A smash hit from Scotland, a super-ballerina, the poetry of an iconic singer/songwriter set to the music of a celebrated composer and a former economic adviser to Bill Clinton are all confirmed to appear in the 2008 NZ International Arts Festival. These world-class events are part of a diverse and entertaining programme of music, performance, literature and visual arts, which will be launched on 1 November 2007 and staged from 22 February to 16 March 2008 in Wellington."I have spent the last 16 months listening to the city and its communities in order to understand what makes the Festival tick and how best to serve NZ audiences," said the Festival's new Artistic Director, Lissa Twomey.

"I've structured a programme that I know will excite and invigorate, entertain and challenge and - most importantly - seize the public's imagination. I'm thrilled that I now have the opportunity to share some of these gems with you."

Black Watch - award-winning political theatre Straight from the National Theatre of Scotland, the smash hit of the 2006 Edinburgh Festival, Black Watch is a piece of physical political theatre from acclaimed Scottish writer Gregory Burke. Winner of four major Critics Awards last month, including Best Director and Best Ensemble, as well as a 2006 South Bank Show Theatre Award, the production dramatises Burke's conversations with former soldiers from the famed Scottish division who served in the Iraq War. This powerful play uses music, movement and song to catapult the audience between a pool room in Fife, Scotland, and the war-torn streets of Iraq, exploring the historical accomplishments versus the grim reality of modern warfare for one of the oldest of Scottish regiments, along the way.

Sacred Monsters - world-renowned dancers Sylvie Guillem and Akram Kahn In a Festival coup, super-ballerina Sylvie Guillem will make her debut in New Zealand performing the physically and emotionally compelling work Sacred Monsters with gifted contemporary dance exponent Akram Kahn. Guillem has inspired the greatest choreographers of our time, from Maurice Bejart and Mats Ek to Rudolf Nureyev.

Book of Longing - Philip Glass sets the poetry of Leonard Cohen to music Book of Longing is the long-awaited new concert work from legendary composer Philip Glass; a musical celebration of the provocative and playful poetry of internationally celebrated poet and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, this performance will be an Australasian premiere. The work sets poems from Leonard Cohen's book of the same name to music. Featuring a quartet of singers and a seven-piece instrumental ensemble drawn from indie rock, classical, and new-music circles, the rich, warm score incorporates 22 poems, spoken word and imagery that touch on love, humour and the provocative musings that ascribe to Cohen's superstar status.

Joseph Stiglitz headlines Writers and Readers Week Headlining the Writers and Readers Week will be Nobel Laureate (economics), John F Kennedy Memorial Fellow and former economic adviser to Bill Clinton, Joseph Stiglitz. A former chief economist of the World Bank, Stiglitz is a strong critic of the policies of international financial institutions, making him a hero among globalisation critics. He has expansively explored these issues in his books Globalization and Its Discontents and Making Globalization Work, and will talk comprehensively on the social, political, environmental and economic issues surrounding this subject which affect us all. The exciting programme of Writers and Readers Week events will involve leading writers and literary work from across the world and will take place on 11-16 March 2008. The Festival has released these events as part of their Season Ticket launch. Dedicated Festival goers take advantage of the Season Ticket to secure priority access for the hot ticket items of the Festival. Find out more by visiting the Festival's website. 17/7/07

Image: World-renowned dancers Sylvie Guillem and Akram Kahn unite for Sacred Monsters.