Theatres up and down the country will be home to a bewitching production as The NBR New Zealand Opera takes to the road with its National Tour of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

Kicking off in Kerikeri on Sunday 29 June, the all New Zealand cast and crew will travel more than 3,800 kilometres over 50 days, visiting 15 cities throughout the country: Kerikeri, North Shore, Manukau, Wanganui, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill, Wanaka, Greymouth, Hastings, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Tauranga.Theatres up and down the country will be home to a bewitching production as The NBR New Zealand Opera takes to the road with its National Tour of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

Kicking off in Kerikeri on Sunday 29 June, the all New Zealand cast and crew will travel more than 3,800 kilometres over 50 days, visiting 15 cities throughout the country: Kerikeri, North Shore, Manukau, Wanganui, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill, Wanaka, Greymouth, Hastings, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Tauranga.General Director of The NBR New Zealand Opera, Aidan Lang, says that on the surface Hansel and Gretel is just a popular fairytale, but it's an opera with real depth, working on different levels. "This is fairytale theatre," he says, "but with a real kick to it. It's enchanting, but it's also thought-provoking. It's an opera that draws the audience in. Theatrically, musically and visually, it's rich and absorbing and will provide adults and children alike with a memorable experience."

He adds that Hansel and Gretel is the perfect introductory opera for those who haven't experienced the thrill of the artform before. "The opera is sung in English; it's adapted from a story we all know; there are several well known songs and orchestral passages scattered throughout; the story line moves at a fast pace and it's not a long opera, at 1 hour 45 minutes plus interval."

Taking Hansel and Gretel north, south, east and west, is a professional ensemble of talented young faces alongside experienced, seasoned performers. Making his long-awaited opera directing debut is acclaimed theatre director and actor Michael Hurst.

Joining him is John Verryt, renowned for his dynamic, stylish design. Returning from overseas to play Hansel and Gretel are two of New Zealand's rising stars, mezzo-soprano Anna Pierard and soprano Ana James. Leading mezzo-soprano Helen Medlyn, who is highly regarded both in New Zealand and abroad, performs the roles of the Witch and the Mother. Graduate Emerging Artist James Harrison returns following an excellent portrayal of Valentin in 2006's Faust to play the Father, and two of The NBR New Zealand Opera's current PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists, Barbara Graham and Barbara Paterson, share the role of the Sandman/the Dew Fairy.

Sharing the conducting are Tecwyn Evans, who has worked with many of the well known British opera companies and festivals over the past decade, and The NBR New Zealand Opera's Michael Vinten. And in a new collaboration, core and associate players from the Christchurch Symphony join Hansel and Gretel for the South Island leg, while the North Island centres feature associate players from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Image: Hansel and Gretel on the road. Photo credit: Adrian Malloch

The National Tour of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel

KERIKERI
The Centre at Kerikeri
Sunday 29 June, 6.00pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.centakeri.com 0800 200 411

NORTH SHORE
Bruce Mason Centre
Thu 3 July, 7.30pm and Sat 5 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $48; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.co.nz 0800 111 999

MANUKAU
TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre
Monday 7 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $48; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

WANGANUI
Royal Wanganui Opera House
Wednesday 9 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

WELLINGTON
The Opera House
Sat 12 July, 7.30pm and Mon 14 July, 6.00pm
Tickets from $49.50; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 842 538

BLENHEIM
Marlborough Civic Theatre
Thursday 17 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $51; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

CHRISTCHURCH
Isaac Theatre Royal
Sat 19 July, 7.30pm and Mon 21 July, 6.00pm
Tickets from $50; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 842 538

TIMARU
Theatre Royal
Wednesday 23 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: Newmans Pianos, 03 688 5597

INVERCARGILL
Civic Theatre
Friday 25 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $41; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

WANAKA
Lake Wanaka Centre
Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 July, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

GREYMOUTH
Regent Theatre
Friday 1 August, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.regentgreymouth.co.nz 03 768 0920

HASTINGS
Hawke's Bay Opera House
Wednesday 6 August, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

NEW PLYMOUTH
TSB Theatre, TSB Showplace
Friday 8 August, 7.30pm
Tickets from $48; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 842 538

ROTORUA
Civic Theatre, Rotorua Convention Centre
Monday 11 August, 7.30pm
Tickets from $40; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 842 538

TAURANGA
Baycourt Theatre
Wednesday 13 August, 6.00pm
Tickets from $50; children 12 and under: $25
Bookings: www.ticketdirect.co.nz 0800 484 253

01/07/08