Lake Taupo Arts Festival, 5 – 15 February 2004

In a nutshell:

a.. Taupo's biggest biennial arts event, featuring international and NZ artists and performers.

b.. Theatre, music, cabaret, dance, visual arts, community events.

c.. Dates: 5 - 15 February 2004

d.. Opening weekend (Waitangi Weekend 6 - 8 February) - focus will be on a variety of events for the family.

e.. Festival website: http://www.taupofest.co.nz

f.. Full programme launched and public bookings open on 7 November 2003.

GENERAL BACKGROUND (for immediate use):

The fifth biennial Lake Taupo Arts Festival runs from February 5 to 15 with a lively programme of theatre, art, cabaret, music and dance in the evenings, as well as art exhibitions, artists at work, and a variety of lunchtime entertainment. Performers will also be working in schools, taking workshops in writing, song writing and performing skills, story telling and street theatre.

The 2004 Festival has attracted some top New Zealand musicians and dancers, and also features a strong theatre programme. A number of New Zealand and international Taupo Festival performers appear by arrangement with New Zealand Festival 2004.

Lake Taupo Arts Festival 2004 starts with a bang with "Wonderful Waitangi Weekend", 6 – 8 February. The opening weekend has a community focus and will feature a dynamic daytime programme of street theatre, juggling, story telling, jazz, children's theatre and a free community concert, while the evenings will offer a choice of music, cabaret, theatre and dance.

The 2004 Arts Festival will be working in tandem with the annual National Juggling Festival which will be held for the first time in Taupo. Taupo's Tongariro Domain will be the venue for the Juggling Olympics, featuring 100 or more jugglers in seriously fun competitions, and top NZ and international jugglers and acrobats will present The Great Juggling Show on Saturday 7 February.

New Zealand's very own touring cabaret venue, The Pacific Crystal Palace, will host the cabaret programme for the Festival. With its gorgeous interior, paua shell inlay, nikau palm stained glass, glitz and glamour, the Palace was a hit at the 2002 Festival. As well as hosting some lunchtime events The Pacific Crystal Palace will be a popular gathering place for arts fans before and after performances.

Other events take place in the Great Lake Centre Theatre, on the neighbouring Tongariro Domain, and in the streets of Taupo. Artists will also be working in schools throughout Taupo District, taking a variety of workshops in aspects of performance and writing.

The Festival will be officially launched on 6 November. The programme will be available in brochure form and on the Festival website from 7 November, when public bookings open at Ticketek.

Lake Taupo Arts Festival 2004 is presented by Lake Taupo Arts Festival Trust.

http://www.taupofest.co.nz

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS

HONORARY PATRON Mary Griffin

GOLD SPONSORS TrustPower, The Taupo Times, Kis Fm 93.5, Classic Hits Lakeland FM

SILVER SPONSORS Pak ‘N Save Taupo, Mighty River Power, Destination Lake Taupo, Total Transport Ltd

BRONZE SPONSORS Digithink, Wairakei Resort, Montana Wines, Replete Food Company, Tuaropaki Trust, Kura, Mulligans Public House and Brumby's Hot Bread Shop

MAJOR FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS Bay of Plenty Community Trust, Taupo District Council, Creative New Zealand, Lion Foundation (Easy Street & Finn MacCuhal’s Irish Pub), Tuwharetoa Trust Board (Hei Ara Kokiri Tuwharetoa Education Initiative), Scottwood Community Trust (Taupo Superbowl), Pub Charity (Kazbar and Sweethearts Kazino), Great Lake Centre

FESTIVAL SUPPORTER Taupo Community Arts Council

The Festival also has an enthusiastic group of Corporate and private PATRONS, and a FRIENDS organisation.

For more information about Lake Taupo Festival 2004 see... http://www.taupofest.co.nz

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