AUCKLAND2 - 20 March 2016 ARTS aaf.co.nz FREE FESTIVAL GUIDE aaf.co.nz4 - 22 March 2015 The James Plays Marama Sufjan Stevens Nixon in China p6 p18 p33 p28 MORE THEATRE DANCE MUSIC CIRCUS AND DREAMS INSIDE Welcome to HOT PICKS SEE PAGE 76 FOR EARLY BIRD Auckland Arts Festival OFFERS Nau mai haere mai ki Te Ahurei Toi o Ta-maki Makaurau The arts are like a waharoa to a new world, Other Festival shows feature moments in There are also many moments to laugh, a gateway to welcome you. So welcome history, how they have impacted on our to sing along, admire an artist and be to the Auckland Arts Festival where the world. Such as the establishment of the swept away with a story. There is magic programme crosses time, cultures, Stewart dynasty between warring tribes and memories a-plenty. borders and art forms and has diversity of Scotland in The James Plays and the Thanks to the many artists who have at its heart. meeting between President Nixon and Mao contributed their art to this Festival for Tzedong in John Adams’ opera Nixon in Millennia ago humans discovered fire all of us to experience. China. We move through time and see our and it changed the course of history. Fire world through a new lens. Thank you to all the funders, sponsors and remains an elemental force that people supporters whose generosity lets us bring from around the world, across cultures and We cross cultures with Neil Ieremia and the work of great artists to audiences religions, use to celebrate, to worship and Swee Boon Kuik’s choreography on Black across this wonderful city of ours. to remember. Julia Deans' song We Light Grace, and Nina Nawalowalo’s Marama. Fires says it beautifully…. We cross borders with m¡longa from the streets of Belgium to the calle of Buenos we light fire to not forget… Aires. And John Psathas’ No Man’s Land we light fire for the tears in our eyes finds one place where there are no borders. we light fire waiting for the sunrise…. we light fire in communion Art forms mingle in Te P and another year in a circle around the sun….. from Korea, The Chorus; Oedipus. In Ruaumoko performers and artists of all The Auckland Arts Festival opens with ages and communities join together to Carabosse’s Fire Garden where you can become one voice. Robinson Stephen Photograph: walk amongst the flaming sculptures and John Judge, Chair, be transformed. Carla van Zon, Artistic Director, David Inns, Chief Executive. their lives, contributes to Auckland being of a festival that is growing up. It is a From a capital of arts and entertainment. Many sign of how important this Festival has people have contributed to the growth of become that this year it has attracted Mayor this event since its humble beginnings and events as successful as The James Plays, I’m thrilled we are now at a stage where and the extraordinary opera, John Adams’ Len we have decided to make it an annual Nixon in China, involving a collaboration event. This puts Auckland on the same of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Brown cultural footing as Australian cities like and New Zealand Opera. This is widely Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane acknowledged as one of the 20th century’s Welcome to the YES, THIS IS AN AD. and Perth which all have annual festivals. greatest works for the opera stage. eighth Auckland Auckland has a diverse population. This It’s also pleasing to see events, like Arts Festival. diversity is truly reflected in a wide 360 ALLSTARS, that are so accessible for Despite appearances this is a sponsorship ad. Created to dollars in shredded New Zealand bank notes to play with. We spectrum of events showcasing our place our young people. highlight that Colenso BBDO is very proudly supporting made an eight-part online series for kids about experimenting and our people. Whilst Ruaumoko portrays our strong M ori identity Changes and Once again, we are spoilt for choice. Auckland Arts Festival. You might ask why would a with food. And we even came up with an actual car speed- Since becoming Mayor of Auckland, I Marama celebrate our growing Asia- have made no secret of my vision for Enjoy! communication company known for its creativity have such dial that allows children to handwrite the numbers, to make Pacific flavour. an ordinary looking ad. Especially in an arts programme. parents think harder about their speed. All these ideas had Auckland to be the world’s most liveable city. Support for arts and culture is pivotal Established and emerging Aotearoa Where’s the clever headline? The witty picture? Or at least, a one thing in common. They were all interesting. So they got to this and the Auckland Arts Festival, by talent, world-class international talent, creative use of our logo? Any logo? Well, truth is, we look for people talking. And therefore had people engaged with our bringing people together and enriching innovation and imagination are the drivers every opportunity not to do the expected. We’re not simply clients’ brands. In the end that’s what it’s all about. Getting about creating adverts, we’re about creating interesting. Sure, a result for our clients. Because something is really only Content interesting can still often be an ad. But more and more these worth doing if it's effective. A bit like this ad. Which, given Key Events ...............................6 Navigator Family Fun days it’s not. In the last year we’ve created petroleum out of that you’ve read all the way down to here, has done what Spiegeltent ............ 34-45 NZSL interpreted Show ideal for the whole family performance beer waste. We’ve launched a radio station for dogs to listen it was designed to do. Inform you that Colenso BBDO is a Calendar ........................40 to while their owners are out. We produced a breast cream very proud supporter of the Auckland Arts Festival. Now we Community ....... 51, 52, 57 Close Encounters Audio-described Visual Arts............... 58-67 A rare chance to hear artists discuss to encourage women to self examine as part of their beauty hope you’ll support them too by getting along to some of the their work, pre- or post-show. performance regime. We persuaded the Reserve Bank to give us millions of shows. Without doubt, they’re all interesting. Maps .........................74-75 Booking ...........................76 Booking more than one show? Use the shopping cart feature at www.aaf.co.nz Cover image: John Izatt www.aaf.co.nz New Zealand New CORE FUNDERS MAJOR GRANTS New Zealand New FUNDING PARTNERS GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORS S u s r p e p t r o o r t p e p r u s S INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS PLATINUM PATRONS BRONZE SPONSORS Peter Tatham and Adrian Burr Peter and Sue Cooper Sir Roderick and Gillian, Lady Deane Friedlander Foundation John Judge and Janet Clarke Andrew and Jenny Smith The Wallace Foundation Anonymous GOLD PATRON BRONZE PATRONS Kate Plaw Heather Simpson John Barnett Martin and Catherine Spencer John Billington QC Lady Philippa Tait SILVER PATRONS B & J Cadzow Family Trust Fred and Nicky Ward Jeremy Collins and Lindsay Thompson Rick and Jenny Carlyon Dame Jenny Gibbs John and Victoria Carter JADE PATRONS David Levene Foundation Rosslyn Caughey Stephen and Virginia Fisher Chris and Dayle Mace CORPORATE PATRONS Graham and Louise Cleary Jim Moser Geoff and Fran Ricketts John and Jo Gow Louise and Scott Wallace Sonbol and Farzbod Taefi Harmos Family Walker and Hall Trust Sally Woodfield and David Inns Derek and Christine Nolan Page 4 Page www.aaf.co.nz Scotland Photograph: Manuel Harlan. Photographs feature 2014 cast. Scotland “Furiously exciting. A high-stakes political thriller that never lets up ” TimeOut, UK “ Better than Shakespeare… Rona Munro's thrilling New Zealand Premiere trilogy could be the finest history plays ever penned” Daily Telegraph, UK Monumental, rich and utterly Written by award-winning writer Find out why 88,000 fans across The James Plays riveting The James Plays bring for stage and screen, Rona Munro Great Britain gave this powerhouse National Theatre of Scotland to life three generations of (Dr Who), directed by National production their seal of approval Stewart kings who ruled Scotland Theatre of Scotland’s Laurie and book your place at the banquet National Theatre of Great Britain in the tumultuous fifteenth Sansom and with a cast that table now. Edinburgh International Festival century. Historical drama for a includes Blythe Duff (Taggart), Scotland contemporary audience, the plays Steven Miller (Casualty) and John T h IN A NUTSHELL s e are more real, more epic, and Stahl (Game of Thrones), y a J Gripping writing /Blood, sweat l a P m equally addictive as any box set. The James Plays are event theatre s and tears you can taste / e e s at its best. m P Addictive event theatre a J l a e y h s T MORE TREACHERY AND SCHEMING THAN GAME OF THRONES IN ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORED BY A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN Page 6 Page National Theatre of Scotland is core funded by the Scottish Government www.aaf.co.nz Scotland Photograph: Robert Day New Zealand Premiere JAMES I JAMES II JAMES III Scotland THE KEY WILL KEEP THE LOCK DAY OF THE INNOCENTS THE TRUE MIRROR The James Plays Prisoner of England for 18 years, James is delivered Crowned King at age six, James II is a puppet in a Charismatic, cultured and obsessed with grand back to his homeland, with an English bride, to reign as vicious game between Scotland’s most powerful gestures, James III is loved and loathed.