December 2

MEDIA RELEASE

12 Days of Christmas’ at Alberton

The festive season wouldn’t be the same without the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ concerts.

This year, acclaimed actor George Henare – fresh off the stage performing in The Pirates of Penzance – will team up with Cathie Harrop to bring laughter and a touch of nostalgia in five Christmas concerts taking place at Alberton, the Mt Albert mansion cared for by the NZ Historic Places Trust.

“This year’s concerts are particularly special because we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the construction of the original part of Alberton in 1863,” says performer and concert organiser, Cathie Harrop.

“The Kerr Taylor family, who built Alberton and lived in it until 1973, enjoyed may Christmases here. Now – a century and a half later – we’ll look back on different celebrations as the family grew and the house was enlarged, and the town of Auckland turned into a city.”

The concerts will feature festive readings, stories, monologues, songs and instrumental music as would have been heard at Alberton – which played a significant part in the early social scene of Auckland.

As well as George Henare and Cathie Harrop, performers will include pianist Hadley Ronayne, Cellist Jennie Khan, violin and mandolin player Dave Khan, and singers Amanda Kirk and Chloe Irwin Whitney. All will perform in Victorian-era costume.

“We’re inviting people to marvel with us at a time of huge Christmas gatherings without plastic decorations and microwave ovens; and when presents were mostly hand-made taking many months to complete in the absence of internet shopping,” says Cathie.

The much-anticipated Christmas shows will be held on December 17-19 at 7.30pm; December 21 at 7.30pm and December 22 at 6.30pm.

“Before the start of each show, there will be refreshments available with live music, and afterwards a Victorian-style supper will be served on the veranda,” she says.

“We encourage the audience to dress in fancy dress or Victorian costume if they wish. They are, however, requested – as was the custom in colonial Auckland – not to wear hoops, stilettos and swords!”

Tickets, which are all inclusive at $48.00 each, are available from concert@vodafone.co.nz or phone 09 479 2361.

ENDS

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