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The Festival of Colour returned to the shores of autumnal Lake Wanaka from 28 April to 3 May with performances from local, national and international acts, together with shows from some of New Zealand's pre-eminent writers and artists.

Day Six – Sunday May 3

The final day featured the sell-out world premiere of Mike Nock’s new work, Southern Suite, performed by Michael Houstoun and Diedre Irons. If the calibre of the music and its performance wasn’t sublime enough, it was further enhanced by a camera above the keyboard, showing the audience the amazing dynamics of fingers and keys, as performed by two of New Zealand’s finest pianists.

Earlier in the day, the Sunday Brunch show by Tui Award winners, Delgirl was packed to the gunnels, as was Classics Up Close, a special classical musical show for youngsters by the New Zealand String Quartet that featured special guests, the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra went on to raise the roof of the Infinity Crystal Palace in the final performance of the week and ending a sell out tour of the region. One of the most extraordinary touches of the evening was when the New Zealand String Quartet came on stage to play an eclectic mix of ELO, Rossini and The Beatles, returning the compliment from earlier in the day.

The Aspiring Conversations programme finished with lively debate between Hamish Keith and Minister of Arts, Christopher Finlayson over the subject, “What use is art?”. Keith likened art to air “we can’t do without it” while Finlayson said, “The arts are as fundamental as roads, the issue is how do we make sure the arts flourish?” The debate came later when TVNZ came under fire, together with the hidden gems of Te Papa.

The four Artists at Work, Simon Kaan, Areta Wilkinson, Michel Tuffery and Martin Hill, presented their discoveries and works for Pouwhenua (markers on the land). Using local flora, imagery and ancient names and texts, the results of their weeklong project were very diverse. Some, such as Martin Hill’s raupo circle were finished and temporary, others, such as Areta Wilkinson’s, will use the information they gathered here for ongoing work.

Day Five - May 2

The penultimate day of the Festival of Colour saw the streets of Lake Wanaka come alive with street artist, stilt walkers, buskers and tango dancer, with hundreds of people crowding into downtown Wanaka to enjoy the free entertainment.

In the Aspiring Conversations programme, politics was the order of the day with former Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, who gave his informed viewpoint of the current economic situation and New Zealand’s position in the world as a result. He expressed his hope that the crash would encourage the world to develop policies to prevent the rich getting more and the rest missing out and that we can’t just hope that the issues surrounding the world’s unsustainable economic structure will go away.

“New Zealand in the world after economic meltdown can be a much better place if courageous leaders step forward and lead,” he said.

He was followed by British High Commissioner, George Fergusson, who discussed the relationship between Britain and New Zealand, how it has changed and evolved from both countries’ point of view.

In a performance that brought a new dimension to a classical music concert, the highly acclaimed New Zealand String Quartet combined the work of Haydn: The Seven Last Words from the Cross, the images of Nigel Brown and the poetry of Dinah Hawken, read by the poet herself in-between movements.

“The combination of 200-year-old music with modern day video, images and poetry made for a wonderful experience,” said festival director, Philip Tremewan.

The warm, gravelly voice of LA Mitchell lit up the Infinity Crystal Palace with a sparkling collection of seductive soul and jazz, much to the delight of the packed venue. Emerging singer, Jess Chambers closed the hugely popular Late Night Club programme with her soaring voice echoing through the night, accompanied by Justin ‘Firefly’ Clarke, his acoustic guitar rhythms a perfect match to Chambers’ crystal clear voice.

Day Four - May 1

Lake Wanaka turned French today with accordion players on the street, cafe owners and shop staff dressed a la francais, served French food and in the evening crowded into the world premiere of Le Sud, the new political satire by renowned playwright, Dave Armstrong. Received to rapturous applause and hilarious laughter, it was declared a resounding success with all three shows at the Festival sold out.

Earlier in the day, audiences in the Infinity Crystal Palace were gripped by two Aspiring Conversations sessions from foreign correspondent, Christina Lamb. The first session saw her discuss the political situations in Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Afganistan. In her eyes Zimbabwe is the most heartbreaking story she has ever covered, watching it turn to ruin from one of the most affluent and educated African countries while she considered Pakistan the most dangerous country in the world. Her first hand account of the Bhutto bus bomb was compelling.

Her second session focused on her experience as a war reporter and again she astounded the audience with her stories of sheer bravery in her commitment to get the story told. “Sometimes I wonder if people really care – my job is to make them care and to give them some understanding of what’s happening out there. I try and talk to the people behind the lines, trying to get on with everyday life; to feed, clothe and educate their children – they are the heroes, not those fighting on the front line.”

The touring programme saw the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra in Arrowtown, Strange Resting Places in Glenorchy, the New Zealand Army Dance Band in Clyde and Witches Over Wanaka in the Masonic Lodge while the day closed with performances from SJD and a late night session from Michel Tuffery and DJ Anton Carter with Waves of Laughter.

Day Three - April 30

It was a day of contrasts on the third day of the Festival of Colour with dogs, columnists, poets and some slightly loopy sisters packing the venues.

In what festival director, Philip Tremewan, said was “the best session yet” of Aspiring Conversations, award-winning poet Glenn Colquhoun gave an articulate insight into the mind that creates such masterpieces as Playing God and The Art of Walking Upright. “We are hugely privileged to be alive and most of the time we forget that the world is full of exquisite moments and poetry is about those moments. To write is exhilarating, whether published or not.”

In his session, “Where Underpants Come From”, renowned columnist and author Joe Bennett was equally articulate with his keenly observed account of his journeys in China, following the trail of his cheap undies from The Warehouse. In true Bennett style, he was easily led onto other topical issues with hilarious and frank observations that most people would be afraid to admit but all could relate to.

Hundreds of school children crowded into three performances of Tale of A Dog, enchanting children aged from two to six with its circus-inspired story of triumph over adversity. Further afield, touring audiences enjoyed performances of the New Zealand Army Band, Strange Resting Places and Finders Keepers in Hawea, Bannockburn and Clyde.
The Kransky Sisters had the Infinity Crystal Palace audience in stitches with their quirky show that has won awards around the world. From their deadpan dialogue to the humorous song covers, their unique brand of humour kept the packed Palace rolling with laughter late into the night.

Day Two - April 29

Renowned environmentalist, Bill McKibben from the USA, today marked the start of the Festival of Colour’s Aspiring Conversations programme. Following his two compelling talks on the impacts of global warming and how it can be dealt with, the audience was left in no doubt about the urgency of addressing climate change.

He said that while it was important for each household and each community to make changes to reduce carbon emissions, the only way to get the necessary 80% cut in carbon emissions was dramatic emergency action that could only come from the politicians. He outlined how every community around the world, however big or small, could influence the psychological bar at the forthcoming COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference through the 350.org movement.

“Today was a real substantial engagement with issues which is exactly what we wanted Aspiring Conversations to be,” said festival director, Philip Tremewan. “Tomorrow the tone will be lighter, but the subject no less serious, with Joe Bennett’s experience of the Chinese economic renaissance and the on Friday we gain a privileged insight into the world of renowned war reporter, Christina Lamb.”

Other highlights of the second day of the Festival of Colour included the preview of Le Sud in Clyde, in preparation for the world premiere on Friday 1 May when Wanaka will turn French for the day. Witches Over Wanaka, Strange Resting Places and the New Zealand Army Dance Band continued to play to full houses while the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra kicked off the touring programme in Glenorchy to standing room only.

The day closed to the sultry beats of Mamaku Project who had the packed Infinity Crystal Palace entranced by their French bohemian melodies intertwined with moody dub, jazz and a touch of the Middle East combined with a very impressive theatrical presence.

Day One – April 28

The third Festival of Colour opened today to sell out performances and the first of five world premieres.
The world premiere of Finders Keeper, the stunning new work by leading choreographer, Raewyn Hill, played to a full house. Portraying the emotional dynamics of a mother and child battling with a father’s controlling obsession with a caged songbird, the dance was both mesmerizing and evocative, leaving a lasting impression. Powerful choreography, a stage full of pure white feathers and the stark black and red set added to the drama of the work.

“The work had massive emotional power,” said festival director, Philip Tremewan.  “At the end of the performance, the audience just sat there, digesting the emotions the dance evoked and that’s a good measure of the work’s impact - it’s a powerful response for a powerful work. The images stay with you for a long time.”

Finder Keepers tours to Clyde Memorial Hall on Thursday 30 April at 7.00pm with some tickets still available.
Earlier in the day the Infinity Crystal Palace programme opened with Serenata a Tre who took a lunchtime audience through a programme of classical and contemporary composers. In the evening, the spectacular Helen Medlyn played to a full house with her one “man” show, Hell, Man, packed full of wit, humour and remarkable singing.

Also playing to full houses on the first day was the second premiere, Witches Over Wanaka by local community theatre group, Flat Out Productions, which debuted at the Hawea Flat Hall to an appreciative local audience. Following the story of entrepreneur Mac who teams up with local property owner, Beth, it confronts the issues of development, greed, water rights and even sexuality.  With its extraordinary three witches and very inventive set that reflects the tussock and rocks of Hawea, the play has four more sell-out performances at the Festival.

Down the road in Luggate, the ever popular New Zealand Army Dance Band raised the roof of the Luggate Hall while award-winning tango dancers, Ana and Fabio Robles got the audience doing moves they didn’t know they had in them!