Music News - Sink Your Teeth In The Auckland Fringe Festival’s Juicy 2022 Programme
28 July 2022 - 0 Comments
Auckland Fringe has just launched its dynamic, and inclusive programme, with over 70 shows and performances that push the boundaries of theatre, comedy, music, dance, circus, exhibitions and so much more. For the first time the festival will happen on its new dates of 30 August – 17 September, perfect timing to launch Tāmaki Makaurau right into spring. Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho, the Director of Auckland Fringe is excited and hopeful about this year's festival.
“The Auckland Fringe whānau are ecstatic to unveil our first ever spring festival! The team are fully aware that the impacts of covid are still lingering for artists AND audiences. We’ve been working closely with our artists and partners to build a new platform that helps break down potential anxieties, uplift experimental artistry, and mark the 2022 Fringe experience as a time to celebrate our collective tenacity whilst embracing the chaos that is a Fringe Festival.” - Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho, Director of Auckland Fringe
Audiences are asked to open their minds for all of the out of the box works this festival has to offer. It's wacky, it's weird, it's silly, it's tantalising, it is Auckland Fringe. Between theatre, comedy, dance, poetry, cabaret, circus, or what falls in the fringes there will be something to shock, awe, and enjoy for all walks of life. For those that like to get involved in their performances A Slightly Isolated Dog is back with their brand new interactive theatre project The Trojan War as told by five flirtatious “French” performers. Comedy lovers can celebrate with the first ever Wahine Māori Comedy Line Up Show which will reduce punters to puddles of tears from laughter with a line up brought together by the outstanding Janaye Henry. Get in line for Bull Rush 1822 for an improvised and hilarious play inspired by the hit Netflix show Bridgerton, made up on the spot for your delight.
This year’s festival welcomes with open arms the first international performances since 2019. Australian theatre company Nuworks brings us a selection of high energy theatre works all directed by David Dunn with all performances at the Pitt Street Theatre. In a gripping tale of tragedy told through the lens of epic theatre, Belfast tells the story of Belfast, Northern Ireland from the Titanic to the beginning of the Troubles. Suffragettes offers a part verbatim, part musical theatre, and always theatrical show that chronicles the ten years of torment and torture culminating in the ultimate victory of Emmeline Pankhurst and the other heroic women of the Women’s Social and Political Union. Romeo and Julia in Belfast offers a hybrid drama that recontextualises Romeo and Juliet in contemporary Belfast, where the sectarian divide between protestant and catholic families re-defines the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.
There’s also plenty of deliciously dark comedy in the programme. Grief-Sex-Race by Jessica Karamjeet takes the viewer on a taboo-busting, stereotype-subverting hour that makes for mind and sides workout (from all the laughter of course) as she navigates the awkward intersections of her identity while grieving the loss of her dear, departed dad. Nathan Joe is at it again with Gay Death Stocktake which takes inspiration from the idea of ‘Gay Death’ - life as a gay man ends at thirty. There is no rehearsal and no director, just thirty tasks waiting on stage meaning each viewing is different to the one before.
Some more contemplative works include My Grandfather is a Canoe. Fresh from Dunedin Fringe, this work delivers poems of voyager Faumuina Felolini Maria Tafuna'i from a sea locked waka in the Pacific right to the Māngere Arts Centre stage. The work journeys through songs, dance, poetry with the illustrations of Silivelio Fasi to accompany the work. 愛，媽媽 (Love, Mum) is the autobiographical solo performance from Cynthia Lam, weaving the tales of three generations and their stories of survival, change and self-dignity. This story is shared all while fostering the spirit of community-building with all women regardless of their race or cultural background.
Head out for a boogie or two with the abundance of audio engaged works. The Human Kind and Speech Act Theory have teamed up to perform a multi-genre musical experience at the beautiful Vic Theatre in Devonport. Think cinematic sounds that soothe the senses developing into trip-hop grooves and hypnotic vocals to expand the mind and get the feet moving. This show comes with an emphasis on supporting organisations that promote mental health in Aotearoa, profits will be donated to Lifeline Aotearoa. Give Carawei Gao’s album a listen as she performs The Moon and the Tides, an experimental yet powerful album that will break hearts and mend them together again. The Dust Palace circus artists support this live album performance with a visual exploration of poise and subtlety.
Wordsmiths rejoice with the succulent array of literary performances on offer. Concertina Productions presents Dancing The Owl, a theatrical reading of poetry written by Peter Le Baige. Expressed by a youthful ensemble, this collaboration with award-winning actor Willa O’Neill takes flight with Peter’s words and allows them to soar across the space. In Writing Home, Miss Leading and Rose Northey have teamed up to create a fully immersive experience of poetry, comedy, song, music, and live illustration all on the theme of home.
Head on over to the Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre to catch Carrie Rudzinski and Olivia Hall’s masterpiece of poetry theatre Hysterical, confronting body politics, systemic sexism, and weeping uncontrollably in the supermarket. This powerhouse performance intertwines social issues and personal stories to create a confronting but relatable body of work. Also on offer at the Herald is James Brodie: Becoming Brodie Tour 2022 where Ivy Blue frontman James Brodie embarks on his first-ever solo tour sharing stories about growing up with Autism and ADHD and his original songs. Motivational, Uplifting, Beautiful, and at times funny; this is a show not to be missed.
These highlights barely scrape the surface of the full Fringe experience in store for Aucklanders this September. The full 2022 programme is live on Auckland Fringe’s website now and is just absolutely brimming with possibilities.
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