'The Haka Party' is a piece of theatre talking about a 'pivotal' moment in NZ history. Photo / Rachel Chapman
'The Haka Party' is a piece of theatre talking about a 'pivotal' moment in NZ history. Photo / Rachel Chapman
The seventh annual Hawke's Bay Arts Festival promises to be more culturally diverse and audience-focused than before.
Festival director Pitsch Leiser said the festival would showcase 65 shows over a two week period in October.
He said it offered a diverse celebration across a range of art forms, including theatre,music, dance, opera, comedy, family events, visual arts and a weekend of literary events.
"There are a range of beautifully crafted works for the audience," he said.
"On the opening night, in partnership with the Napier Municipal Theatre, we are presenting Mana Wahine - a free event to celebrate the start of the festival, and to give our audience the best chance to see the best in Māori dance.
"It's a beautiful, contemporary dance which talks to the strength of women. We want it to be accessible for everyone."
Mrs Krishnan's Party invites the audience to participate. Photo / Rachel Chapman
He said other festival highlights included the 'Haka Party Incident'.
"It talks about a pivotal moment in history, and reflects a bit on where we come from," he said.
It resurrects the eventful day when a group of University of Auckland engineering students rehearsing their annual tradition of a mock haka were confronted by the activist group, He Taua, in 1979.
Violence erupted that sent ripples through the nation and changed race relations in New Zealand forever.
Leiser said theatre like 'Mrs Krishnan's Party', produced by renowned Indian Ink Theatre Company, celebrated the cultural diversity of Aotearoa in a "most delightful" manner.
"It's the most delightful theatre piece you can choose," he said.
"We step into the backroom of Mrs Krishnan's dairy and we've all been invited by her nephew to celebrate Onam with her. We (the audience) surprise her."
He added that musical acts like 'Che Fu and the Kratez's Return of the Navigator' was all about connection and harking back to the early days of R&B in New Zealand.
"Twenty years ago he brought R&B to New Zealand, and his music, which we still sing now, is all about connection."
Che Fu will be bringing his signature Polynesian sounds mixed with reggae, soul, and hip hop to the festival. Photo / Rachel Chapman
He said the programme, overall, was about the same size as last year in terms of performances.
"But last year, because of Covid, people were still a bit hesitant about attending," he said.
"This year we are expecting a good turnout - people are excited."
He said the festival was bringing back the 'Festival Hub' after a one year hiatus.
"With manākitanga at its heart, the Festival Hub will regularly transform from cabaret lounge, to pumping dance club, etc and people will get a chance to get together and relax," he said.
"The programme is quite culturally diverse, we want to tell stories of New Zealand in its diversity, and it will attract a more diverse audience.
"We invite our audience to be open, and try to experience something new and view art as a medium that transforms experiences, and experience storytelling in all its forms."
The festival will run from October 16 to 31 and more information about performances can be found online.
