Quality line up for arts festival

More than 400 art lovers gathered to find out what was on the programme for this year's Tauranga Arts Festival.

The official launch of the festival was held last night at Baycourt, where festival director Jo Bond and chairman of the board Glenn Dougal revealed the line-up of more than 80 performances of theatre, dance, music, writers, circus and visual arts.

Ms Bond said the festival had a programme which would appeal to everyone.

"Tauranga is a growing city and as the population shifts there is a growing demand for quality arts programming, a sign of a city that appreciates that live storytelling is the backbone, and the heart, of any and every community."

Festival spokeswoman Claire Mabey said the launch was a "major success". She said Mayor Stuart Crosby opened the evening with a "very passionate" speech.

"We had a great reaction from the audience when we revealed the programme," she said.

"It's been fantastic."

She said highlights of the programme included The Brave, in which the confessions of eight young men reveal what it means to be brave in New Zealand today and Live at Six which she said would rev up the audience as smartphone users became part of the action in this black comedy.

The first show of the festival is Knee Deep, a circus experience from Australian circus company, Casus.

The Tauranga Arts Festival runs from October 24 to November 3. Tickets are on sale now from Baycourt Ticketdirect. For more information visit www.taurangafestiva.co.nz