, Singapore. We were in places where they may have an idea of Ireland but they may not have had a real cultural starting point.

“There’s always been a huge interest in Ireland. I was in Chicago over Saint Patrick’s Day and I was just astonished at how the rest of the world celebrate our national day. I think if you told them that this was a celebration of the patron saint of a country called Ireland, some of them in green certainly may not have known on a map where to find it.”

Riverdance’s beginnings were fairly humble: it was originally a seven-minute interval piece performed during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and a line-up of emerging stars. Some 300 million people across Europe watched and it captured the collective imagination in a way nobody could have predicted. The planets were aligned, the platform was right and it was done properly, Breandán says. “What they did was present Irish music and dance with a very, very upbeat sort of contemporary sound to it. Even Irish people were quite surprised because their notion of Irish dance was not what they saw. I would always argue what we did was what we always did but it was packaged a different way. It wasn’t freckled, red-haired girls dancing at the crossroads. This was a little bit sexier.”

The first time 24-year-old Australian Peta Anderson saw Riverdance she was a wide-eyed 10-year-old modern dance student. “I was mesmerised,” she says. “I fell into this world of the Irish dancers onstage and I just wanted to be one of those people. I got shivers down my spine and I just turned to my mum and I said, ‘I really want to do this.’”

Now she’s in the world-famous troupe ­– one of three touring different parts of the world at the same time – and will be performing in her home state of New South Wales this time the Riverdance circus comes to town. For Peta, the appeal is what got her hooked in the first place. “Everyone is so together and you’ve got that many dancers in a line performing exactly the same thing. Irish dancing has the rhythms and there’s something about the feet.”

Riverdance 22 – 27 May | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

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live / May – July 2012

THE ART OF ROCK ‘N’ DROLL

Get your laugh on

www.the-edge.co.nz/comedyfestival Comedy Gala 27 April ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

With acts like The Flight of the Conchords selling out arenas, dominating major TV networks and snapping up Oscars, musical comedy is experiencing a revival around the world. Luke Oram talks to two musical acts making their way to this year’s New Zealand International Comedy Festival and finds out that silly songs are serious business.

Ask fellow musical comedian Jordan Raskopoulos what he would have done in Bret’s shoes and he deadpans without a hint of hesitation. “I would have written something about Gonzo. Just an ode to him, his crazy little nose and his harem of chickens. I mean, that guy… they say Miss Piggy was the brains of the outfit, but he was the balls!”

How did we get here? What kind of outlandish future have we arrived in, where bearded troubadours can traverse the globe making legitimate money and acclaim from singing nonsensical duets with puppet amphibians?

It beats me, but sign me up.

Jordan is the frontman for Aussie trio Axis of Awesome. The Axis are the self-proclaimed Kings of Australian Comedy – although they claim this has now been officiated by the Australian Government (“we were given crowns by our presidents”). The irreverent ambassadors of musical comedy spent the majority of 2011 singing their way across America’s cornfields, colleges and small towns. Their brand of comedy rock has also earned them invites to fringe festivals in Germany, Amsterdam and the UK. Strangely though, it’s taken the band six years to make their first jump across the ditch – they’ll be making their inaugural appearance on Kiwi soil at this year’s International Comedy Festival, with The Axis of Awesome World Tour 2006.

Yes, they backdated their tour; a throwaway joke-turned-marketing disaster. “We always struggle with show titles,” Jordan says. “I’m not saying there are regrets about this one, but we do have a lot of people ringing up saying ‘There’s a misprint on your flyers mate.’”

28 April, 1 – 5 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Steve Wrigley & Cyan Corwine in KEVIN – The Musical 28 April, 1 – 5 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

The Axis of Awesome World Tour 2006

The group, made up of Jordan and fellow improv enthusiasts Lee Naimo and Benny Davis, shot to fame with 2008’s Four Chords, a mash-up of 36 pop songs that went viral, earning them millions of YouTube views and airplay on BBC1. Much to the group’s bemusement, Four Chords has become the weapon of choice for music teachers across the world, used to demystify the pop song structure.

28 April & 30 April – 5 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

The Big Show 2012 – An International Showcase 28 April & 30 April – 5 May, 7 – 10 May & 12 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

The Secret Policeman's Ball

This year’s festival also boasts the return of hometown hero Steve Wrigley’s Kevin – The Musical. The horror-comedy was a breakout success last year, culminating in a sell-out season in Wellington.

Originally intended to be a one-man piece, Kevin is the chronicle of a great Kiwi musical that almost didn’t come to be; the opening scene sees the entire cast and crew killed moments before the curtain rises, leaving the theatre’s bumbling janitor (Steve) to continue the show in a whirlwind of illinformed enthusiasm.

6 May

Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall Des Bishop Likes To Bang 8 – 12 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

The Pitch, Starring Irene Pink and Justine Smith 8 – 12 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

CONSTANTINOPLE 11 & 12 May Wintergarden, The Civic

Kevin’s 2012 ‘redux‘ sees the show evolving with the help of Steve’s onstage sidekick and offstage wife Cyan Corwine, as well as renowned musical director (and original DD Smash sax guy) Mark Dennison delivering a new, eight-minute “Gilbert & Sullivan-esque patter-piece” and a turbo-charged song-and-dance finale.

Raybon Kan is Completely Uncalled For

After their festival run, Steve and Cyan are planning to throw Kevin in the back of a van and tour the show across the country and to Cyan’s hometown New York. Before we know it, there’ll be yet another bearded troubadour travelling the world and making us proud with his silly songs.

The Good Guys

And before you ask, Steve’s Muppet song would be a duet between Rizzo the Rat and Pepe the King Prawn.

“Something about being small with big ideas,” he reckons, rattling off the first couple of melody lines without a hint of hesitation.

11 & 12 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

Class Comedians 12 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall Pictured: Steve Wrigley

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t seemed like only yesterday that our nation was standing proud and beaming as our very own Bret McKenzie filched an Oscar right out from ‘neath the noses of Hollywood’s serious music makers with a song he wrote for a Muppet.

John Williams and Hans Zimmer spun in their almost-graves. Aotearoa revelled.

Idiots of Ants – A Comedy Sketch Show

New Zealand International Comedy Festival 27 April – 20 May | Various venues

WIN

The Big Show

a luxurious comedy getaway!

One lucky reader is going to win a brilliant comedy night out with an extra-special prize package that includes dinner at luxury boutique Hotel DeBrett’s Kitchen Restaurant, a night in one of the hotel’s suites and two tickets to The Big Show – featuring five international comedians and two hours of laughs. Go in the draw to win this fabulous prize at www.the-edge.co.nz/comps

13 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

Andrew Clay in Dumped 15 – 19 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Richard Meros Salutes The Southern Man 15 – 19 May Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Revolver: Sexy Circus Cabaret Club 16 – 19 May Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

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live / May – July 2012

The Man Behind

the Music

Jersey Boys – The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons has hit Auckland for a hotly tipped run, and has already met with the same rapturous response received in every other centre it has toured. Sarah Illingworth speaks to original Four Seasons‘ member and chief songwriter Bob Gaudio about how a once little-known pop act from Jersey became one of the brightest names on Broadway.

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ince it first opened in 2004 in La Jolla, California, the Tony Awardwinning Jersey Boys – The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons has played to more than 14 million people worldwide. Telling the story of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Four Seasons – Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi – the show features 20 of the group’s biggest hits, including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man and Oh, What A Night.

Director Des McAnuff , Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio and writer Rick Elice.

JERSEY BOYS

fever

Here are some of the tweets from the opening night crowd.

There was a lot of love for local talent @vinceharder!

Bob Gaudio, the original act’s key songwriter – who has also written and produced for everyone from Neil Diamond to Diana Ross – has been integral to the development of the musical, as he was to Valli and his Four Seasons’ slow-burner of a rise to success.

@NZTopModelColin: Captivated by hose dynamic @JerseyBoysNZ performances – all I wanted to do was get up & dance to those timeless classic hits

The Four Seasons first got together in 1956 as the Four Lovers, but it wasn’t until a then 18-year-old Bob joined the group in 1960 that things really started to take off.

Shortly after hooking up with the group, who adopted their new moniker at the same time, he wrote the matchless Sherry, still one of their best-known songs.

@formerlydaniels: “Valli with an I not a Y. Y doesn't know what the #%^ it is, is it a consonant or a vowel?!” #jerseyboysnz @THE_EDGEevents white hot show!

The combination of Bob’s songwriting skill and Valli’s inimitable vocals proved electric, and from that point on the duo largely drove the songwriting duties of the act, along with producer Bob Crewe.

The Four Seasons had worked with the producer since before Bob arrived on the scene, doubling as session musicians for other artists who came through his studio.

They would continue to work under a variety of noms de plume throughout their careers, generating copious hits for both themselves and numerous others.

“We were very fortunate to have things cook,“ Bob, now 69, recalls. “It was just a wonderful combination, and when you’re writing for a voice like Frankie Valli it’s pretty inspiring. We were very focused. Nicky did a lot of vocal arrangements, and Tommy played guitar, so we were self-contained completely, and pretty much felt we could control our destiny.“ While Bob admits he and Valli’s dominance of the group caused friction within the band at times, he ultimately seems to consider it a necessary evil.

Photo: Jeff Busby

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@KerreWoodham: The best show ever.

I'm going again x

@SethHaapu: Checked out Jersey Boys Musical last night and it was awesome.

Cool to get a glimpse into the real highs & lows of some classic music.

“Most people don’t recognise me, so I have the luxury of being able to stand in front of the theatre and listen to comments.“ “It seemed that we were right the majority of the time in our choices [but] it eventually took its toll on the group, and Nicky left, and then Tommy was bought out later on, for various reasons, which is told in the [show].“ Conversely, when it came to Jersey Boys, Bob and Frankie surrendered much of their creative control.

“Frankie and I were both sort of back-seat drivers; we didn’t do much driving,“ Bob elaborates. “We told our story, and we had a pretty decent idea of what was going to wind up on stage, at least we thought.

Until opening night, and I think both Frankie and I were totally stunned at how magical it was.“ The show blew up from that very first run in La Jolla, California – something no one involved in the show really expected, least of all Bob and Frankie.

“We both looked at each other at intermission and said, ’imagine if the show ever gets to New York.’ You know, La Jolla, California, was Beach Boy territory. It was just not our town – so to see that kind of response in California was pretty astounding.“ Jersey Boys did get to New York, where it continues to draw large crowds daily on Broadway. It’s also toured internationally, with stints in London, Sydney, Philadelphia and Vegas – and now, of course, Auckland.

Today Bob works with the show’s creators on the casting of new instalments of the show, and general ’quality control’ – which, in light of its runaway success, has turned into a pretty big job.

The irony of the Four Seasons finally having their name in lights every night, when they were relatively unknown at the time they were actually active, is not lost on him. After seeing the show, most viewers are shocked at the number of classic tunes they recognise from the band’s repertoire.

“Most people don’t recognise me, so I have the luxury of being able to stand in front of the theatre and listen to comments,“ he laughs. “And it’s pretty interesting; it’s essentially ’oh my, I had no idea,’ ’I didn’t know they did that song,’ and so on and so forth. That’s a fun time, to hear that.“

@Toni_Street: Oh what a night at Jersey Boys, loved every minute, can't wait to crank the tunes today! Fav song: 'Workin my way back to you' #loveit @AliLeonard: Jersey Boys! Round 2! Still love it! Best way to learn the Frankie Valli story! Woke up husky voiced & still singing! @MarvellousMusic: Had the best time watching #jerseyboysnz with one of my best girls! Go along and see it if you get the chance! @viewnewzealand: @JerseyBoysNZ stunning show last night! Impressive cast with a story to match! And great to see kiwi @vinceharder take the stage!

10/10^S @DanielRutledge: Aucklanders, Jersey Boys is really fantastic. I normally don’t dig musicals much, but this one was truly thrilling. Go see it. @JTClassicHits: All the hype about #JerseyBoys is 100% justified. A fantastic story, amazing music and brought to life by a sensational cast. @CGWmarkmywords: Half time at Jersey Boys. Really good. Just getting better and better. Hard for them to top this in the second @madelinesami: At jersey boys. Coast fm to the max and loving it!!! X @_TheGuide: so much fun at @jerseyboysnz opening night, can’t wait to see the show in Brisbane, and I think the Civic is my new fav theatre #APNent @emmettslilton: Blown. The F$&k.

Away. @JerseyBoysNZ – Go watch it. @montybeetham: @vinceharder I salute you. #Respect. #JerseyBoys.

JERSEY BOYS Until 17 June | The Civic

You can follow the show’s official twitter account @JerseyBoysNZ.

live / May – July 2012

SemiPermanent Top creatives come to Auckland to discuss their work, their lives and their philosophy on creating innovative and inspirational art and design.

Semi-Permanent, New Zealand’s largest and longest standing creative festival.

Internet Partner:

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Auckland

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18 & 19 May 2012

Event Speakers Include...

Stefano De Luigi / Special / The Monkeys Hi-Res / Stolen Girlfriends Club / Ron English Thomas Libertiny / Swifty / Benja Harney Alex Trochut / Industrial Light & Magic Wallpaper Magazine / Moffitt:Moffitt / Gmunk / Southsouthwest / Kelli Anderson Print Partner:

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For more information & to purchase your tickets:

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live / May – July 2012

LIVE calendar THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE

Read Raw Become part of a developing script by sharing your thoughts at Read Raw: a series of rehearsed readings by new and emerging Auckland playwrights.

First Sunday of every month from April – September, 7pm | Free Various venues

Boasting a 25-strong cast of World, European and National Championship skaters, The Imperial Ice Stars will astound and mesmerise audiences with their adrenaline-rich, dramatic performance, all within the intimate setting of a frozen theatre stage.

3 – 8 July, various times | $59 – $109* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Musical

ATC: Black Confetti by Eli Kent A new play from award-winning writer Eli Kent, packed full of big ideas and a squillion little surprises, poetry, mysteries and full-on theatricality.

28 June – 22 July, various times | $28 – $62* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Red Leap Theatre: The Arrival by Shaun Tan A wondrous theatrical adaptation of Shaun Tan’s award-winning migrant tale. A visual feast... a mesmerising, enthralling production rapturously received that speaks to both the past and the present – ArtsHub, Australia.

13 – 15 July, various times | $25 – $59* On sale 7 May ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Comedy

JERSEY BOYS – THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS The story of how four boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the great successes in pop music history, featuring Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like A Man. Now playing, various times | $65 – $195* The Civic

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat This spectacular National Youth Theatre Company production of the Tim Rice/ Andrew Lloyd Webber show stars over 170 of Auckland’s brightest young performers.

22 & 23 June, various times | $22 – $35* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Music City and Colour

The Comedy Festival turns 20 this year and the celebrations kick off with the Comedy Gala.

The fun continues all the way through to 20 May with international showcase The Big Show, the return of 2011 favourite Kevin – The Musical and Amnesty International Fundraiser The Secret Policeman’s Ball plus many more.

27 April – 20 May, see Comedy Festival calendar on page 5

City and Colour has become a household name for their distinctive fusion of folk, blues, rock and twangs of country. Do not miss out when they visit New Zealand for the first time!

29 April, 8pm | $68.90* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Flight Of The Conchords For New Zealand fans, the wait is over. This June is Business Time. Bret and Jemaine are going to Rock the Party. So leave your epileptic dogs at home ’cause there’ll be Too Many Dicks on a Dance Floor near you.

16 June, 8pm | SOLD OUT Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Lenny Henry in Cradle to Rave Lenny Henry returns with a funny, funky and personal one-man show Cradle to Rave about the thing he loves most: music.

24 June, 8pm | $79 – $89* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

DANCE

City and Colour

NZ international Comedy Festival

SMASH HITS 70‘s The Greatest Hits of The New Seekers and Paper Lace, performed by the original singers of both groups (Eve Graham and Philip Wright) plus bands.

29 April, 7.30pm | $50 – $75* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

APO: APN News & Media Premier Series – Into the Light

The College’s four houses compete for the House Music Cup. House choirs and rock bands battle it out in the magnificent Auckland Town Hall.

29 May, 7pm | $25* On sale 7 May Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Cellist Li-Wei Qin and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra performs Ross Harris’s new Cello Concerto and Brahms’ Symphony No1.

3 May, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

The New Zealand Choral Federation’s The Big Sing

ASO: Free Family Concert Rhapsody in Blue

Stunning performances from Auckland’s secondary school choirs reveal choral music presented with skill, diversity, enthusiasm and musicianship. Encourage this journey by teenagers with your presence.

11 – 13 June, various times Gala concert 13 June, 6.30pm | $17 – $21* On sale 30 May Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

A concert featuring the Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue, along with other popular orchestra favourites from the Americas.

Tina Kim – Piano. Peter Thomas – Conductor.

6 May, 2.30pm | FREE Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Melissa Etheridge

The New Zealand String Quartet celebrates its 25th anniversary with a concert focusing on Beethoven’s middle period during which he expressed heroic and revolutionary sentiments.

9 May, 8pm | $35 – $65* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

The Frontier Touring Company is proud to announce that Oscar® and Grammy Awardwinning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge is returning to New Zealand for a very special live tour.

6 July, 7.30pm | $98.60 – $141.70* The Civic

Lawrence Arabia Presents: The Sparrow Lawrence Arabia presents his enigmatic and ‘noirish’ third album, The Sparrow, accompanied by strings and horns, in one of the country’s finest halls.

20 July, 8pm | $35* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

New Zealand Choral Federation’s The Kids’ Sing A preliminary to The Big Sing, this showcases individual primary and intermediate school choirs performing their selected repertoire including a test piece and NZ piece.

31 July & 1 August, various times Gala concert 1 August 6.30pm | $10 – $15* On sale 23 July Auckland Town Hall

Classical NZSO: La Mer (The Sea) Bask in a symphonic sea. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs Debussy’s iridescent La Mer and other oceanic works, joined by radiant mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke.

27 April, 7pm | $29 – $115* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZSO: For the Fallen Superstar Lynn Harrell plays Elgar’s famous Cello Concerto. Andrew Grams conducts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and Schumann’s Fourth Symphony.

12 May, 8pm | $29 – $115* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: Splendour Series – Visitors from Abroad The APO celebrates the United States in a concert featuring Dvo˘rák’s New World Symphony and Andreas Boyde performing the Ravel Piano Concerto in G. 17 May, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZSO: Alpine Symphony Scale the heights when five-times Grammy Award-winner David Zinman conducts the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in this most colossal work by Richard Strauss.

19 May, 8pm | $29 – $115* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor Auckland Choral is proud to present this work with the NZSO, a magnificent quartet of soloists and John Wells on the restored Town Hall organ, Bruckner’s favourite instrument.

20 May, 5pm | $69 – $99* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: Remix the Orchestra

Four of Ireland’s finest folk singers perform in the Concert Chamber for a special evening of traditional Irish music blended with modern Irish and Americana influences.

24 May, 8pm | $30 – $49* Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

An exciting fusion of classical and contemporary music as the APO collaborates with hip hop artists, bringing a new musical voice to the Town Hall.

31 May, 8pm | $20 – $30* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZSO: Firebird

NBR NZ Opera: Rigoletto

A fiery concoction of folk melodies, blazing colours and impulsive rhythms, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra play the music from Stravinsky’s glittering ballet.

28 April, 8pm | $29 – $115* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Verdi’s heartbreaking tale of love and deception.

Amid a flow of glorious melody, it features the celebrated aria La Donna è Mobile, one of the most recognisable tunes in all opera.

7 – 17 June, various times | $49.40 – $189.50 ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Book online: www.buytickets.co.nz Phone: 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842) or 09 357 3355 Group booking line: 09 357 3354 or email groups@the-edge.co.nz Customer service line: 09 357 3353 the edge box office

CMNZ: New Zealand String Quartet performs Beethoven – Revolution

Celtic Divas

RIVERDANCE – THE FAREWELL TOUR The original international phenomenon Riverdance returns, featuring 31 performers including the Riverdance Irish Troupe all performing to composer Bill Whelan’s enchanting Grammy Award-winning music and lyrics.

22 – 27 May, various times | $65 – $130* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Saint Kentigern College House Music Competition

Sasha Cooke

theatre

Celtic Divas

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Level 3, Aotea Centre Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm

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live / May – July 2012

May – July 2012 NZSO: Spellbound Notre-Dame Cathedral Organist, Olivier Latry performs Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. Rossen Milanov conducts the NZSO in the magical The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Rimsky-Korsakov’s seductive Scheherazade.

8 June, 7pm | $29 – $115* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: Great Classics Series – Shakespeare in Music Hot violin talent Jack Liebeck joins the APO to perform Dvo˘rák’s Violin Concerto and the orchestra presents some beautiful works inspired

by William Shakespeare.

19 July, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZSO: Wonderland – Made in New Zealand

CMNZ: Sergey Malov with Michael Houstoun and Ashley Brown

Sergey Malov

Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2011 winner Sergey Malov performs with acclaimed pianist Michael Houstoun. Cellist Ashley Brown joins the duo to play Beethoven’s Ghost.

18 June, 8pm | $35 – $65* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: APN News & Media Premier Series – Virtuoso Violin After wowing the audience with his winning performance at the 2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Sergey Malov returns to perform Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with the APO. 21 June, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: APN News and Media Premier Series – Fantastique American conductor John Nelson guides the APO through Berlioz’s ground-breaking Symphonie Fantastique and pianist Michael Endres performs Mozart’s Coronation Concerto.

28 June, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

The Lost Chord and other tragedies Join Wellington City Organist Douglas Mews as he performs Tchaikovsky, Gigue de Pan and music by Bach at a free organ recital at Auckland Town Hall.

1 July, 2.30pm | FREE Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

CMNZ: Takács Quartet “The greatest string quartet in the world” – The Guardian. Renowned for its drama, warmth and humour, the Takács Quartet plays works by Janác˘ek, Bartók and Ravel.

6 July, 8pm | $45 – $85* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: APN News and Media Premier Series – Diva The APO is delighted to present Deborah Voigt, a star of New York’s Metropolitan Opera and one of the world’s great dramatic sopranos.

12 July, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Digital Art LIVE Exhibitions:

Check out The Magic Chicken these July School Holidays – a hilarious slapstick mime show about two mad chefs in a chaotic restaurant. The orders are coming thick and fast, but can our dumb waiters stop the caper from turning to custard?

9 – 14 July, 11am & 1.30pm daily | $15* Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

Growth

Festival

2012 Auckland Writers & Readers Festival

Jack Liebeck

Children aged from 4 to 16 years perform together selections of popular classical works including Mendelssohn’s E major Violin Concerto and the 2nd movement of Mozart’s C major Piano Concerto.

17 June, 2pm | FREE Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Time Out: THE Magic Chicken

Owens Foyer, Aotea Centre

The New Zealand String Quartet, Helen Medlyn and conductor Hamish McKeich join the NZSO for this all New Zealand celebration of our own orchestral music.

9 June, 8pm | $20 – $25* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZ Suzuki Institute Auckland Branch Annual Concert

Keep in touch at www.facebook.com/theedgeevents or on Twitter @the_edgeevents or get the latest news and offers via email on www.buytickets.co.nz/signup

AYO TRIUMPH: Beethoven 9 Join AYO for the triumphant ninth symphony

by Beethoven. Featuring Isabella Moore, Elisha Fai-Hulton, Amitai Pati, Anthony Schneider and the Auckland Youth Choir.

22 July, 2.30pm | $5 – $20* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

APO: Splendour Series – American to the Core The APO in a concert that displays the excitement, variety and emotion of 20th-Century American music. Featuring extraordinary pianist Ragna Schirmer and Music Director Eckehard Stier.

26 July, 8pm | $26 – $122* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

NZSO: Die Walküre Simon O’Neill returns home to join the crème de la crème of New Zealand and international singers for this NZSO concert performance of Wagner’s astounding opera.

28 July, 4pm | $43 – $145* Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the HKSAR Internationally acclaimed Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra and the Epsom Girls Grammar Paradisum Choir performing together for the first time.

30 July, 7pm | FREE Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

Family

New Zealand’s largest festival of literature and ideas, the Festival presents 100 of the very best local and international writers and thinkers.

9 – 13 May, various times | From $25* Early bird tickets available Various venues

AUCKLAND FESTIVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Talking Culture Symposium on Crossing Borders Presenters Alfredo Bini, Bruce Connew, Matt Daw and Nikki Denholm will engage with the crossing borders theme from a variety of approaches and themes.

2 June, 10.30am – 4pm | FREE Goodman Fielder Room & Aotea Gallery, Aotea Centre

Projections and Annual Fine Arts Commission 2012 Exhibition – James Lowe Including Magnum projections: Crossings – Alex Webb, Costly Dream – Susan Meiselas, From the Angkor Photo Festival: Immigrants – Enrico Dagnino and the Annual Fine Arts Commission.

9 – 24 June, 9am – 5pm daily | FREE Projections opens from 2 June Aotea Gallery, Aotea Centre

Matariki FeStival 2012 From concerts and cultural performances to M¯aori theatre, Matariki Festival will provide opportunities to experience and celebrate our unique M¯aori heritage, creativity and expression.

21 June – 21 July | On sale May Various venues

2012 New Zealand International Film Festival Since 1969 the International Film Festival has been a cultural highlight of the Auckland winter, presenting premiere screenings of the latest and best of features, shorts, documentaries and animated films from around the world.

19 July – 5 August | On sale 29 June For ticket information visit nzff.co.nz The Civic

Pick & Mix Squared:

The Broadsides Country music with a healthy dose of hillbilly, outlaw country, gospel, Americana, gothic country, bluegrass, gypsy and rock ‘n’ roll.

Supported by Tahini Jam Ukulele Group.

27 April, 5pm – 7pm | FREE Aotea Square

Pick & Mix Pick & Mix returns to brighten your winter weekends with a tasty mix of dance, music, comedy and theatre designed to appeal to the whole family.

23 June – 25 August, 11am – 1pm | FREE Aotea Centre Foyers

visual art Degas to Dalí Nourish your soul with a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the story of modern art. From Degas to Monet, Picasso, Warhol and more, experience 79 works by 62 artists who changed our world.

3 March – 10 June, 10am – 5pm daily, Closes 8pm Tuesdays | $10 – $20* Children under 5 free Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta-maki, corner Kitchener and Wellesley Streets

Growth is an interactive ecosystem created by Jeffrey Nusz where participants orchestrate the emergence of plants and trees with their physical movements.

27 March – 4 May | FREE Owens Foyer, Aotea Centre

Acute Self The Wellington-based Interrupt Collective plays with our space perception. Acute Self is a beautiful reference to Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending Staircase.

15 May – 22 June | FREE Owens Foyer, Aotea Centre

Rollercoaster In keeping with carnival and gaming tradition, the interactive exhibition Rollercoaster by the collective Unguarded Intersection proposes a playful experience for all the family.

3 July – 24 August | FREE

More HESTON BLUMENTHAL LIVE – FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY Chef Heston Blumenthal comes to Auckland for one night only with an enthralling evening focusing on his unique philosophy and approach to cooking.

5 May, 8pm | $95 – $295* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Semi-Permanent Semi-Permanent is a world-leading design conference, returning to NZ for its eighth instalment. Speakers include Ron English, Alex Trochut, Tomáš Libertíny, Swifty and more.

18 & 19 May, 9.45am – 6.30pm both days From $180* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Auckland Talent Quest Final and Show Community Spirit Rising presents the epic Auckland Talent Quest Final with lots of guest performances throughout the show.

Come along and support Starship.

23 June, 7pm | $20* Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

2012 V48HOURS Grand Final The best short films from the 10th annual V48HOURS filmmaking competition will go head to head with one being crowned Grand National Champion.

30 June, 8pm | On sale 1 May The Civic

Queen of the Whole Universe Queen of the Whole Universe is not a drag show but a beauty pageant with a difference.

The boys are dressed as girls and the girls are dressed as boys!

21 July, 8pm | $20 – $79* ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Auckland Art & Craft Fair A selection of New Zealand’s best artists, designers and crafters selling their work under one roof, direct to the public, for one day only.

28 July, 11am – 3pm | Gold coin entry BNZ Foyer, Aotea Centre

ASB 2012 Stage Challenge® and J Rock™ This dynamic dance, drama and music extravaganza provides school students the opportunity to be the driving force behind all performances; it’s their show, their time to shine!

26 – 29 June, various times | On sale 25 May ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Pictured left: Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas.

Before the Performance. Oil on paper laid on canvas. Scottish National Gallery. © Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland.

THE EDGE Home of the Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Square

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The Thrill of Books A

sk Oliver Jeffers to share the secret of his success – more on that soon – and the Australianborn, Irish-raised New York resident is quick to give a disarmingly honest answer. “I don’t know,” he confesses in a lilting Irish brogue, “and what’s more, I don’t want to know. I’m so ill-informed as to what’s happening in the [publishing] industry because I just try to keep my head down.

“On the one hand, that’s a bad thing because I don’t know what’s going on; but it’s also a good thing because I’m not being influenced by outside forces, I’m just doing what I do.”

And what Oliver does, he does exceedingly well. He has won numerous awards for his

“And you never know where you might be and what you might see when an idea sparks.” picture books and when his second book, Lost and Found, was developed into an animated short film, it received more than 60 awards including a BAFTA for Best Animated Short Film.

Although he’s written enchanting stories about friendship, love and loss, looking on the bright side of life and boys who like to eat books, he says he doesn’t concentrate on trying to develop specific themes in his work.

“If I became conscious of what people want, I might change what I do and it may no longer work; so I make books that I would have been happy to read as a child.”

Photo: ErikaHokanson

Those books included anything by Roald Dahl and lavishly illustrated copies of stories by the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen. Saying he wasn’t an avid reader until he was older, Oliver was “very visually influenced” and attracted to stories with a bit of a twist, a little mischief and some minor misbehaving.

Story ideas, he says, come from everywhere: things he might see by the roadside or a chance remark overheard at dinner. His first book, How to Catch a Star, was inspired by sitting at the end of a jetty in Sydney looking at the stars.

Back in 2004 and already an established painter, book illustrator and commercial artist, Oliver sent his work unsolicited to HarperCollinsPublishers who jumped at the chance to publish it. Since then, the stories and books haven’t stopped and his eighth book, Stuck, a tale of how to solve a problem by throwing things at it, was released last year.

Nor has Oliver’s other work slowed down, so he’s constantly busy painting and exhibiting, designing and illustrating. His love of travel means he accepted an invitation to the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival almost immediately.

“And you never know where you might be and what you might see when an idea sparks.”

Annie O’Brien, the recently appointed artistic director for the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, believes the opportunity to immerse oneself in a world of ideas, to hear and to reflect on informed discussion and debate (led by some of the most erudite and interesting contemporary writers, commentators and thinkers) is what attracts people to events of this nature.

But Annie is quick to see the contradiction inherent in readers and writers’ festivals.

Reading and writing tend to be solitary pursuits, yet there is a hunger to gather together and talk about the shared experience – the vicarious thrill – which books engender.

In other words, while we’re meeting and hearing from inspiring literary figures, the age-old desire and very human need for collective communication, inspiration and creative exchange is met.

8PM AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Splendour Series FROM THE

NEW WORLD

Three exciting concerts of music inspired by America.

THURSDAY 17 MAY Piano Andreas Boyde

APO.CO.NZ

For detailed programme information

BOOK NOW

buytickets.co.nz or 09-357 3355

THURSDAY 26 JULY Piano Ragna Schirmer

Image from How to Catch a Star © Oliver Jeffers 2004. All Rights Reserved.

Multi-award-winning artist, illustrator and children’s book maker Oliver Jeffers keeps a watchful eye on the world, looking and listening out for the extraordinary in the ordinary, the whimsical, the unique or the old-fashioned funny. On the eve of his visit to the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, he tells Dionne Christian that’s the best way to get inspired.

THURSDAY 9 AUGUST

Percussion Dame Evelyn Glennie

She says the festival tends to keep itself fresh from year to year because it reflects the ever-changing literary landscape and the shifting world of ideas. There are always new authors keen to discuss new work and new ways of working, to challenge conventional thinking on older issues and to raise fresh ones for consideration.

WIN You have three

chances to go in the draw to win a hardback copy* of Stuck, and one lucky person will also win two tickets to hear from Oliver Jeffers at Auckland Writers & Readers Festival. Enter at www.the-edge.co.nz/comps * Stuck comes out in paperback in May.

Auckland Writers & Readers Festival 9 – 13 May | Aotea Centre

live / May – July 2012

Crafting stories The passion for ‘hand-made‘ is growing and some upcoming events in Auckland offer good example.

Here Charles Moxham talks to three people who share the broadening interest in objects that celebrate the human touch.

Once it was child labour, spewing chimneys and weaving machines –now it’s millions of identical picture-phones, all in a row... We addressed our addiction to mass production years ago, didn’t we? Luckily, today personal creativity is gaining a whole new momentum.

Alex Trochut is an internationally respected freelance designer based in Barcelona. Despite his skills being taken up by some of the biggest commercial names on the planet – think Nike and Coca-Cola – his work has a decidedly human, if rather ornate, personality.

Why do you think these large companies are so interested in your intricate, intimate style?

“It is not so much the companies themselves, it’s that they recognise the groundswell of young consumers who appreciate the look of works that exhibit hands-on skills.

This is true of Barcelona, but also of the world.”

What do you think is the growing attraction for handmade objects?

“As kids, we were always told money buys happiness, but in recent economic times, we’ve seen that we have to find fulfilment elsewhere – the chance to express individualism, or be connected to it, is another way of achieving that.”

You are speaking at Semi-Permanent in Auckland later this year. How did you become involved?

“Actually they first asked me to talk at the event in Sydney in 2007 and I found that one quite daunting ... but it quickly became fun. People attend to gain insights that might benefit their own projects – whether professional or simply going it alone. As a creative person, it can be good for me, too, to explain my work out loud. When designing, it is often intuitive; you do things without being sure why at the time.”

Closer to home, Jessica Whiting runs the Auckland Art & Craft Fair. Its first outing was three years ago, downstairs in the Auckland Art Gallery – but queues were outside and down the street. Now at the much larger Aotea Centre, the fair is growing steadily each year.

Where do you think the appeal is for arts and crafts products in New Zealand?

“When we were at school the craft stall was all painted rocks and peace signs but that is not what this fair is about at all.

It's about individuals creating clothes, jewellery, whateverit-is to an exemplary level of design and execution. To give you some idea, we wanted to call this the Arts fair, but the name was taken. There is nothing cookie-cutter displayed at these events.

“There are many, many markets run through the year – some more successful than others – but this biannual fair brings the best of the wider region’s creativity together in one place.”

Are people looking for bargains?

“No, the products on display are not cheaper; instead, they are of a very high quality and exhibit the one-off, personal character that can make an owner feel connected somehow – being able to meet the artisan in person, learn about the processes. Perhaps the hand-made dyes they used, or chemical-free materials, these things mean a lot to people today and our growth year to year reflects that.”

Anthony Timpson is involved in a very different type of event. But the 48-hour filmmaking competition also exhibits a passion for the hand-forged, personally made.

How did the V48Hours competition first come about?

“The concept was based on similar events internationally which I tweaked and refined for New Zealand. It started in 2003 and this year is the 10th anniversary. There were 44 teams the first year, which back then I thought was pretty staggering. Last year we had a record 770 teams taking part – around 10,000 people.”

Why do people so gladly spend this weekend in a film-making blur?

“I can only really speak for myself, and what I used to feel when making movies in the weekend with my brother and friends. They were the most fun times ever. My favourite part of the comp is just seeing some people absolutely jazzed after the finish line, exhausted but amped and knowing that a spark has ignited in them that may just last a lifetime. That makes me really happy.”

Perhaps the last word should go to Alex in Barcelona. I asked him to sum up where the creative world is heading in his eyes. The designer’s reply was as refreshing as his sophisticated yet hands-on graphics. “Today it is increasingly not about the ego,” says Alex. “It’s about the soul.”

Semi-Permanent 18 & 19 May | Aotea Centre

Do people from all walks of life enter the competition, or is it mainly creatives already in the industry?

Auckland Art & Craft Fair

Absolutely all walks of life. The youngest so far has been seven and the oldest seventy. Creative professionals also take part. I like many of them, but they can lack the naïveté that sometimes results in beautifully pure filmmaking. I like to think that the competition is a great equaliser – and an ego killer.

Competition | 18 – 20 May | Aotea Centre NZ Grand Final | 30 June | The Civic

28 July | Aotea Centre

V48Hours

Get hands-on in the kitchen!

We’re really excited to be able to share the recipe for Heston Blumenthal’s Millionaire Shortbread with LIVE readers and give someone the opportunity to attend Heston Blumenthal Live at ASB Theatre on 5 May.

To be in to win: Download the recipe from www.the-edge.co.nz/ millionaireshortbread Create the shortbread Take a photo of yourself with the finished product Email the photo to media@the-edge.co.nz by 5pm Wednesday 2 May.

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live / May – July 2012

Children get a taste

of the Performing Arts

THE EDGE is encouraging children to experience the magic and confidence-building world of theatrical arts this winter. Kerry Engelbrecht checks out what’s in store.

T

“Music and drama have a way of transporting people into this magical imagined world.”

“Drama and music have a way of leveling the playing field.

Unlike activities that beat the individuality out of you, theatre embraces people for who they are,” says Jonathan Alver, Artistic Director of NYTC, adding that theatrical arts can do much in improving self-confidence and life skills among children.

Quite different from this big-stage production is Pick & Mix, a free Saturday programme for all ages that runs throughout the winter season. From singing and drumming to hiphop dancing and gospel choirs, Pick & Mix is a diverse programme that offers a taste of theatre in all its forms, according to Bronwyn Bent, Foundation Programmes Producer. “Pick & Mix takes a very casual, relaxed approach,” says Bronwyn, “which makes it appealing to most children, even those who might be shy or nervous about getting involved to start with.”

He adds that being involved in theatre is essential to understanding sharing and caring. “While children’s individuality is embraced,” he says, “they also have to learn to work together within the bigger group.”

“You’ll find a child who is so shy that he finds it hard to talk, and then you’ll see him five years later singing the lead.

There is great excitement in getting children to perform.

Everyone can be who they are,” Jonathan says.

Joseph will bring 180 young performers from all walks of life who answered the call to register to be a part of a show at the Aotea Centre from 22 – 23 June that Jonathan promises will be “incredibly colourful and a great family night out.”

Winter also brings opportunities to listen to the sounds of Auckland Youth Orchestra, interact with a digital art, watch The Nutcracker on Ice and The Magic Chicken or participate in the New Zealand Choral Foundation’s Big Sing and the Stage Challenge and J Rock events.

he winter season offers children opportunities to become involved in a broad range of events, both participating and by being part of the audience. From listening to choirs, beating drums, to performing in the National Youth Theatre Company’s (NYTC) big-stage production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the upcoming programme encourages children to express themselves.

Bronwyn is passionate about getting children involved in theatrical arts. “There is something for everyone,” she says.

“Music and drama have a way of transporting people into this magical imagined world.” She says that even for people with sensory issues, there will be something to enjoy. She talks about watching a child with a very real sensory issue with noise shift from feeling worried at the start of a show to being completely absorbed in the enjoyment of it.

So when the weather turns wicked this winter, encourage your children to get carried away in the magic of theatrical arts – both participating and as audience members. Not only will they develop a lifelong appreciation of theatre, they’ll gain confidence and valuable life skills and, perhaps most importantly, they’ll have the time of their lives learning how awesome it is to express themselves.

WIN four tickets

to see The Nutcracker on Ice. Enter at www.the-edge.co.nz/comps

NINE ARTISTS EXPLORE THE SOUTH PACIFIC

PHIL DADSON BRUCE FOSTER FIONA HALL

EXHIBITION OpEN

15 February to 1 July 2012 Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum

GREGORY O’BRIEN JASON O’HARA JOHN PULE JOHN REYNOLDS

exhibition entry included with museum admission.

Museum admission free for auckland region residents.

149-159 Quay street, Viaduct harbour, auckland www.maritimemuseum.co.nz | 09 373 0800

ELIZABETH THOMSON ROBIN WHITE

The exhibiTioN is produced aNd Toured

by The pew eNViroNMeNT Group iN associaTioN wiTh VoyaGer New ZealaNd MariTiMe MuseuM, edMisToN TrusT aNd The TauraNGa arT Gallery.

live / May – July 2012

There’s no shortage of family-friendly events coming up. In fact, we think there’s something to tempt everybody.

Pick & Mix Saturdays from 23 June | Aotea Centre Foyers Get a taste of the performing arts as family favourite Pick & Mix returns for a fourth year with performances and workshops every Saturday morning. In the past, performers have included comedians, ballet dancers and circus entertainers. What will happen this year? You’ll need to come along to find out!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Nutcracker on Ice

Digital Art Live

22 & 23 June | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

3 – 8 July | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Ongoing | Aotea Centre

Every year, the National Youth Theatre Company gives aspiring Auckland performers the opportunity to take the stage in a well-known musical. This year is no different with 170 performers set to perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Audiences can look forward to graceful ice dancing coupled with thrilling leaps, throws and acrobatics as the new production of The Nutcracker is brought to life by the Imperial Ice Stars.

There’s always something new to look at and interact with on the Digital Art Live wall in the Aotea Centre’s Owens Foyer. Just next to Door A into the ASB Theatre, the wall is regularly refreshed with local digital art – check out the playful Rollercoaster from 3 July.

School Holidays!

Many of Auckland‘s attractions put on special programmes and events for the school holidays, including Time Out Theatre’s The Magic Chicken.

The madcap mime show features crazy chefs, dumb waiters and heaps of hilarity for kids of all ages.

The Magic Chicken 9 – 14 July | Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall There’ll be special events all over Auckland during the holidays – here are a few websites you should keep your eye on.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta-maki www.aucklandartgallery.com Auckland Museum www.aucklandmuseum.com

Stage Challenge & J Rock

The Arrival

26 – 29 June | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

13 – 15 July | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre

Every year, thousands of students work together to create every detail of their school’s entry for Stage Challenge and J Rock, and 2012 will bring another wave of performers to the ASB Theatre stage. This is a great chance to see teenagers and children discover just how creative they can be – and who knows, you might see the first onstage performance by one the stars of tomorrow.

A wondrous theatrical adaptation of Shaun Tan’s graphic novel, The Arrival, features puppetry, actors and dazzling staging. While it is not specifically a children’s play, it is suitable for any age and audience. Telling a migrant’s story, The Arrival is described as “ultimately a story of overcoming hardship, of humanity and of hope.”

Auckland Zoo www.aucklandzoo.co.nz Bruce Mason Centre www.brucemasoncentre.co.nz MOTAT www.motat.org.nz Stardome www.stardome.org.nz TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre www.pacific.org.nz Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum www.maritimemuseum.co.nz

“Glamorous, glorious, powerful, extravagant, dramatic, spectacular, daring” Artlink, South AfricA

3–8 JULY

ASB THEATRE, AoTEA CEnTRE

BUYTICKETS.CO.NZ or 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842) Groups 12+ 09 357 3354 | Hotel & Dining Packages showbiznz.co.nz Visit IMPERIALICESTARS.COM and sign up for

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Putting on a show One of life’s joys is to witness a transition in the working life of a musician.

The person onstage and the music are familiar, but it’s different. It can be an exciting thing to see unfold in front of you, especially if the artist in question is walking their talents into new territories. By José Barbosa.

Lawrence Arabia’s forthcoming album The Sparrow marks such a transition. It’s been described to me as “really different” to his previous album Chant Darling which won a whole pile of critical acclaim. The accompanying live show at Auckland Town Hall is designed to push the Lawrence Arabia experience into new places.

“I wanted to avoid the generic rock concert and put some of the show business back in.” That’s James Milne, the mind behind Lawrence Arabia. “You can get blasé about doing self-depreciating shows at the King’s Arms. This is about trying to reach more people and explore different modes of performance.”

To that end, the Auckland Town Hall show is being designed to evoke something of jazz bands in the 1930s. That fits with The Sparrow, described as ‘noirish‘, although it’s not

actually about the ubiquitous flying mice: “It’s an image that guided the whole process that came from little jottings and observations during the last tour and suddenly becoming really desperate to record. It’s a confounding malevolent character that comes out in the content of the songs.”

Mixing it up

Although it’s still in the planning stages, Milne has brought in Hackman, the team behind the successful Apollo 13 theatre show.

“They’re consulting on the visual aspect. Brad the designer gave me some guiding sketches and hopefully they’ll be lending me some technical support.

“The show will have a six-piece string section and a brass section as well. We’ll mostly be performing songs from the new album, but there will be older songs. Some of them have a grandiosity and soaring emptiness which will suit a larger setting.”

For the show, Milne has hooked up with THE EDGE’s arts development programme STAMP. According to STAMP producer Vanessa Thompson they’ve invested in Milne’s development because “our support enables James to take greater artistic and commercial risks – we can cover some of the costs for the show, meaning he can take this next career step confidently, whereas without our support it would be a much more difficult and risky venture for him.”

There’s no disagreement from Milne: “It seems like the best option to present the kind of show I’d like to be able to present in the future. It’s about reaching a wider audience via live audience rather than just getting a song on an ad or something.”

WIN two tickets to the show and a bag of Lawrence Arabia swag. Enter at www.the-edge.co.nz/comps

Lawrence Arabia Presents: The Sparrow 20 July | Auckland Town Hall

When you think ‘orchestra’, you might not associate the words ‘hip hop’.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is changing that with their five-year-old Remix programme, bringing together APO and hip hop musicians to create new music.

To celebrate New Zealand Music Month in May the music developed from the Remix sessions will be showcased in a full-scale orchestral concert for the first time.

The concert will be a fusion of orchestral sound and local hip hop styles by guest artists JEM, Anonymouz, Frisko, Tyree and Ermehn. DJCLX will be on the decks throughout the concert and Graffiti crew FDKNS will be creating digital art projections, adding to the visual element of what will undoubtedly be an incredible night.

Remix the Orchestra 31 May | Auckland Town Hall

live / May – July 2012

15

Next

BIG Thing Eat, Pray, Laugh!

Barry Humphries‘ Farewell Tour From 11 August Join Barry Humphries and his most famous alter-egos to celebrate a spectacular comedy career in Eat, Pray, Laugh! The beloved Dame Edna Everage herself promises her second act performance will be an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular, as she meditates on the big issues – gender, ethnicity and climate change. It’s safe to expect eye-popping costumes, and to laugh until it hurts.

The Bartered Bride

Cinderella

22 – 29 September

5 – 9 September

The NBR New Zealand Opera presents The Bartered Bride by Czech Bedr˘ich Smetana.

The romantic comedy tells the story of the maiden Mar˘enka, who wants to marry her heart’s true love, not her parents choice for her.

A complicated love triangle must be resolved, with mix-ups, deception and hilarity along the way. The Bartered Bride is sung in English and features European-based Kiwi Anna Leese as Mar˘enka, alongside Conal Coad and Andrew Glover.

The Tower Season of Cinderella will come to a close with seven performances at the ASB Theatre. The ultimate ragsto-riches story will feature Prokofiev’s famous music, Christopher Hampson’s choreography, costumes and set designs by Tracy Grant-Lord, brought to life by Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers, accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo 26 & 27 October Known affectionately as ‘The Trocks’, this company is a fully-fledged dance phenomenon.

Founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts to present a playful parody of classical ballet, the mallerinas (male + ballerinas) perform all the parts from heroes to sylphs. On this tour, The Trocks promise to dance the line between high art and high camp, and entertain dance aficionados and novices alike.

The Pride 9 August – 1 September Alexi Kaye Campbell was better known as an actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company amongst others, before his first play The Pride opened in 2008.

The work won several prestigious awards including The Critics’ Circle Prize for Most Promising Playwright and the 2011 GLAAD Award for Outstanding New York Theatre. Now brought to New Zealand

by Silo, The Pride will examine changing attitudes to love and sexuality on either side of the sexual revolution with “heart, humour and boundless empathy”.

Michael Houstoun 15 October Acclaimed pianist Michael Houstoun is sharing his 60th birthday with music lovers, in a series of intimate concerts around the country, including this one in the Concert Chamber. Michael will perform Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, described by Alfred Brendel as “the greatest of all piano works’’.

What’s this?

Editor Josie Campbell – media@the-edge.co.nz or 09 309 2677

QR codes are twodimensional barcodes that can be read by most camera phones.

Ours will take you to our website.

Designer Angela Lynskey Theatre Marketing Manager Angela Gourdie live enquiries Jane Pickering – live@the-edge.co.nz or 09 309 2677

28 JUNE -22 JULY

We are all standing on the fault lines...

HERALD THEATRE

AOTEA CENTRE, THE EDGE

BOOK 09 357 3355 0800 BUYTICKETS

or www.buytickets.co.nz

WARNING: themes and language may offend.