FESTIVAL NEWS

Auckland's Basement Theatre "unwraps a boutique selection of our best underground talent" with Basement Fest, 28 September – 22 October 2011. Albert Belz's Yours Truly launched the fest this week and is closely followed by Manbits by Rohan Mouldey and the latest work from Thomas Sainsbury, Crims.

Fringe 2012 deadlines are looming!

Wellington Fringe registrations close 14 October 2011. More info here. A forum, in collaboration with the NZ Actors Guild, is being held at BATS on 10 October. The forum will be an opportunity for you to hear from experienced directors, producers, venue managers, and Fringe participants, as well as the Fringe organisers. All welcome - koha entry.

Dunedin Fringe venue and funding applications close 22 October 2011 and artist registrations close 18 November 2011. More info here.

 

ATC's annual The Next Stage mini festival of play readings starts tonight at their Dominion Road studios. 3 new works are on the floor - Black Confetti by Eli Kent; At The Wake by Victor Rodger and Pitcairn by Christina Stachurski. See here for more information.

 

The Nelson and Tauranga Arts Festivals launch this month and both strongly feature NZ Plays in their programmes.

Armstrong Creative are touring, to both festivals, Roger Hall's C'mon Black and Dave Armstrong's adaptation of the letters of Rita Angus to Douglas Lilburn - Rita and Douglas. Phil Ormsby's Drowning in Veronica Lake is also appearing in both festivals before heading to Wellington's Circa Theatre in November. Tauranga Arts Festival has ATC's production of On The Upside Down Of The World by Arthur Meek and Tic Tic by Michelanne Forster and Paul Barrett.

The Nelson Arts Festival has a big literature showing – including appearances from Laurence Fearnley, Vincent O'Sullivan and Charlotte Randall. More details here.

The Tauranga Arts Festival also has a substantial writer component – Lloyd Jones, Jenny Pattrick, Fiona Samuel and Elizabeth Smither, among others. More information here.

 

In Jeff Clark's Big Idea blog he talks to Christchurch Arts Festival's Steph Walker (General Manager) and Philip Tremewan (Festival Director) about putting the Festival together - and back together again – after the earthquakes.

"If the arts are to mean anything they should be able to address what's happening for people now and provide a range of things: exploration but some sheer entertainment and a hell of a lot of fun," says Tremewan.