Arts go all out for new Bay festival

Tickets to comedy shows such as Michele A'Court's Stuff I Forgot to Tell My Daughter are selling fast ahead of Hawke's Bay's inaugural Arts Festival -Festival director Pitsch Leiser

Arts enthusiasts are counting down to the region's inaugural celebration of culture and entertainment.

There is less than a month to go in the countdown to Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival.

Beginning on October 27, the event aims to showcase a variety of acts from New Zealand and around the globe.

Over 13 days locals have the chance to soak up a host of music, dance, theatre, comedy and circus, running alongside an inspiring series of literary events hosted by some of the country's best-loved authors.

"With a packed programme of events that caters to all tastes, arts lovers won't be disappointed," festival director Pitsch Leiser said.

"We've deliberately programmed an eclectic blend of big names, emerging acts and fringe performances."

Tickets are selling like hot cakes with headline acts including Knee Deep from Australia's renowned Casus circus and homegrown groups like The Modern Maori Quartet and Pass the Gat, featuring local talent Thomas Oliver.

People are also prepared to laugh with Mark Hadlow's Mamil (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) and Michele A'Court's Stuff I Forgot to Tell My Daughter proving popular options.

Hawke's Bay performers include Margot Wuts - with a tribute to music legend Nina Simone - while her equally talented siblings, Anna and Tom Pierard, will present The Singing Lesson in conjunction with Project Prima Volta.

Children's theatre and dance would ensure family fun, Mr Leiser said. "For the very young we have Caterpillars, which won Best Costume and Best of Theatre at the 2015 Auckland Fringe, and Dirt and other Delicious Ingredients, a magical performance combining dance, music and theatre.

"Slightly older children will love Beards! Beards! Beards!, awarded Best Theatre at the 2015 Dunedin Fringe Festival, and families of all ages will be captivated by the hilarious Double Derelicts which combines hip hop, improvisation, clowning and good old-fashioned fun."

There are also a few hidden gems, such as critically acclaimed Australian flamenco troupe Arte Kanela, and sultry Brazilian-born songstress Alda Rezende singing highlights from The Tom Jobim Songbook.

Theatre picks cover fringe offerings with quirky titles such as Banging Cymbal Clanging Gong, On the Conditions and Possibilities of Hillary Clinton Taking Me as Her Young Lover.

"These are the sorts of shows that arts festivals are made of," Mr Leiser said.

"I hope people are willing to step outside of their normal comfort zones and experience some of the edgier shows on offer.

"Playing host to the inaugural Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival is The Famous Spiegeltent - an art deco-styled tent of mirrors, which will be erected in Havelock North Domain for the duration of the festival.

It's fitting that our first festival is being housed in such a magnificent setting.

The Famous Spiegeltent is a truly spectacular venue - it's virtually an act in itself."

?To obtain more information or to buy tickets to the Hawke's Bay Today-supported event, go to www.hbaf.co.nz.