Podcasts about auckland arts festival

During the Auckland Arts Festival an artist from Melbourne performed her poignant show about what it's like grow up in the 80s as a CODA - or Child of Deaf Adults.

Featuring the fortnightly catch-up with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson on Isthmus'n That, an interview with Benedict from Scottish folk-trio Talisk ahead of their gig tonight as part of Auckland Arts Festival, and Ready Steady Learn thanks to the University of Auckland!

Jonny chats to Benedict of Scotland's folk trio Talisk right off the back of their appearance at WOMAD and ahead of their show tonight at the Speigltent for Auckland Arts Festival 2025. 

Jonny chats to Benedict of Scotland's folk trio Talisk right off the back of their appearance at WOMAD and ahead of their show tonight at the Speigltent for Auckland Arts Festival 2025. 

Featuring the fortnightly catch-up with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson on Isthmus'n That, an interview with Benedict from Scottish folk-trio Talisk ahead of their gig tonight as part of Auckland Arts Festival, and Ready Steady Learn thanks to the University of Auckland!

Featuring an interview with DJ Groove Terminator about the Auckland Arts Festival show History of House with the Soweto Gospel Choir, Rosetta chats to Erny Belle about her new track Boudoir, and on Audio Culture Bee chats about the now record-breaking legends SHIHAD and their illustrous career.  Thanks to The Beer Spot!

It's been almost three decades since Singin' in the Rain star Gene Kelly died, but his widowed spouse is allowing fans to get a look at his legacy. Gene Kelly – A Life in Music is part of this year's Auckland Arts Festival and it celebrates the star's life through archival footage, movie clips and personal stories by his wife, Patricia Kelly. She says her late husband was a romantic who was passionate about many things - but he didn't fully take to dancing until later in life. "By the time he got into high school, he realised girls liked a boy who could dance... but he never really envisioned that he would be a dancer." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malia Johnston is a renowned director and creative. Her latest work Belle - A Performance of Air is a mesmerising melding of lights, aerial performance and theatre at the Auckland Arts Festival this month. 

Melbourne based interdisciplinary artist Jodee Mundy grew up interpreting and being a conduit of information as the only hearing person in her immediate family. Her first language is Australian Sign Language and she describes herself as hearing, but with a deaf heart. She has turned her experiences of being a child of Deaf adults, or CODA, into a multimedia solo performance "Personal," that opens tonight at the Q Theatre as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Jodee Mundy joins Kathryn to talk about her life as a CODA and how she is bringing her performance to both a deaf and hearing audience.

The lives and legacies of Henry VIII's former wives have often been condensed into a simple six-word rhyme - but a West End hitmaking musical aims to turn that around. The global musical phenomenon, Six, has finally made it to New Zealand shores, allowing Kiwi viewers to learn about the former Tudor queens in a whole new context. Giorgia Kennedy and Zelia Rose Kitoko, who play a reimagined Catherine Parr and Anne of Cleves, respectively, acknowledge the pop concert style might not reflect real history - but the plot reflects the lives of the former queens. "When we look at the script and the score, it is 100 percent accurate. Everything we're speaking about is exactly what happened to these women - I guess the inaccuracy comes with bringng their stories into the 21st century." LISTEN ABOVE WATCH BELOW FOR PERFORMANCE FROM THE CAST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Canton spoke to artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival, Bernie Haldane, about the programme this year. The festival is running from 6-23 March. More info here!

Happy Valentines lovers

Alice Canton spoke to artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival, Bernie Haldane, about the programme this year. The festival is running from 6-23 March. More info here!

Scientist and actor Heather Massie's stage show celebrates the life of the extraordinary Hedy Lamarr - a film star and tech genius. Dubbed the 'mother of wifi', Hedy Lamarr developed frequency hopping technology that ultimately became the basis for today's WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth communication systems. She was also a film star in the 1930s and 40s, and described as "the most beautiful woman in the world". Heather Massie studied astrophysics and theatre. HEDY! THe Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, part of the Auckland Arts Festival, has been touring the world, and is the first in a triolgy of shows devoted to women in science.

Ahilan Karunaharan returns with his final in a trilogy of plays - A Mixtape for Maladies with Ambika GKR in a leading role. Kadambari Raghukumar talks to them about the making of the play that premieres at the Auckland Arts Festival this March. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When Lula Washington was growing up in Los Angeles, she'd never seen black ballet dancers on a stage before. That changed in her 20s, when she went to a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Gene Kelly was one of the most famous actors and dancers, now his story is told by his widow in an on stage extravaganza coming to the Auckland  Arts Festival.  

We're joined on #PacificDays by Siliga Sani Muliaumasealii (creator and director) & Benjamin Makisi to talanoa about The O.Gs A Concert Celebration of the Original Pasefika Opera, Singers, Sunday 24th March in Auckland. The O.Gs - A Concert Celebration of the Original Pasefika Opera Singers (Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2024). Sunday 24th March, 3:00pm Shed 10, Queens Wharf, Auckland Tickets here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the final week of the Auckland Arts Festival, but there's still plenty to see before it closes on Sunday. Co-host of RNZ National's Culture 101, Perlina Lau, has been out and about this week and will be joined by artists later on Friday for the Best of the Fest podcast. Perlina spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Peeping Tom is an award-winning Belgian dance theatre company which is bringing its production Diptych to the Auckland Arts Festival this weekend.

Jordan Walker and Lusi Faiva chat about AIGA, a show from Touch Compass in the Auckland Arts Festival, which is running from Wednesday 20 March to Sunday 24 March at Te Pou Theatre. 

Zoë is back in the driver's seat! On What's Up with Marama Davidson, she speaks to the co-leader of the Green Party about proposals from the government, and Chlöe Swarbrick as new co-leader of the Greens. The Bard of Bollix plays the tricks of the sphynx on us on The Mind Trench. Jordan Walker and Lusi Faiva chat about AIGA, a show from Touch Compass in the Auckland Arts Festival. Hun Lynch is in the studio to chat about her appearance on the Dungeon #13 lineup. Justine answers your union and employment questions on Red Dead Redemption. Whakarongo mai nei!

The Arts Festivals are in full swing across Aotearoa along with numerous Fringe Festivals. Co-host of RNZ National's Culture 101, Perlina Lau, was in Hamilton last week and this week she's been out and about in Tāmaki Makaurau because the Auckland Arts Festival has kicked off. Lau spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Stage Direction is with Villa Junior Lemanu, assistant choreographer of O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala'ai The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward, the work by Natano Keni and Sarita So. A collaboration between Auckland Theatre Company, Auckland Arts Festival and I Ken So Productions. It's on at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from today until 23 March. 

Jeff Mills dials in to talk about his upcoming show in the Auckland Arts Festival in the Auckland Town Hall on the 13th of March. Whakarongo mai nei!

We catch up with Radio Control Breakfast host Jordan to see what's going on in the Manawatū on Breakfast Buffet. We share a chat that Stella had with Matt Berninger, frontman of The National about their two recent records (The First Two Pages of Frankenstein and surprise album, Laugh Track) and their upcoming show in Auckland, Saturday 24 February. Our Viewmaster Litia is reviewing a show called Bad Ancestors that's just come out of so-called Australia. Jeff Mills dials in to talk about his upcoming show in the Auckland Arts Festival in the Auckland Town Hall on the 13th of March. Whakarongo mai nei!

We catch up with Radio Control Breakfast host Jordan to see what's going on in the Manawatū on Breakfast Buffet. We share a chat that Stella had with Matt Berninger, frontman of The National about their two recent records (The First Two Pages of Frankenstein and surprise album, Laugh Track) and their upcoming show in Auckland, Saturday 24 February. Our Viewmaster Litia is reviewing a show called Bad Ancestors that's just come out of so-called Australia. Jeff Mills dials in to talk about his upcoming show in the Auckland Arts Festival in the Auckland Town Hall on the 13th of March. Whakarongo mai nei!

Jeff Mills dials in to talk about his upcoming show in the Auckland Arts Festival in the Auckland Town Hall on the 13th of March. Whakarongo mai nei!

A powerhouse group of female Kiwi music stars are set to take the stage for the Auckland Arts Festival. Next month, Betty-Anne Monga, Annie Crummer, Julia Deans and Boh Runga will come together for an International Women's Day tribute 'Hear Me Roar'. Fur Patrol lead vocalist Julia Deans is 'excited' to be a part of this musical project. "We've got our first proper singing rehearsal next Thursday, so prior to that, it's just been getting together and discussing the songs we want to do and how we want to approach it- it's been very, very fun." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To connect with a parent who has dementia, adult children are forced to 'grow up and play along', says Irish playwright Dan Colley. An innovative approach to dementia care based on shared play was his inspiration for Lost Lear which will be onstage in Wellington next month.

Acclaimed actor, comedian, director and writer and "Snapchat Dude" Tom Sainsbury has another lesser known talent. Along with Lara Fischel-Chisholm he's one half of comedy dance troupe, Dynamotion. Their "camp, and country" Auckland Arts Festival show in March Boot Scootin' Boogie promises old fashioned barn dance fun.

Annie Crummer and Betty-Anne Monga along with Julia Deans and Boh Runga will be forming a powerhouse ensemble at this year's Auckland Arts Festival performance, Hear Me Roar! on March 8. Annie and Betty-Anne joined me for a korero all about creativity, collaboration and purpose. We riff on the power of music to accompany us through every season - the summers and winters of life. Music offers us a kind of hope when life gets bogged down in the grey areas and we explore how as women we can move into our own confidence and taking up space. Get your tickets to Hear Me Roar! at aaf.co.nz/event/hear-me-roar and check out the rest of the incredible events at aaf.co.nz. This bonus episode was brought to you by Auckland Arts Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mentalist, illusionist and performance artist Scott Silven's marvelous magical career is inspired by the mists and mysticism of his Scottish homeland. Silven studied hypnosis age 15. At 19 he impressed David Blaine and by 21 he was headlining a show at one of the UK's top theatres. Now 34, he's bringing his show Wonders to the Auckland Arts Festival in March.

The Veiqia Project is a creative research project inspired by the practice of Fijian female tattooing of veiqia. In 2015 a group of Fijian women based in New Zealand and Australia were brought together to create new works for an exhibition inspired by veiqia (Fijian female tattoo), a practice that was stopped from around the mid-19th century and conducted in secrecy up to the early 20th century.   The project involved an online research forum and time spent with Fijian collections in Fiji and New Zealand museums. The exhibition took place at ST PAUL St Gallery in March 2016 for the Auckland Arts Festival and coincided with the PAA XII International Symposium. Four years after their creation - on the 27th April 2019, The Veiqia Project held an event on Dhawaral country at Campbelltown Arts Centre called 'Solevu' - a full day of delicious lovo-making (Fijian earth oven), workshops and talanoa to celebrate the last 18 months of cross-generational Era Yalovata Na Marama program. And due to this event, which Cribbs came across and invited Talica....The 2 Brownish Girls podcast was born. Join Cribbs & Talica and members of The Veiqia Project, Donita, Luisa and Margaret for great interview.

Gerry Conlon spent fourteen years in jail as one of the Guildford Four, following the 1974 IRA Guildford pub bombing. New play In the Name of the Son chronicles the heady aftermath of his wrongful imprisonment. Richard O'Rawe wrote the 2017 book In the Name of the Son: The Gerry Conlon Story, which the play is based on. Himself a former Irish Republican prisoner, O'Rawe was a leading figure in the 1981 Maze prison hunger strike. He and life-long friend Conlon grew up together in Belfast. O'Rawe is the author of several books about the Irish Troubles, including Blanketmen: An Untold Story of the H-Block Hunger Strike. In the Name of the Son is coming to the Auckland Arts Festival in March next year.

Rob Bollix talks space junk, peanut butter paste, and gives us a finish-it-yourself poem on The Mind Trench. Jazmine Mary and Robyn Wilson-Whiting are in the studio to talk about Gig for Gaza, which is on at Wine Cellar tonight. Shona McCullagh, the artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival is in to talk about the programme launch. Salene is in for A Room Of One's Own to help you with renting queries. Whakarongo mai nei!

Rob Bollix talks space junk, peanut butter paste, and gives us a finish-it-yourself poem on The Mind Trench. Jazmine Mary and Robyn Wilson-Whiting are in the studio to talk about Gig for Gaza, which is on at Wine Cellar tonight. Shona McCullagh, the artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival is in to talk about the programme launch. Salene is in for A Room Of One's Own to help you with renting queries. Whakarongo mai nei!

The mid-week show brings all sorts to your airwaves (and ear holes). Marama Davidson dials in to talk to Rachel about the government's reprioritisations, the conversation around mitigation vs adaptation and the teachers strike tomorrow. Rob Bollix takes us to The Mind Trench, where we talk bees (on the b). Daniel Mateo, a dancer in an Auckland Arts Festival show Sandsong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert comes into the studio to talk about the group's work. Riot Gull dials in from Ōtepoti to talk about their upcoming performances in Tāmaki Makaurau, and their soon-to-be-released album. Whakarongo mai nei!

There are calls for the Government to pull funding for creative works in the lead-up to Tusiata Avia's latest project. Tusiata Avia's 'The Savage Coloniser Book' is being adapted into a stage show for the Auckland Arts Festival. The play's premise of murdering James Cook and other white colonisers has generated controversy and criticism. Creative New Zealand CEO Stephen Wainwright has defended funding this project, saying the use of violent language and themes isn't meant to be a manifesto. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between the 1920s and 1960s many Aboriginal people from Australia's great Western Desert and Kimberley regions were removed from their country and forced into hard labour on livestock stations. Despite this, the Traditional Peoples have maintained strong unbroken connections to their country. Now, Bangarra Dance Theatre's new work Sandsong is bringing their stories and songs to Aotearoa.

Judith Hill is on her way to New Zealand to perform at the Auckland Arts Festival and her show sounds like something you don't want to miss.

In 2015 an estimated 1.3 million refugees poured into Europe, many of them from war-torn Syria. It inspired Crystal Pite to tell their story in her own way - by creating a contemporary ballet for them called Flight Pattern. The Canadian choreographer has since expanded it, making it into a full length work called Light of Passage which had its premiere late last year with The Royal Ballet. Crystal's repetoire is expansive - she's created more than 50 works for some of the biggest dance companies in the world. She formed her own company - Kidd Pivot - in 2002 and is bringing one of its most popular shows - Revisor - to the Auckland Arts Festival next month. And Kidd Pivot is one of the first dance companies in the world to make itself carbon neutral while on tour.

Alice and Shona McCullagh from the Auckland Arts Festival have a chat about the digital theatre offerings at this year's festival. Whakarongo mai! 

The classic requiem form is the springboard for a new work that reflects on how Kiwis have been experiencing loneliness, distance, and uncertainty under lockdown and border restrictions. Where Will They Bury My Bones? composed by Gareth Farr, is a highlight of the revamped Auckland Arts Festival programme. This 20-minute work has been created by New Zealanders living in three different countries.. And in a sign of the times, the premiere will take place online, and people are being asked to pay what they can. Lynn Freeman asks composer Gareth Farr how he's responded to a time of great dislocation, here and worldwide.

Hayley Sproull is everywhere; she's taken over your television screen, she's a breakfast radio host, a comedian and somehow, she's found time for some theatre! Her new show is going to be beaming into your lounges, it's part of the Auckland Arts Festival, called Live Live Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors – Lockdown Edition. Hayley Sproull joined Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVE 

There's frustration from the events industry, and from the public wanting to have some fun, at the number of festivals and events that are being cancelled. From the Wanaka A&P show to New Plymouth's Womad Festival to the Auckland Arts Festival cancelling all 51 of their live events. There's also fear our biggest and brightest music stars, frustrated by a lack of events at home, will venture overseas to perform – Six60 is a good example of that – they've been playing in the USA. Brent Eccles from Eccles Entertainment joined Kerre McIvor. LISTEN ABOVE 

Alice is preparing for her opening night of Silo Theatre's Break Bread, so Johanna has you theatre needs covered and chats to Ross McCormack about his upcoming show in the 2022 Auckland Arts Festival, Untrained. Whakarongo mai nei, and check out the Untrained info you wanna get involved! 

Over the last few years renowned choreographer Michael Parmenter has shifted his focus from contemporary dance to the realm of participatory social dancing.

Over the last few years renowned choreographer Michael Parmenter has shifted his focus from contemporary dance to the realm of participatory social dancing.

Postponing, rescheduling, cancelling, even rebranding... Organisers of the country's biggest arts, film and music festivals are having to make huge calls on the fate of their events in the light of ever more Covid-19 related roadblocks. But life goes on. Programmes are out for the Auckland Arts Festival, and the renamed Aotearoa New Zealand Festival in the Capital. The WOMAD world music festival is about to do the big reveal of its programme for March next year. Lynn Freeman talks to Meg Williams from Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and David Inns from the Auckland Arts Festival about their plans for next year.

One of my favorite records of 2021!  Imagine if John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane had the opportunity to make one more record together, it would sound like this record "WAX///WANE" Bio Information on Lucien Johnson: Lucien Johnson has been described as “a saxophonist and composer of rare excellence and mettle.” Involved in a diverse range of artistic projects, his music always succeeds in maintaining a distinctive sound, with a chameleonic emotional range that can shift from warm and intimate through to radical and rebellious. Growing up in an artistic household in Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, New Zealand, Johnson took off for Europe at the age of 22. Since then his music has been greatly informed by his global travelling and encounters. Living in Paris for most of his formative years in the 2000s, he performed in a free improvising trio with Alan Silva (master free jazz double bassist and contemporary of Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra and Albert Ayler) and Makoto Sato, releasing an album on French label Improvised Beings. He has performed with a long list of luminaries from jazz and improvised music, such as Mulatu Astatke, Barre Phillips, Marilyn Crispell, John Betsch, Steve Potts, Jobic Le Masson and Lol Coxhill. He returned to New Zealand in 2009 where he completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Victoria University. Johnson has composed music for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Dance Company, for short film and documentaries and for his own projects. He was musical director of Shogun Orchestra which released two albums on German label Jakarta Records. His latest album under his own name, “West of the Sun”, was released on Japanese label Wonderful Noise and was a finalist for NZ jazz album of the year. Johnson is the composer for Borderline Arts Ensemble, directed by choreographer Lucy Marinkovich. For their work, LOBSTERS, Johnson was awarded Sound Designer of the Year and was also nominated for Outstanding Composer at the Wellington Theatre Awards. Johnson wrote the scipt and music for their next project, STRASBOURG 1518, which was a major commission for the 2020 New Zealand Festival. It was subsequently performed at the 2021 Auckland Arts Festival and at a sold-out return Wellington season to rave reviews. Johnson and Marinkovich were co-recipients of the 2018 Harriet Friedlander New York Residency, administered by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. Remember to subscribe to SOMETHING came from Baltimore!  Listen and share with your friends. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7HKmMrFB4vAQm3SKzvftA Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tomfunproductions Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/something-came-from-baltimore/id1400504427 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/somethingcame-from-baltim Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Bdz5634Wk5bSpaazynbI4?si=cS-_c_rBS2Os83QECKcuJA&dl_branch=1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/somethingcame-from-baltim/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/somethingcame-from-baltim/support

What is the role of the arts sector in a pandmeic world? That was the issue at the heart of the discussion at the Are the Arts Essential debate recorded at the Auckland Arts Festival in cooperation with Auckland Live. Six debaters lined up on the 16th of March at the Civic Club to passionately argue that the arts are, or are not, essential. They discuss what role the arts play in our day-to-day lives, how we would fare without them, and the economic, social and emotional benefit to New Zealand of a flourishing creative sector. On the affirmative team: Amber Curren, Madeleine Chapman and Eli Matthewson while James Nokise, Alice Canton and Toby Mahnire were on the negative team. Tanea Heke head of Toi Whakaari:New Zealand Drama School was the MC.

For more than sixty years, party-goers trekked across one of Auckland's wildest west coast beaches to Te Ana Ru cave, to dance on a kauri floor. It was built by loggers, and when not in use lifted up to the cave ceiling to save it from the incoming tide. It's been another sixty years since people took part in one of the famous dances at the 'ballroom cave'. But the legend intoxicated two Wellingtonians, Jenny Gillam and Eugene Hansen, who visited it while on an Auckland Regional Parks Residency last summer. They've been working on an exhibition inspired by Te Anu Ru for over a year, though they were delayed twice by Covid 19. Now finally Jenny and Eugene are about to unveil The Thrum of the Tide, a piece that includes a six-hour long soundscape. Lynn Freeman asks them how they first heard about the ballroom cave. The Thrum of the Tide premieres on Saturday at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Something is dirtier than the toilet seat  Vaughan in the Auckland Arts Festival  Top 6: Rich White People Things  Eli Matthewson!  Fletch hit the gym  Producer Jared learnt something  Vaughans new toy  Fact of the Day Day Day Day Daaaaay!  

Are the Arts Essential? For listeners to this programme, that seems a no-brainer, you'd think. But six people who make their living in creative fields are about to go head to head to debate the question - and half of them will be arguing against it. The debate is part of the Auckland Arts Festival and we wanted to get an idea of each side's arguments. We invited writer Madeleine Chapman from the affirmative, and arguing the negative, comedian James Nokise. So how do you prepare for this debate? Lynn Freeman asks Madeleine if she chose to argue the Arts are indeed essential, or would it be more fun to play Devil's advocate? "Are the Arts Essential" is debated on Tueday at the Civic Club as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Taking place each March, the Auckland Arts Festival/Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki fills Auckland Live’s venues with an exceptional line-up of theatre, dance, music, circus, and cabaret shows from New Zealand and around the globe. This year it celebrates our local talent by bringing some of the greatest artists from across Aotearoa New Zealand to enrich the shores of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau with live performances.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 lockdowns in the world's largest Polynesian city forced the Auckland Arts Festival to reschedule much of a year's work in the space of a week. But a delayed launch is set for Thursday and the city's Pacific heritage is obvious in this year's offering - with the arts community set to dance, sing, paint, vogue and tread the boards of Auckland. Dominic Godfrey spoke with some taking part.

Taking place each March, the Auckland Arts Festival/Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki fills Auckland Live’s venues with an exceptional line-up of theatre, dance, music, circus, and cabaret shows from New Zealand and around the globe. This year it celebrates our local talent by bringing some of the greatest artists from across Aotearoa New Zealand to enrich the shores of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau with live performances.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's largest Polynesian city is honouring its heritage at this year's Auckland Arts Festival. 

The ripple effect of the latest alert level changes is being felt by event organisers today, with many scrambling to reschedule with others have been forced to can their event all together. While event planners have braced themselves for a alert level change at any moment, Auckland's level 3 lockdown along with the nationwide level 2 restrictions have still thrown a spanner in the works - and left many in limbo. Jean Bell reports.

Anthonie Tonnon joins us with a guide Aotearoa's most beautiful public transport rides ahead of his Auckland Arts Festival show.

It's a year since BalletCollective Aotearoa took its first steps in the studio and next week it will premiere three new works by New Zealand choreographers at the Auckland Arts Festival. Karyn speaks with its artistic director and producer Turid Revfeim about her vision and the highlights of the first 12 months.

Thomas Monckton is an award-winning physical theatre and circus performer originally from Patea, South Taranaki. He trained at Christchurch circus school CircoArts, and the physical theatre school Lecoq in Paris. He's returned to Aotearoa from his base in Helsinki, for performances of The Artist, a solo a physical theatre comedy show he created. You can see him in March as part of the Auckland Arts Festival, and in April at Wanaka's Festival of Colour, and Dunedin's Arts Festival

Emory Douglas is an American graphic artist and member of the Black Panther Party from 1967 until the Party disbanded in the 1980s. As a 'revolutionary artist' and the Minister of Culture for the BPP, Douglas created iconography to represent Black-American oppression and his work became symbolic of the movement. He continues to create new art and to exhibit and lecture around the world. He has been working with the Polynesian Panthers on their 50th Anniversary celebrations this year, and will collaborate on painting a mural to celebrate the links between the organisations as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Frances Chan pays tribute to Phil Asher, Chick Corea and Milford Graves along with a raft of recent releases, and previews jazz at the Auckland Arts Festival.

A new ballet company has been formed, Ballet Collective Aotearoa featuring both leading dancers and graduates and students from the New Zealand School of Dance. The company launches with the season Subtle Dances at the Auckland Arts Festival before touring to the Dunedin Arts Festival in April, featuring brand new works by three exciting rising New Zealand choreographers - Cameron McMillan, Loughlan Prior and Sarah Knox.

It's a thirty year partnership in life and on stage that's produced a raft of memorable theatrical productions. Now Niuean/Samoan actor and writer Vela Manusaute's latest play, Tropical Love Birds, directed by Anapela Polata'ivao, is preparing to premiere at the Auckland Arts Festival. Tropical Love Birds is described as a high energy drama-comedy that ventures into the issue of domestic violence. It's abut Sani and Sheena who have have been together for 15 years, and while he's left the league field for a job as a roadworks supervisor, Sheena's singing career is taking off. At the same time Inspector Marina suspects Sani and his boys are up to no good and wants them behind bars. The script was shortlisted for the 2018 Adam NZ Play Award and will premiere at the upcoming Auckland Arts Festival.

Zoë pops in as the theatre world slowing begins to rise from it's summer slumber. With a bunch of shows and festivals about to kick off, Zoë gives us a couple of picks from three of the upcoming celebrations. Check out Our Authentic Prom as part of Auckland Pride, Cake Baby at the Auckland Fringe Festival, and The Griegol as part of the Auckland Arts Festival.

The Auckland Arts Festival was one of the first major arts events that took a a huge financial hit when Covid-19 struck. But, undeterred, the organisers have pivoted like crazy to come up with a programme for 2021. The theme is "Aroha" and all 70 plus events in the programme are homegrown: The Artistic Director of the 2021 Auckland Arts Festival Shona McCullagh talks with Lynn Freeman about what happened to the 2020 programme back in March.

Vela Manusaute is a Samoan/Niuean director and one half of famous Pacific comedian duo The Brownies.  He was the first Niuean to graduate from NZ drama school Toi Whakaari.  In 2002 he co founded the theatre and music group Kila Kokonut Krew who’s biggest hit was The Factory a musical based partly on his father’s move to NZ, in 2014 it was reborn as a web series.  His latest creation Tropical Love Birds has been confirmed as part of the Auckland Arts Festival 2021 programme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The programme for the 2021 Auckland Arts Festival has been released - and it's completely homegrown. This year's Festival had to be cut short because of the Covid-19 pandemic and Festival chief executive, David Inns speaks with Karyn about realising a festival during a global pandemic

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Party leader Judith Collins opened their Little Black Books to share with Spy their favourite things and places in the City of Sails.The PM says date nights with fiance Clarke Gayford are few and far between given a baby and a rather busy job - but gave away the couple's rendezvous spot as Coco's Cantina on K Rd for its perfect mix of friendly and private.The Leader of the Opposition's favourite romantic dinner destination with husband David Wong-Tung is Volare Restaurant at The Gardens in Manurewa. Collins says they love the atmosphere, food and service.When it's time to breathe some fresh air and head to a park, Ardern says that these days, it's anywhere that has a slide. She's grateful the Super City has plenty and also that it is full of patient parents who don't mind someone who hogs the slide.Collins can't beat the nature at Omana Regional Park in Maraetai which she says has lovely bush walks and beautiful sea views.For the best coffee hit in town, Ardern says her neighbourhood of Mt Albert has some great options and she enjoys popping in to see the team at Crave, Kind or Peel to Pip.It's the coffee beans at The Pizza Box in Papakura that give Collins a spring to her step for the day.For the place with the naughtiest calorie load of the treat you know you shouldn't eat, Ardern says her list could be long. She limits herself to takeout from Electric Chicken and Duck Island Ice Cream. The PM also has a penchant for the crumpets at Orphans Kitchen in Ponsonby.Meanwhile, Collins does not need to travel far from her own kitchen for her sweet tooth. She is quite the baker and may soon be taking orders for her own favourite, "Judith's World Famous Cheesecake".Ardern's favourite annual event on the Auckland calendar is The Auckland Arts Festival, which she says is a great way to support Kiwi artists. She says she never manages to get to as many events she would like.Collins has sport front of mind and likes to watch it on centre court. Sadly her "can't miss" event is the ASB Tennis Classic at Stanley St, and like many tennis fans, she would have been disappointed this week that next year's tournament has been cancelled due to Covid.Ardern's best place to enjoy live music is the Civic. She saw Aldous Harding there three years ago. Her second favourite is Tāpapakanga Regional Park in East Auckland, which she calls "the most beautiful setting for Splore".Collins likes her music arena style, which she says was Mt Smart before the pandemic. Hopefully some big acts return to the stage soon.As for watching the America's Cup, Ardern says her best vantage point will be the waterfront. She remembers at the last America's Cup, popping down to Shed 10 to watch with hundreds of others on big screens. "Anywhere that Kiwis come to watch together, will be amazing." she says.As for Collins, when she cheers on Team NZ it will in Maraetai, which she says has a clear view of the action.And finally what do both leaders love and loathe most about Auckland?Ardern loves Auckland in the summer, especially the amazing events across the city in parks, at our beaches and on the waterfront. Rather than a loathe, she said, the only thing she misses is wide open spaces. But she added it was lucky you don't have to go far to find them.Collins loves Auckland for its beautiful harbour views - and the thing she loathes most about the city is the traffic congestion. Hopefully Auckland Transport hear that one.

On today's pod: The Auckland Arts Festival makes a call for proposals for next year and beyong; we check out 2 small NZ made businesses; while people can go out shopping again, New Zealand fashion brands are among those businesses still worried about their future and he's the man of the moment - Dr Ashley Blooomfield reflects on moving us into lockdown and his new found fame.

When the Prime Minister made her announcement yesterday about the steps being made in the light of the coronovirus threat, it was clear that it was going to affect any large gatherings of people in New Zealand.

Legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is set to make just his second NZ appearance, at the 2020 Auckland Arts Festival.

Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Victoria Carter, founder of car-sharing company Cityhop.The benefits of car share in an increasingly dense and urban Auckland are clear. Why own a car and carry all of the costs when you use it so little? Why not go easier on the earth by sharing resources? Why not make more trips by public transport and only use a car when you really need one?Today this appears obvious, but how about 12 years ago, when Auckland’s pioneering car share service, Cityhop got underway? It was 12 years before smartphones, and before a lot of the awareness for the sharing economy had been built out by services like Airbnb.With Cityhop now in Auckland and Wellington, for way less per hour than an e-scooter you can hire a range of cars, from little runabouts to great big vans to completely electric Volkswagen e-golfs.The founder is someone who has been at the front of a lot of change. Victoria Carter ONZM has been a lawyer, PR practitioner, board member, politician and lately, the first female chair of The Northern Club. She's also helped get more fairness for kindergarten funding and helped make the Auckland Arts Festival happen.To talk her mission to reduce car ownership, Victoria Carter joined Business is Boring. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Clarke Gayford has agreed to narrate the live viewing of a nature documentary at the Auckland Arts Festival next month.BBC Studios, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Auckland Live have announced the show, which will combine footage from Planet Earth II and music from the orchestra.Gayord joined Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame to share what working on the documentary has been like along with how his passion for the environment has impacted his life.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVE AS CLARKE GAYFORD SPEAKS TO JACK TAME

Baltimore dream pop duo Beach House have built a loyal following since their debut in 2006. Seven excellent albums in they are coming to New Zealand for the Auckland Arts Festival 2019.

Ekarasa è di Rovigno in Istria ed è cresciuta parte della minoranza italiana in Croazia. Era venuta per la prima volta in NZ 18 anni fa, a trovare suo fratello e due zii che abitano nell’Isola del Sud. La NZ le era piaciuta moltissimo ed era tornata varie volte, decidendo poi di rimanere e laurearsi in arti visive all’Università in Auckland. Oggi si occupa di pittura e di progetti partecipativi. Nelle sue pitture usa colori che prepara lei stessa con pigmenti naturali e leganti, ottenendo delle cromie pure e vibranti. L’altro campo del suo lavoro artistico verte verso installazioni che coinvolgono la partecipazione del pubblico. Recentemente ha curato un progetto inter-generazionale Whanui per Auckland Arts Festival in cui un gruppo di anziani e studenti ha lavorato con argille locali e creato in collaborazione un'installazione.   Ondazzurra è in diretta ogni domenica alle 11.20 su 104.6 FM

This week we chat to Ahi Karunaharan about all things theatre! Born in UK, Bred in Aotearoa, Ahi Karunaharan has worked in the arts sector for various shows, venues, production companies and festivals both nationally and internationally since graduating from Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari, New Zealand School of Drama as an actor, writer, director and producer. Ahi writing credit for stage and radio include The Mourning After, Anchorite, Light V’s Dark – The Adventures of Rama and Swabhoomi – Borrowed Earth. Directing highlights include ‘A Fine Balance for Prayas Theatre, The Interactive Outdoor Extravaganza ‘Bollywood Blockbuster’, ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’ for Auckland Theatre Company and The Immersive participatory experience ‘Samaroh- The Great Indian Carnival’ for the Auckland Arts Festival. Ahi has worked with the Internationally acclaimed Theatre Company Tara Arts and collaborated and performed with various artists across the globe from Germany, Australia, Norway, Canada, India and Malaysia. Ahi was also an associate producer for Tawata Productions working on numerus award winning productions and travelled with the company for planet IndigenoUS Festival at Toronto. The founder of Agaram Productions, which curated and produced the first ever South Asian Writers Festival here in Aotearoa, Agaram continues to be the one of the leading South Asian Development Theatre companies producing new works with a South Asian focus and ongoing artist mentoring, development and leadership opportunities for those within the Arts sector. Ahi is also the Artistic Curator for Short and Sweet Festival and freelances as a Dramaturg, tutor, musician and and currently works for Basement Theatre in the Programming Department. Recorded and Edited - Matt Eller Theme Music - Ricky Simmonds

Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver, prolific pop pundit Kate Robertson and Spinoff staff writer Madeleine Chapman talk Auckland City Limits, Laneway, Auckland Arts Festival, WOMAD and more!

Almost ten years after her death from an asthma attack, the late Mahinārangi Tocker was celebrated with a tribute show Love Me As I Am, part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Tony Stamp speaks to songwriter, colleague and good friend to Mahinārangi - Shona Laing. 

In this week's Pocket Edition we have interviews with jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who just performed at Womad and Auckland Arts Festival, and Kim Deal, the veteran bass player, singer, guitarist and front-person for The Pixies and The Breeders.

"It doesn't matter if you're in a bloody gallery or not as long as you're making stuff" - Phil Dadson In the first episode of our new long-form podcast series Artists In Conversation, we present a discussion between Phil Dadson and Sean Kerr. Topics covered include intermedia practice in New Zealand from past to present, open source art and the recently installed From Scratch exhibition and performance series 546 Moons, now on at Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery as part of Auckland Arts Festival. More info here: http://www.teuru.org.nz/index.cfm/whats-on/calendar/from-scratch-546-moons/

A Tribe Called Red are a Canadian electronic duo who draw heavily on indigenous First Nations music. Ahead of their appearance at Auckland Arts Festival, RNZ Music's Tony Stamp spoke to founding member Ehren Bear Thomas.

Trevor Reekie talks to Anoushka Shankar who has just been announced as one of the headliners of Womad 2018 and the Auckland Arts Festival.

Artist Joseph Michael and a team of eight film-makers head to Antarctica on a yacht, to record the sights and sounds of icebergs.

Artist Joseph Michael and a team of eight film-makers head to Antarctica on a yacht, to record the sights and sounds of icebergs.

Artist Joseph Michael and a team of eight film-makers head to Antarctica on a yacht, to record the sights and sounds of icebergs.

The varied sounds and characters of icebergs begin to reveal themselves to a watching team of film-makers.

Artist Joseph Michael and his companions venture into the crevasse field of a giant Antarctic glacier to capture the blue heart of an iceberg.

The team encounter their largest icebergs, and grapple with how to project a virtual iceberg onto the Auckland War Memorial Museum.