Day One At The 2009 Festival Of Colour

PRESS RELEASE

Day One At The 2009 Festival Of Colour

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (April 28, 2009) – The third Festival of Colour opened today to sell out performances and the first of five world premieres.

The world premiere of Finders Keeper, the stunning new work by leading choreographer, Raewyn Hill, played to a full house. Portraying the emotional dynamics of a mother and child battling with a father’s controlling obsession with a caged songbird, the dance was both mesmerizing and evocative, leaving a lasting impression. Powerful choreography, a stage full of pure white feathers and the stark black and red set added to the drama of the work.

“The work had massive emotional power,” said festival director, Philip Tremewan. “At the end of the performance, the audience just sat there, digesting the emotions the dance evoked and that’s a good measure of the work’s impact - it’s a powerful response for a powerful work. The images stay with you for a long time.”

Finder Keepers tours to Clyde Memorial Hall on Thursday 30 April at 7.00pm with some tickets still available.

Earlier in the day the Infinity Crystal Palace programme opened with Serenata a Tre who took a lunchtime audience through a programme of classical and contemporary composers. In the evening, the spectacular Helen Medlyn played to a full house with her one “man” show, Hell, Man, packed full of wit, humour and remarkable singing.

Also playing to full houses on the first day was the second premiere, Witches Over Wanaka by local community theatre group, Flat Out Productions, which debuted at the Hawea Flat Hall to an appreciative local audience. Following the story of entrepreneur Mac who teams up with local property owner, Beth, it confronts the issues of development, greed, water rights and even sexuality. With its extraordinary three witches and very inventive set that reflects the tussock and rocks of Hawea, the play has four more sell-out performances at the Festival.

Down the road in Luggate, the ever popular New Zealand Army Dance Band raised the roof of the Luggate Hall while award-winning tango dancers, Ana and Fabio Robles got the audience doing moves they didn’t know they had in them!

The Festival of Colour continues until 3 May 2009 with tickets still available for a number of shows and is generously supported by Central Lakes Trust, The Community Trust of Otago, Creative New Zealand, Infinity Investment Group, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Aurora. For further information and ticket sales visit www.festivalofcolour.co.nz

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