2007 National Arts Fest programme launched

Media release: October 19, 2006

International performers bound for Wellington…
Capital E launches 2007 National Arts Festival programme

It’s back! The award-winning Capital E National Arts Festival will once again blast Wellington with its colour, creativity and fun. New Zealand’s biggest arts festival for children will present another incredible line-up of international and local professional performers, 12-24 March 2007.

40,000 programmes will be launched to the Wellington region this week, with further distribution and promotional material sent to schools nationwide. Copies will be readily available from cafes, venues and family events throughout the city or from Capital E, ph 04 913 3720, capitalefestival@wmt.org.nz

The programme is amazing, with professional acts from Australia, North America and Asia as well as the pick of New Zealand talent and creativity. With five world premieres, the third biennial Capital E National Arts Festival promises to be diverse, bizarre, inspiring, unique and a frenzy of fun! It’s a celebration of performing arts of the highest calibre, especially developed for children and their families. Here are some highlights:

- Australian Linsey Pollak creates music from a bicycle in his brilliant show Cycology! World-renowned for making music from carrots, chairs and even blow-up frogs.

- Native American Kevin Locke presents Hoop of Life. His spectacular mastery of Lakota Sioux hoop dancing and award-winning traditional flute playing is captivating.

- Sharon, Keep Ya Hair On from Patch Theatre Company in Australia is based on Gillian Rubinstein’s books. It’s a fully-fledged rock musical using a high-energy mix of live music and song, multimedia, wondrous gadgetry and plenty of audience participation.

- Wellington’s Ake Ake Theatre Company brand new show Ship Song looks at migration; it’s a universal tale of crossing over, characters fly high and slither low as they tell of their ocean journeys.

- Spinning Mountain is a new production from Capital E National Theatre for Children in collaboration with international and local artists. Original music performed live by acclaimed composers Gareth Farr and I Wayan Gde Yudane.

- The Animal Undie Ball combines contemporary dance with one of New Zealand’s most popular children’s books by renowned author Ruth Paul. A toe tapping, hip swinging, hands clapping great time from the Java Dance Company.

- The Green Sheep from Australia’s Windmill Performing Arts is set in an interactive environment inspired by Mem Fox's award-winning book. Children will join in the search for the elusive Green Sheep.

- Internationally acclaimed puppeteer, Rebekah Wild, brings the classic, Celtic tale of The Selkie Bride to New Zealand for the first time.

Plus there’s more… watch out for Richard Nunns, Footnote Dance Company, Free Family Events in Civic Square, The Dominion Post Create-It Carnival and GlobalFest.

ENDS

www.capitale.org.nz

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