Aucklanders finally buying tickets for AK05 festival

Half woman, half man Judy Chicago and Jack London of Theatre Beating promote AK05. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Ticket sales for the Auckland AK05 Festival have almost doubled this week, after a slow and sweat-inducing start - for organisers at least.

AK05 publicist Amy Saunders said yesterday that three shows were almost sold out and others were filling fast.

Limited seats are available for John Adams' opera The Death of Klinghoffer, the adult puppet show Cabaret Decadanse and Zakir Hussain, master of the tabla, or Indian hand drum.

If shows sell out, there is no chance of an extended season, as most performers are booked for their next engagement.

"Aucklanders need to know that if they want to get good seats, they will have to book ahead," said Ms Saunders.

Aucklanders' leisurely ticket-buying habits are well known within the entertainment industry.

"I think they have too many other things on their plates," said Ms Saunders.

This year the Auckland Theatre Company is using text marketing to target a younger audience for their festival play, Niu Sila (New Zealand in Samoan), which opens at the Maidment Theatre next Friday.

Messages sent out by the company will promote seats at discounted prices for students, in the theatre-going it will become a habit.

AK05 opens tomorrow and runs until March 13. There are 64 events at 44 venues, with performers from 14 countries.

For a full programme and to book tickets, go to the AK05 website (see link below) or book at Ticketek.

To receive ATC texts, visit the ATC website (see link below) and click on 2econd unit and then join txt2u.