The Ten Best Events to Check Out at the 2017 Auckland Arts Festival

From multi-sensory installations, an off-beat cabaret with flapping appendages, and a Shortland Street musical.

Stephen Heard
Published on March 08, 2017

For the next 19 days, the Auckland Arts Festival will engulf Tamaki Makaurau in vibrant music, dance, theatre and art. The 2017 festival is the last under the wing of Artistic Director Carla van Zon before her retirement. As something of a blowout, she's bulked up the program with seven world premieres and 23 New Zealand premieres and events exclusive to Auckland. There are nearly 50 individual events this year, delivered by nearly 1000 artists, from 20 countries. We've narrowed it down to ten for you, including everything from a real-time thriller to multisensory installations, an offbeat cabaret with flapping appendages, and a Shortland Street musical.

List

Map

Event
Power Plant

Wed, 8 Mar - Sun, 19 Feb 2017
Auckland Domain, Auckland

A glittering nocturnal symphony.

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Event
Horror

Tue, 21 Mar - Sun, 26 Mar 2017
The Civic, Auckland

A homage to the slasher classics of yesteryear.

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Event
Peer Gynt (Recycled)

Multiple single dates
ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland

Follow one of literature's most charismatic anti-heroes as he returns from an intrepid adventure to confront his past.

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Event
White Night

Sat, 18 Mar, 2017
All across Auckland, Auckland

See the city like you never have before.

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Event
Rufus Wainwright

Wed, 22 Mar, 2017
ASB Theatre, Auckland

Revel in the nostalgia of show tunes and the understated drama of popera.

Buy Tickets

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Event
ANTARCTICA: while you were sleeping

Fri, 24 Mar - Sun, 26 Mar 2017
Auckland War Memorial Museum, Parnell

Experience the desolate, bone-chilling continent in your own backyard.

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Event
Between the Dog and the Wolf

Tue, 14 Mar - Sat, 18 Mar 2017
Basement Theatre, Auckland

A place for a well-needed conversation.

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Event
RAW: Shortland Street - The Musical

Tue, 14 Mar, 2017
The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland

The most exciting development for the soap since 'penis-gate'.

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Event
La Soiree

Wed, 8 Mar - Sun, 26 Mar 2017
Aotea Square, Auckland

Decadent and downright dangerous.

Buy Tickets

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Event
Respect

Wed, 22 Mar - Fri, 24 Mar 2017
Aotea Square, Auckland

Paying tribute to the feminist anthem and the queen of soul.

Buy Tickets

{"id":612624,"type":"event","icon":"calendar","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003EWednesday 22nd March - Friday 24th March\u003Cbr\u003E@ Aotea Square\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"Respect","description":"Paying tribute to the feminist anthem and the queen of soul.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/respect-120x120.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/respect.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/auckland\/event\/respect","latitude":"-36.8518572","longitude":"174.7623416","address":"50 Mayoral Drive","booking":" \u003Csection class=\"book black ga-send\" data-current-type=\"tribe_events\" \u003E\n \u003Ca class=\"book_online_anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ticketmaster.co.nz\/Respect-tickets\/artist\/2304435\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\n \u003Ci class='ph ph-ticket'\u003E\u003C\/i\u003EBuy Tickets\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/section\u003E","archive":{"title":"Event","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/auckland\/events"},"banners":[{"src":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/respect.jpg","width":1280,"height":781,"alt":""}]}

The Ten Best Events to Check Out at the 2017 Auckland Arts Festival

Power Plant

Horror

Peer Gynt (Recycled)

White Night

Rufus Wainwright

ANTARCTICA: while you were sleeping

Between the Dog and the Wolf

RAW: Shortland Street - The Musical

La Soiree

Respect

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The Ten Best Events to Check Out at the 2017 Auckland Arts Festival

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