Your Guide to the Auckland Arts Festival 2016

The Auckland Arts festival has come around once again, and this year looks set to be a goodie. There are some truly world class performers from both home and abroad on the bill; whether you have a thing for comedy, theatre, ballet, or maybe even a slightly concerning obsession with fire, this year's festival will have something to tickle your fancy. Below are a few of our personal highlights on the lineup.

The Chorus; Oedipus

The Chorus; Oedipus is a Korean theatre work that employs music, movement, and stage presence to re-create the well known Greek tragedy. The show was a box office hit at 2014’s Singapore International Arts Festival and March will mark the show’s New Zealand debut. It provides a unique opportunity to see how a tale that has been performed widely for over 2,500 years has been given a new lease of life by a culture much different from that of Ancient Greece.

March 17 - 20/Q Theatre - Rangatira 

Speed Of Light: Three Brilliant Dance Works

Speed of Light will be a combination of three larger-than-life contemporary classic ballet works showcasing the energy and precision of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. An opportunity to admire the artistic leadership of Francesco Ventriglia who has only been at the helm since 2014. The three works are Andonis Foniadakis’s Selon Désir, William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Alexander Ekman’s Cacti. 

March 2 - 6/SkyCity Theatre

Carabosse - Fire Garden

Combining flower pots, cast iron contraptions and music, the French Collective Carabosse will transform the rolling hills of the Auckland Domain into other worldly fire gardens. Walk through another time and space as musicians, dreamers, metal-workers, storytellers and old-soul fire-brands create a fairground to set your imagination free. Get there early and wear shoes.

March 4 - 6/Auckland Domain

Te Pō

Written by highly regarded Kiwi playwright Carl Bland, Te Pō takes a comedic look at love, loss, and the nature of existence. The story is said to follow three characters in search of legendary Kiwi playwright Bruce Mason. The Auckland Arts Festival will provide the stage for the world premiere of Te Pō. It features an absolute roll call of New Zealand theatre: written by Bland, directed by Ben Crowder, produced by Owen Hughes, and starring Bland, Andrew Grainger, and George Henare.

March 9 - 14/Q Theatre

Sufjan Stevens

Born in Detroit, Michigan but residing in Brooklyn, New York, Stevens paints pictures of time and place like no other with epic multi-instrumental pieces and sweeping spiritual allusions. His 2005 album Illinois is a must listen for anyone with a wandering mind. Stevens will perform songs from his most recent album Carrie and Lowell among other selections from previous efforts. He will come in tow with an eight-piece band, and a full blown lighting and video production. Also, it's at The Civic. This one is going to be a goodie.

March 8/The Civic

Dust to Dusky

This event follows in the footsteps of last year’s sold out Lady Sings the Blues (a tribute to blues diva Billie Holiday). This year, three of New Zealand’s leading ladies will pay tribute to the late, great, blue eyed, soul songstress Dusty Springfield in Dust to Dusky. Tami Neilson, Bella Kalolo and Anna Coddington will be putting their Aotearoa spin on the classic tunes of one of the most iconic voices in history.

March 2 - 5/Aotea Square

The James Plays

The James Plays are three separate historical tales that take a look at three generations of Scottish kings who ruled the highlands in the tumultuous fifteenth century. Direct from London’s West End, The James Plays have been highly touted, even receiving a five star review from The Telegraph who describe the shows as, “Better than Shakespeare.”

March 5 - 12/ASB Theatre

White Night

The all-night art event derives from the French festival Nuit Blanche, an initiative to make art and culture accessible to large audiences within public spaces. The free event will kick off at 6pm and go until midnight, inhabiting galleries, parks and the streets, with more than 100 locations across town. Visual art, illuminations, theatre, film, design and music will be on display to the public, making spectators fall in love with Auckland City all over again.

March 12/Central Auckland

La Cucina Dell'Arte - The Kitchen of Art

The worst kitchen in the world is on stage for your entertainment, as cutlery comes to life and chefs bungle and break everything in sight with romance and comedy unfolding around every corner. Brothers and master clowns Danny and David Ronaldo are the sixth generation of a famed Belgian circus family and bring all of their natural talent and creativity to this simple play, creating an instantly likeable and unique spectacle which has wowed several international audiences.

March 2 - 20/Aotea Centre