The Taranaki Festival of the Arts will be happening from 26 July - 12 August this year, with more than 80 national and international performances lined up. "The depth of the festival programme is exciting and, while we have had international acts in the past, this year we have a huge contingent," says Artistic Director Roger King.

Image: Australia's premier circus, Circus Oz.The Taranaki Festival of the Arts will be happening from 26 July - 12 August this year, with more than 80 national and international performances lined up. "The depth of the festival programme is exciting and, while we have had international acts in the past, this year we have a huge contingent," says Artistic Director Roger King.

Image: Australia's premier circus, Circus Oz.Celebrating Len Lye

Central to this year's Festival is a celebration of the life and works of one of New Zealand's most well known artists: Len Lye. The festival opens with Len Songs, a juxtaposition of Lye's films such as Free Radicals, Rainbow Dance, Trade Tattoo and Tusalava, with contemporary music composed by Eve de Castro Robinson and performed by renowned musicians like Helen Medlyn, Justine Cormack, Peter Scholes amongst others.

The closing night of the festival sees the premiere of Zig Zag, an explosion of vision and sound revealing Lye's work in a radically modern way. Using sound and visuals from Lye's kinetic sculptures, musicians Steve Roche, Janet Roddick, David Long, Jeff Henderson and Chris O'Connor have created an experimental music score; at the same time visual performer Tim Grúchy uses the latest in digital technology to create an enormous visual backdrop that explores Lye's lifelong interests in rhythm and movement.

International acts

The international acts include Circus Oz, renowned for their slightly naughty, chaotic and death-defying spectacles. Think No Evil Of Us: My Life With Kenneth Williams is a semi-autobiographical story of the connection actor David Benson shares with the legendary Carry On actor. The dark and sultry performances of Azaria Universe, Yumi Umiumare and Moira Finucane will also delight festival audiences with The Burlesque Hour, and there will be two performances by internationally acclaimed satirist Ennio Marchetto.

The local line-up

Among the New Zealanders in the line-up, Toa Fraser and Don McGlashan's theatrical collaboration Colossus of Roadies follows the most unlikely of heroes on a quest to return to mortality. Comedy troupe Naked Samoans return to the stage with Naked Samoans Go Home. Hatch and Niu Sila also feature.

The festival is also hitting the road with the Heartland tour, taking Australian comedy trio Tripod and MC Pinky Agnew on tour around the mountain to some of the finest community halls in Taranaki.

Check out the festival programme for a full list of shows.

28/5/07