Festival Of Colour Takes To The Stage

Festival Of Colour Takes To The Stage

Leading national and international performers join together to create a vibrant line-up of stage performances at the 2007 Southern Lakes Festival of Colour next month.

From comedy to classics, innovative music displays to mystery and surprise the theatrical productions will appeal to budding thespians or to groups of friends and family for an entertaining evening.

Fresh from their seasons up north come two original comedies The Tutor and Hatch both produced by The Auckland Theatre Company, the country’s number one production house. The programme also includes quality Australian shows, Odyssey and The Lab, as well as local talent from the region.

The award-winning comedy, The Tutor, heads the line-up. The play, nominated for four Chapman Tripp Awards and winner of Best New New Zealand Play, portrays three men, a right-wing father, the egotistical son and the left-wing tutor, on the collision course of life. Funny and topical, it takes digs at all sides and is testament to writer Dave Armstrong’s keenly observant sense of humour. Due to overwhelming customer demand – a further performance of this show has been scheduled.

Voted the top production at a recent Christchurch Arts Festival, ‘Odyssey’ plays out the journey of the Greek adventurer, and takes the audience on a comical journey through Greek mythology. Odysseus fights at Troy, invents the wooden horse, destroys his enemies and encounters Cyclops and beautiful goddesses along his way. Performed by Australian actor Andreas Litras, this play offers brilliant twists as he interweaves the modern day story of his own Greek parents migrating to Melbourne to set up a fish and chip shop.

The Lab is a performance of two innovative and inventive scientist-musicians who use water, fire and glass to create a symphony of unbelievable sounds. Linsey Pollak and Graeme Leak produce a magical sensory treat with the imaginative use of test tubes, pipettes, glass bowls and other paraphernalia from the science classrooms. This is an entertaining musical performance the whole family will enjoy.

One man, three million penguins and an obsession with oil, Hatch or The Plight of the Penguins is one of the most bizarre chapters of New Zealand history. It is bought to stage with both humour and a touch of the dark side. Hatch seeks public support to clear his name over controversially slaughtering millions of penguins on Macquarie Island for their oil. See and hear the evidence yourself as this outlandish and wily man defends his actions. This production comes fresh from its successful Auckland premiere season.
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A solo work, Playing Miss Havisham is an intimate comedy with music, surprise and an array of endearing characters. When a film-maker offers Claudia a way out of her humdrum life with a role in the remake of Great Expectations she seizes the chance to recover something of her lost self. As she prepares for the role Claudia finds her own life takes on the twists and turns of a Dickens novel. Performed by award-winning actress Helen Moulder.

“Having such a wide array of entertaining theatrical productions will ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy,” said festival director Philip Tremewan. “Many of the shows are on national tours and I am delighted they have included the Southern Lakes region in their programme and would encourage people to get their tickets early to save disappointment.”

All theatre productions can be seen in Wanaka while Hatch and Playing Miss Havisham will also visit surrounding districts as part of the Festival touring programme.

The Festival of Colour runs from April 24 to 29 featuring six days and nights of art, drama, music, comedy and dance from national and international artists and performers, set against the autumnal backdrop of Lake Wanaka. Tickets are available from TicketDirect outlets nationwide or through the Festival web site at www.festivalofcolour.co.nz together with full details of the programme.

ENDS

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