A big bang, dancing Daleks, a soul singer beloved by rappers, a True Blood star in a one-man play, an Australian circus crew and Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton are all included in the 2014 line-up for next year's New Zealand Festival.
The biennial event, running for 24 days from February 21 to March 16 at venues across Wellington, takes a typically eclectic approach with its new line-up, which includes 300 events ranging from arts to culture, music, literature and theatre shows.
The event kicks off with a big bang - literally - thanks to a giant party in Wellington's Civic Square that includes a performance by 200 young New Zealand drummers, 300 singers from community choirs, ensemble Strike Percussion and roots rockers Kora all on the same stage.
Image 1 of 6: Beyond Circa's Andy Phillipson.
Perhaps the biggest drawcard is Beyond, a circus performance from Brisbane-based company Circa that will include eight dates during the festival. Described as an examination of the "human body's fragile and astonishing beauty'", performers claim to invert traditional gender roles while utilising everything from blindfolds to animal costumes and a Rubik's Cube.
