Mad Jack stalks the stage in festival fun

Michael Hurst and Anna Hewlett in the AK05 production of "Jack and the Beanstalk". Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

A very curly beanstalk rises tentatively into the air to the music from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Waving his arms about like a snake charmer Michael Hurst cries "Faster, now slower ... doesn't it look great?"

From the dark of the St James Theatre an actor retorts, "Reminds me of a tapeworm." Then drily adds: "I can't wait to see the big one."

Down it comes, a massive gnarly legume-like object, onto the stage.

Another actor: "I don't get it, it looks like a huge thing flying in rather than magic."

Hurst, director of Jack in the Beanstalk for the AK05 festival, is undeterred.

"It's going to have heaps of smoke, it doesn't matter. It's a fantastic image."

It's only a couple of days until Friday, when the pantomime he has written opens and after just a couple of weeks of rehearsals he is only thinking good things.

Hurst says his "mad" show will appeal "from five years to old people".

And there'll be 14 opportunities to see it before it closes on March 6.

AK05

* When: Friday February 25 to March 13. Opening celebration: Saturday in Aotea Square.

* What: Includes dance, music, poetry, and drama, art exhibitions, photography and sculpture.

* How to book: Through Ticketek by phone, online, in person (some events have door sales). For more information phone (09) 307-50733 or visit the AK05 website (see link below)