Stage set for wet-look act

Aotea Square becomes a set worthy of an Esther Williams 1940s Hollywood musical when the three-day Auckland Festival starts tomorrow night.

But rather than flutter boards, flouncy swimsuits and massed synchronised swimming, The Launching - partly sponsored by the Herald - will present modern dance, hip hop and opera.

PONDS.EDGE, the newly dubbed and damp temporary 2500 sq m pool within the square, will be closed off from 6.30 pm.

The venue will open at 7.30 pm with the performance running from Mayor Christine Fletcher's welcoming speech at 8.30 pm to the official opening by Prime Minister Helen Clark at 10.10 pm.

In between the speeches will be performances by regional Kapa Haka teams (8.35 pm), an orchestral piece (8.45 pm), Black Grace dance troupe (8.55 pm), Che Fu and the Auckland Philharmonia (9 pm), and a snippet of Gareth Farr's new opera So Far (9.30 pm).

The entire show will be repeated at the same time on Saturday and Sunday.

A festival wristband, free from any Ticketek or Westfield Shopping Town outlet, is needed to enter PONDS.EDGE. Access to the seated area in front of the Aotea Centre will cost $25.

The festival site has three entrances - through the Maori archway next to Planet Hollywood, down the steps on Queen St next to the Town Hall, and through the walkway running between the Bledisloe Building and the Force Complex.

Parking spaces in the Civic carpark can be pre-booked at $10.