Warming you up this winter
The Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival has announced a Festival Taster series for July and August, in addition to the main Festival in October 2022.
The series opens with The Cunning Little Vixen presented in partnership with Festival Opera on July 23. The following weekend there will be a trio of FREE family events, Ōkāreka Dance Company's Mana Wahine, Dream Garden by Colossal and Gerry Paul & The Elephant Tree Band.
The series concludes with icons of New Zealand music, Troy Kingi & Delaney Davidson, Che Fu & The Kratez and Reb Fountain with her band.
Cunning Little Vixen - Saturday 23 July 2022 - Toitoi Arts and Events Centre - Opera House
The Hawke's Bay Arts Festival proudly presents Leoš Janáček’s operatic fable, The Cunning Little Vixen, in partnership with Festival Opera,
Whether you’re an opera lover or new to the genre, it offers a fantastic opportunity to witness the first opera performed at the Opera House since 2013.
The Cunning Little Vixen is a tale that is both tragic and life-affirming, revealing that from death comes growth and renewal. The story, adapted from a 1920’s comic strip, follows the life of a clever vixen (fox) that is captured by a local forester as a cub.
Directed by John Wilkie and conducted by José Aparicio.
Mana Wahine - Saturday 30 July 2022 - Napier Municipal Theatre
With support from the Napier Municipal Theatre, a grant from Pub Charity and sponsorship from Benson Group and Magiq Software, we are delighted to present Ōkāreka Dance Company’s runaway success story, Mana Wahine. This is a free performance but you must register to secure your ticket.
Created by three of Aotearoa’s best contemporary dance exponents, artistic director Taiaroa Royal with Taane Mete and Malia Johnston, Mana Wahine celebrates the essence of wahine, life, and death. Drawing from Māori tikanga and combining dance, waiata and karakia with mesmerising imagery, this work offers a vision of the strength that empowers women around the world. With 5-star reviews from around the globe, do not miss this beautiful work.
Family Events - Sunday 31 July 2022 - Toitoi Arts and Events Centre - Assembly Room and Opera House
Bring your whole family to two free family fun events, Colossal's Dream Garden and Gerry Paul and the Elephant Tree Band.Catch a preview of the newly re novated Assembly Room at Toitoi's Municipal Building, when Gerry Paul brings his five-piece band (The T-bones) and performs the story and songs from his fabulous children's book Hank the Wrestling Shark.
From the talented Colossal crew (Laser Kiwi) be spellbound and join the mesmerising Dream Garden performance featuring Imogen Stone and Jackson Cordery, on silks and aerial performance, on the Opera House stage.
Troy Kingi with Delaney Davidson - Wednesday 10 August 2022 - Toitoi Arts and Events Centre - Opera House
'Black Sea Golden Ladder is the official halfway mark of Troy Kingi's 10 10 10 series (10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres) and his foray into folk.
A collaboration with award-winning artist/producer Delaney Davidson, Black Sea Golden Ladder is what Kingi describes as his most personal work yet – a glimpse into the cycle of humanity and his own stories on fatherhood, love, and mortality. This is a unique opportunity to witness the magic when two NZ icons team up in a passionate performance of their music and artistry.
Che Fu and the Kratez - Friday 12 August - Toitoi Arts and Events Centre - Opera House
Che-Fu is one of the best-selling hip hop acts to ever come out of Aotearoa. He effectively paved the way for the golden years of local rap that would follow in the mid-00s.
Che Fu’s second album Navigator from 2001 featured tracks that have become Kiwi classics, crossing genres and bringing hip hop to the masses. Now is your chance help us celebrate the album's 21st anniversary with Che and his band, The Kratez playing the album in its entirety and other tunes from his repertoire.
Reb Fountain and band - Saturday 27 August - Toitoi Arts and Events Centre - Opera House
2021 Taite Music prize winner Reb Fountain is returning to Hawke's Bay with her all star band including Dave Khan, Earl Robertson and Karin Canzek to celebrate the release of her highly anticipated album release 'IRIS' - the product of New Zealand’s first lockdown and her commitment to crafting music everyday. Singles like ‘Beastie’ and ‘Heart’ showcase an effortless blend of pop and noir folk-punk sound, weaving anthemic tunes that sit with the flawed human spirit and leave listeners spellbound. Reb is a rising superstar so catch her whilst you can before she leaves for her North American tour in October.
