Winter Fest Dates announced with early on-sale TWO shows!
Brace yourselves for an electrifying journey into the heart of music and dance as Winter Fest proudly announces the early on-sale of two sensational shows: Back to Black and Subtle Dances. Set against the backdrop of New Plymouth's vibrant arts scene, Winter Fest promises ten days of pure magic from June 6th to June 16th.
Prepare to be dazzled by Subtle Dances, a contemporary ballet that defies expectations and ignites the senses. This groundbreaking collaboration between New Zealand's most creative choreographers, dynamic dancers, and top composers sets the stage on fire with its captivating storytelling and mesmerizing movements. Set against the enchanting melodies of NZTrio, Subtle Dances transports audiences into a world where movement meets music, showcasing the beauty of ballet in astonishing new ways. It's magnetic, it's majestic, and it's dance at its finest.
Off the back of three sell-out shows at the Wellington Jazz Festival, Back to Black invites audiences on an unmissable roller coaster ride through the legendary soundscapes of Amy Winehouse. This star-studded show, featuring an ensemble of New Zealand's finest musicians including Vanessa Stacey, Lisa Tomlins, Johnny Lawrence, and New Plymouth’s own Daniel Hayles, promises an electrifying celebration of Winehouse's iconic hits. From the soulful depths of her Grammy-award-winning albums Frank to the chart-topping brilliance of Back to Black, this experience is a wild adventure worthy of the Winehouse name.
Winter Fest continues the tradition of excellence set by the Taranaki Arts Festival, offering a diverse line-up of performances across genres, with the full programme offering launching on April 4th.
Megan Brown, Festival Director, extends a warm invitation to all, "Winter Fest promises to be a celebration of creativity and talent, showcasing the best of our homegrown arts community. Expect a winter wonderland of ideas, words and stories told through an unforgettable collection of comedy, music, theatre and a literary programme.
We are sure you will be enthralled by the differing forms of storytelling in our second presentation of Winter Fest and its compelling line up. Enjoy! Take a break from the winter chill and immerse yourself in the warmth of the arts and experience the joy, excitement, and wonder that Winter Fest has to offer. We can't wait to welcome you to our vibrant festival and share unforgettable moments together.”
Don't miss your chance to be part of this exhilarating celebration of the arts!
Boutique Winter Fest set to heat up the region in August 2019
The biennial Taranaki Arts Festival has undergone a contemporary makeover, evolving into a series of four unique festivals in order to keep Taranaki at the forefront of the arts scene.
The new structure sees more arts and entertainment in Taranaki with two festivals produced by TAFT every year, instead of one festival every second year with Winter Fest the first to set the stage and warm the region’s winter blues.
Winter Fest offers an unforgettable collection of entertainment with a range of passionately charming stories, belly-aching comedic sketches, and breath taking performance of theatre and dance.
“This new era begins with a winter-wonderful programme celebrating stories and the power of words and expression,” TAFT chief executive Suzanne Porter says.
From Scotland’s dysfunctional mother-son duo in ‘The Ballad of the Apathetic Son and His Narcissistic Mother’ to Australia’s slapstick circus act ‘Trash Test Dummies’ – Winter Fest promises to deliver a range of compelling acts.
An ensemble of some of New Zealand’s best comedic acts will also join the winter festivities, including a panel of six politically contentious jokesters ready to debate the hot topic of offshore oil and gas exploration, hosted by master orator Mark Sainsbury, in ‘The Good Oil’.
Theatrical performances such as ‘Onepū’ – an atmospheric act of dance and music celebrating the power of women - and ‘An Iliad’ – part play, part gig delivering the classic story of Achilles and the Trojan War – a spine-tingling tale depicted by two New Zealand legends.
The Libri Lounge will again host the authors’ talks and also includes a three-hour workshop with Indonesian artist Rozana Lee, who blends creativity with compassion in ‘Tactile Histories’.
“We know there will be something for everyone in this line up,” Porter says.
“I encourage you to get a programme and make your plans quickly as some shows have a very limited capacity.”
Held in the TSB Showplace, Winter Fest will unveil an array of ageless stories, contemporary voices and quick-witted wordsmiths across 12 shows, six storytellers in the Libri Lounge and one inspiring workshop.
The 10-day August festival welcomes seasoned entertainers, artists and authors from across New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Denmark and Indonesia.
Porter says the new programme format is a bold move not possible without the generous and ongoing support of TAFT’s partners, patrons and sponsors.
“The amount of support we have received speaks volumes about the individuals, businesses and organisations within our community which allows us to punch above our weight to deliver vibrancy and present world class acts in Taranaki,” she says.
Artistic Director for the four festivals Craig Cooper says Taranaki Arts Festival has always been a leader in the New Zealand arts sector, and at the forefront of arts practice in New Zealand.
“TAFT’s core purpose is to ensure Taranaki is more alive with the arts than ever,” he says.
“We look forward to seeing you at the TSB Showplace this winter.”
Visit winterfest.co.nz for more information and to book.
TAFT ANNOUNCES NEW FESTIVALS FOR 2019 and 2020
Four festivals packed with cabaret, comedy, music and theatre will deliver more entertainment to Taranaki than ever before.
The biennial Taranaki Arts Festival has had a contemporary makeover and has evolved into a series of four niche festivals.
Winter Fest, Spiegeltent Festival, Right Royal Cabaret Fest and Box of Tricks Festival will provide countless hours of award-winning entertainment to the region all year round.
“We will be delivering more entertainment and arts than we ever have before,” TAFT chief executive Suzanne Porter says.
“Taranaki will be alive with arts.”
The new structure sees two entertainment and arts festivals produced by TAFT every year, with Winter Fest and Spiegel Fest happening in 2019 and Right Royal Cabaret Fest and Box of Tricks Festival lined-up for 2020.
“These festivals will help to provide a strong, year-long schedule of events in Taranaki - events that don’t compete with each other and look to reach different markets,” Porter says.
“Long term our vision for Taranaki is for us to become like Adelaide, which is seen as the events and festivals capital of Australia.”
Porter says the redesign comes after an international emergence of highly successful niche festivals - like comedy festivals, jazz festivals, and literary festivals.
The Taranaki Arts Festival will be the first festival of its kind in New Zealand to be repackaged into a series of niche festivals, something Porter is very proud of.
“Internationally, it’s the way of the future. Traditional arts festivals are evolving and we are seeing a series of niche festivals that cater to the different tastes within a community. It’s a very contemporary way of experiencing entertainment and arts.
“Back in 1991 TAFT led the way when it started New Zealand’s first regional arts festival, but times are changing and so are our audiences.
“It’s now time for us to lead the way again, and what that means is we will be in a unique position to offer audiences a fresh way to experience, enjoy and enrich their lives with entertainment and arts.”
Artistic Director for the four festivals Craig Cooper says Taranaki Arts Festival has always been a leader in the New Zealand arts sector, and at the forefront of arts practice in New Zealand.
“And this new structure is yet another example of the festival responding to the needs of its audience, while respecting its proud tradition of delivering the best arts experience,” Cooper says.
Having previously worked as festival director of Christchurch Arts Festival, associate director at Auckland Live, senior programme adviser and manager at Creative NZ, and assistant producer at Sydney Opera House’s Studio, Cooper is in a unique position to see the incredible potential in the new structure.
“We can create four distinct identities for each of the festivals, each with a different look and feel, each targeting different tastes and interests.
“It’s like eating the degustation menu at a fine restaurant. We want to give you the very finest ingredients in portions just large enough to keep you looking forward to the next course - rather than just putting all the food together in a buffet and just saying ‘help yourself’.”
Cooper, who is also the director of arts for the Asia New Zealand Foundation, is already scouting for the best acts for the four festivals, having recently spent time at festivals in Adelaide, Edinburgh, Shanghai and Sydney.
“I’ll also be seeing the best New Zealand work at Auckland Arts Festival this March.”
Porter says the four festivals will feature entertainment that will be taken around Taranaki, to towns like Hawera, Inglewood, Urenui, and Kakaramea.
“The Regional Programme and the School’s Programme have been an important part of the Taranaki Arts Festival, and they will continue to be an important part of our new model,” Porter says.
The new structure has been well received by the core funders of the Taranaki Arts Festival, including Creative New Zealand, Venture Taranaki Trust, TSB Community Trust and the New Plymouth District Council.
“Since 1991 we have had incredible support from our partners. That support has allowed us to punch above our weight and continually deliver vibrancy to Taranaki. We’re looking forward to continuing those strong relationships,” Porter says.
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WHAT’S NEW
Brought to you by the Taranaki Arts Festival
Winter Fest
August 15 - 25, 2019
This ten-day festival will blast the winter blues away and fill Taranaki with vibrancy. Expect a winter wonderland of ideas, words and stories told through an unforgettable collection of comedy, music, theatre and a literary programme.
Spiegel Fest
November 21 - December 1, 2019
The enchanting Crystal Palace Spiegeltent will rise on Puke Ariki landing and host a bevy of luscious cabaret, hilarious comedy, excellent music and award-winning theatre.
Right Royal Cabaret Fest
June 25 - 28, 2020
The Right Royal Cabaret Fest was so popular in 2018 that it’s now a permanent fixture of Taranaki’s event calendar. Expect four days jam packed with bold cabaret and fabulous music.
Box of Tricks Festival
September 26 - October 4, 2020
Box of Tricks Festival is an entertainment extravaganza for ages 1 to 101. Hosted in the school holidays this delightful nine-day event will feature something for everyone, from the big international shows, to glittering circus acts, exuberant dance and joyful theatre. This high-spirited festival will be a community favourite.
TAFT has presented 14 successful arts festivals since its inception in 1991. For more information on the history of the festival, visit www.artsfest.co.nz/about/history-of-the-festival