Arts
St Matthews gets new organ – only 100 years late
The congregation of Auckland inner city church St Matthew-in-the-City may have waited more than a century for the development but this month finally sees the installation of a full-sized organ that has taken years of fundraising.
The new organ was built over two-and-a-half-years by Henry Willis & Sons Organ Builders in Liverpool, England. The company was chosen [...]
Going to the flicks will survive – it’s the experience
In an age of home theatres and illegal downloads, you’d be forgiven for thinking people are no longer interested in going to the movies. But Auckland’s film-goers say that’s not the case.
Aspiring film-maker Isaac Knights-Washbourn, 23, says the appeal of the movies lies in the experience, getting “getting out of the house and experiencing the [...]
‘Roomies’ go crazy for the world’s worst movie
How does a film with the reputation of being one of the world’s worst movies get screened weekly at Auckland city’s Academy Cinema?
By establishing a cult following of hundreds of fans called “roomies”.
The Room — dubbed the “Citizen Kane of Bad Movies” by Entertainment Weekly — was written, acted, directed and produced by American Tommy [...]
Whanganui plans six-week World Cup arts festival
Whanganui will hold a six-week arts festival during the Rugby World Cup this year.
The Real Whanganui Festival, starting on September 9, will feature more than 22 events, including art and sculpture exhibitions, a glass festival and paint extravaganzas.
There are four cup games scheduled to be played in Whanganui and the festival aims to show the [...]
Real Groovy celebrates 30 years as a ‘cultural emporium’
Real Groovy will turn 30 this weekend, giving music fans a chance to celebrate the longevity of Auckland’s best-known record store.
Despite drastic changes in the way people consume music, Real Groovy has adapted over the years to carve itself a niche in the music market.
Owner Chris Hart started the store with former business partner Chris [...]
New theatre hopes to revive Christchurch art scene
New Zealand’s largest professional theatre company is on the move in Christchurch – and getting ready to revive the city’s damaged arts scene.
Communications manager Jeff Clark says the Court Theatre was “quite badly shaken up” in the February earthquake, and has been looking for a new venue ever since.
The company was unsure the public was [...]
NZ writer won’t be boxed after first-book success
A Wellington writer’s first book, Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa, translates well overseas – so well that students at Harvard University are studying it in a folklore course.
Tina Makereti, who recently appeared at the Auckland Readers and Writers Festival, is pleased her first collection of short stories has attracted interest from international readers, but [...]
Home-grown comedy impresses sold-out festival crowds
Kiwi comedians competing with international acts boasted sold-out shows in this year’s New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Owner of The Classic comedy club in Auckland Scott Blanks was “pleasantly surprised” by the home-grown best-sellers.
“Having our own comedians selling as well as some of the international acts has been great,” says Blanks, who has been involved with [...]
Friendships forged on journey to unfamiliar land
Amid the bullets, the blood and the dust of WWII, New Zealand soldiers found solace in the warm smiles of the local ladies abroad.
The Auckland Museum exhibition Mr Jones’ Wives: War Brides of New Zealand Servicemen brings the public closer to those special relationships.
From April 16, the museum’s pictorial gallery is home to an exhibition [...]
Still no sign of a decision on the historic St James
The fate of Auckland’s historic St James Theatre has still to emerge from the bureaucratic gloom in Wellington.
Aucklanders have been waiting on a Cabinet decision on the International Convention Centre tender for months and are becoming impatient.
The St James has been classified as derelict since 2007 when it was damaged by a fire next door.
The [...]
