WELL CULTURED

Culture fix WELL CULTURED

Whether you’re after a laugh, thrilling theatre to take you to the fringe and back, or a fabulous art fix, you’ll find Christchurch is a hotspot for culture vultures.

There’s always something worth checking out somewhere in the city’s cultural scene. Comedy, dance, theatre, music spanning from international pop stars through to classical performances, and both local and international films are all well represented throughout the year, while a good sprinkling of art galleries, including the highly regarded double-hit of Christchurch Art Gallery and CoCA (Centre of Contemporary Art) offer the chance to familiarise yourself with local work.

Take in a show at the city’s iconic Isaac Theatre Royal, where the interiors are as impressive as the spectacle taking place on stage. Dating back to 1906, this grand old dame of Christchurch entertainment was one of many pieces of local heritage that was dealt a severe blow during the earthquakes, and even faced demolition at one point. However, following a huge restoration task buoyed by the fundraising assistance of prominent figures such as Sir Ian McKellen (who raised more than $350,000 to help rebuild the century-old theatre by touring a one-man show across New Zealand), the theatre was returned to its full Edwardian glory and celebrated with a triumphant re-opening in 2014. Make sure you look up to check out the ornate dome ceiling when you’re there.

Christchurch’s impressive cinema scene includes the obligatory super-sized multiplexstyle cinemas rocking huge screens, booming bass and the latest blockbusters, coexisting with a thriving assortment of independent boutique cinemas, where buckets of popcorn and cola are switched out for local wine lists and gourmet goodies. Lumière Cinemas is one such boutique, housed in the historic Arts Centre with a luxe Art Deco-themed interior and showing a range of 01 — Christchurch Symphony Orchestra films from highly-anticipated new releases to throwback screenings of your old favourites. To satisfy your appetite for arthouse, Lumière also screens a programme for the New Zealand International Film Festival each year.

PERFORMANCE

Christchurch is the proud home of the country’s largest professional theatre company, The Court Theatre, which sells over 150,000 tickets each year. The city’s buzzing theatre scene attracts national and international touring theatre productions, and several semi-pro and amateur theatre groups exist around the city, meaning there’s almost always something good to catch – thought-provoking dramas, hilarious comedies, showstopping musicals and more.

Dance companies are frequent visitors – the city regularly hosts the Royal New Zealand Ballet and other national and international companies.

New Zealand’s acclaimed national opera company, New Zealand Opera, graces the Isaac Theatre Royal each year as well. Christchurch also has a noteworthy comedy scene: late-night improv comedy show Scared Scriptless is Australasia’s longest-running comedy show. Christchurch’s very own Good Times Comedy Club is a great base for a good laugh, with regular stand-up comedy events on each week, and the Comedy Carnival brings a lineup of local, national and international comedians to town every year.

FESTIVALS

A vibrant festival scene sees an increasing number of big days out available to Christchurch visitors every year. With everything from summer festivals to cultural celebrations, performance festivals, food and wine fests and more, you’re likely to find something to appeal. The South Island’s largest literary festival, WORD Christchurch, is the annual event for anyone with a love of the written word, while the worldrenowned Bread & Circus Buskers Festival is a cornerstone event of the Christchurch summer calendar. For food and drink aficionados, Gindulgence, the Great Kiwi Beer Festival and the South Island Wine & Food Festival are here for every enthusiast looking for an excuse to celebrate their favourite beverage.

Home to a lively pub music scene, Christchurch sees plenty of larger-scale concerts and gigs as well. The busy calendar of local professional orchestra the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is supplemented by visits from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and groups visiting under the Chamber Music New Zealand umbrella, as well as plenty of big names in contemporary music, with the city also having several of its very own music festivals. Electric Avenue turns Hagley Park into a day-long party in February, bringing the good vibes with carnival rides and 12 hours of killer live music. Selwyn Sounds is the perfect way to send off summer, with some of the greatest names in Kiwi music taking the stage, and a range of food trucks providing international cuisine.

EXHIBITIONS

The city’s art scene is stronger than ever with a series of new and rejuvenated spaces. The stunning Christchurch Art Gallery (corner of Montreal Street and Worcester Boulevard, christchurchartgallery.org.nz) is the city’s artistic hub and holds some of the country’s premier collections. The gallery regularly hosts international touring exhibitions and runs a range of local exhibitions guaranteed to fascinate, intrigue and inspire.

Across the road from the Christchurch Art Gallery, CoCA always has something interesting up its sleeve. It is also a regular host to a range of artistic events – find out more on the centre’s website coca.org.nz.

Every year Christchurch plays host to SCAPE Public Art, a contemporary art festival that sees a range of sculptures, murals and installations pop up around the city, and usually results in a few works making a permanent home here. David McCracken’s Diminish and Ascend, a staircase fixed in the middle of the Botanic Gardens’ Kiosk Lake, stretches to a vanishing point towards the sky and is often perched upon by avian art critics. Upstream of the Gloucester Street bridge, standing in the flowing current of the Ōtākaro Avon River is STAY, a sculpture of a pensive The companion piece to this work resides in The Arts Centre, two very different environments to act as a quiet catalyst for reflection.

From The Arts Centre it’s just a short stroll back down Worcester Boulevard to Rolleston Avenue and the iconic Gothic stone buildings of the Canterbury Museum, which contains an array of long-term and special exhibitions. It’s a must-visit for anyone who wants to know more about the history of the region and its people.

01 — South Island Wine & Food Festival human figure by British artist Antony Gormley.