The arts in Hamilton are set to benefit from significant new funding awarded by Creative New Zealand.

The arts in Hamilton are set to benefit from significant new funding awarded by Creative New Zealand.

Under the Regional Arts Presenter fund that Creative New Zealand set up in 2010, the Central North Island Consortium (Hamilton, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki) were successful in securing funding of $400,000 over a three year period from 2011 to 2013 to arrange and execute tours of New Zealand arts to Hamilton, Hastings and Taranaki, as well as simultaneously build audiences through a tailored audience and market development programme.

Creative New Zealand chief executive Stephen Wainwright said ensuring regional access to the arts is an important part of Creative New Zealand’s mandate.

Hamilton’s involvement in the Central North Island Consortium is an ongoing collaboration between Hamilton City Theatres and the Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Waikato, with its venue partners in Taranaki and Hawkes Bay.

In 2011 the Central North Island Consortium will bring three New Zealand theatre productions to Hamilton’s Clarence St Theatre and the Telecom Playhouse at the Academy of Performing Arts, as well as Taranaki’s Theatre Royal TSB Showplace and the Hawkes Bay Opera House.

Hamilton City Councillor Daphne Bell, who is chair of Council’s Creative Communities Steering Group, said the Creative New Zealand funding is significant for Hamilton and the surrounding region, and will enable the touring of New Zealand works which would ordinarily not be available to local audiences.

“By bringing these quality New Zealand works to Hamilton it helps build a thriving theatre community which benefits everyone – as audiences get to attend and enjoy these events, and students and practitioners are given access to development opportunities such as workshops and coaching,” said Cr Bell.

In 2011 the Central North Island Consortium will be presenting three New Zealand theatre productions.

The first production, Havoc in the Garden by Massive Company, will be held at Clarence St Theatre on 12-13 April, direct from the Auckland International Festival of the Arts 2011. Written by acclaimed British playwright and actor Lennie James (star of Sahara and Snatch) and directed by Sam Scott, Havoc in the Garden unearths the fault lines hidden just beneath the surface of family life. It stars an exciting multi-cultural cast of New Zealand's emerging and established theatre practitioners, including Wesley Dowdell who starred in Outrageous Fortune, and features music and sound designed by accomplished musician Tama Waipara. A devised theatre workshop for students and practitioners will be held alongside the production at Waikato University on 14 April.

The second production, Station to Station takes place at Clarence St Theatre on 1-2 July. Crackling with wit and intelligence, Station to Station is a darkly funny new play by Bruce Mason Award winning playwright Michael Galvin (best known for his long-running television role as Chris Warner on Shortland Street).It was well received by audiences and critics alike when it premiered at The Herald Theatre, Auckland.

The third, as yet unannounced, production will be held in Hamilton at The Playhouse Theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts later this year

The Central North Island Consortium has just attended New Zealand’s performing arts market in Auckland and already has plans underway for the 2012 programme.

Media Release: Hamilton City Council