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rumpelsnorcackRediscovering Christchurch – Live Performances
I get really quite unhappy in winter. It always feels like a long, grey slog through until the first hints of spring turn up with the blossom and the daffodils. This year, I'm particularly concerned because of course this winter we are dealing with more than just the usual winter blues. So, I decided to make sure I kept myself busy – planning to have at least one thing to go and see or do each week just to have something to look forward to. Now, I'm sure we've all heard the same thing – that there's nothing to do in Christchurch right now with the city shut down and so many bars, cafes, restaurants and theatres locked up inside the dreaded red zone, if they're even still standing. But that's not quite the truth. In fact, once I went looking for things to go and see, there's so much that I had to pick and choose. Here are a few highlights of the last few weeks:
For the kids
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake my first priority was my kids' well-being so my first instinct has been to find things for them to do, to keep them happy, not bored and to get their thoughts away from quakiness. Many of their favourite things to do in the city (like the museum and the art gallery) are still shut for now so it's been really wonderful the way performers have come together around the kids of the city and provided a lot of free entertainment. Two in particular that my kids still talk about are the Wiggles and Circus Quirkus.
The Wiggles came here in April and while that's a long time ago now I wanted to highlight them because of how very generous they were. When they not only decided to carry on with their shows in Christchurch but also to donate all remaining tickets for free it meant a lot to the kids of the city. All the kids I saw there were happy, engaged, dancing and best of all laughing – a wonderful gift to them at a time when things were very hard for many people in the city and especially for our children. Their performance was energetic, kind and heartwarming especially with the song they dedicated to the city and those we lost. It was truly a wonderful experience to see them. Then there was Circus Quirkus, who also performed for free with sponsorship. The kids had an absolute blast watching it – the boys really falling for the clowns and my wee girl entranced by the acrobatic girls. From the pre-show clowning around right through to the end the kids, who generally can't sit still, were interested and engaged. Apparently they come back every year so this is a good one to watch out for next year if you have small, and even not so small, kids.
Events like these have raised the spirits of our children over these last three months and will hopefully continue to do so and there is a lot for them to look forward to. Kidsfest is still going to run as usual in July, for example. There may be slightly fewer events and may be some things displaced and running at new centres, but even if that is the case it looks like there will be plenty to choose from – and as usual much of it will be free so those who are struggling will still be able to give their children some fun in the middle of winter.
Performances for adults
I took a skim through Avenues, my new favourite way to find out what's going on in the city, and was rather stunned by just how much is still happening as far as performances go. Out of the things on offer, I eventually chose to go see The Importance of Being Earnest at Riccarton Bush. Performed by Scriptease Productions in the Celebration Theatre, a large marquee which provides an intimate theatre experience, this was possibly the best play that could have been put on in Christchurch right now. We need laughs and lighthearted humour. We need to relax and have fun in a safe and secure environment and this performance offers all of that. For the most part the acting was relaxed and well directed and the actors were clearly having fun with the play and their parts – especially the guys playing Algernon and Jack. The set changes were well done and beautifully incorporated into the performance and it was lovely just to sit back and enjoy the familiar words of the play performed so engagingly. I had a few little quibbles (for example from where I was sitting part of the stage was obscured by one of the major props and so a lot of the nuances of some of the actions were lost behind a cushion) but overall I really enjoyed myself. It's running til Tuesday with a matinee tomorrow (Saturday) and I highly recommend that if you need a laugh and want to get out for an evening this is an excellent way to achieve both.
If plays aren't your thing, other events on offer this month according to Avenues are the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights, the NZSO performing Romeo and Juliet and a Mid-Winter Masquerade Ball. Then, there's the news that while the Court Theatre may be out of the Arts Centre for the meantime, it's certainly not down – it will be reopening in a new venue from mid July, and Scared Scriptless is already running at a variety of venues around the city. It also appears confirmed that the International Film Festival will be showing in Christchurch in August.
So, the next time someone says there's nothing to do in Christchurch there's plenty of ammunition to counter that with. Like everything, shows in the city have changed, with new and sometimes innovative venues being the order of the day, but there is still a lot to see and do to overcome the blues that winter could bring with it. For a city that is supposedly on its knees, we are, in fact, blessed with a wide range of really interesting things on offer if we only look outside our usual routines and take a punt on something new. It's all out there, Christchurch – it's just up to us to go get into it.
I get really quite unhappy in winter. It always feels like a long, grey slog through until the first hints of spring turn up with the blossom and the daffodils. This year, I'm particularly concerned because of course this winter we are dealing with more than just the usual winter blues. So, I decided to make sure I kept myself busy – planning to have at least one thing to go and see or do each week just to have something to look forward to. Now, I'm sure we've all heard the same thing – that there's nothing to do in Christchurch right now with the city shut down and so many bars, cafes, restaurants and theatres locked up inside the dreaded red zone, if they're even still standing. But that's not quite the truth. In fact, once I went looking for things to go and see, there's so much that I had to pick and choose. Here are a few highlights of the last few weeks:
For the kids
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake my first priority was my kids' well-being so my first instinct has been to find things for them to do, to keep them happy, not bored and to get their thoughts away from quakiness. Many of their favourite things to do in the city (like the museum and the art gallery) are still shut for now so it's been really wonderful the way performers have come together around the kids of the city and provided a lot of free entertainment. Two in particular that my kids still talk about are the Wiggles and Circus Quirkus.
The Wiggles came here in April and while that's a long time ago now I wanted to highlight them because of how very generous they were. When they not only decided to carry on with their shows in Christchurch but also to donate all remaining tickets for free it meant a lot to the kids of the city. All the kids I saw there were happy, engaged, dancing and best of all laughing – a wonderful gift to them at a time when things were very hard for many people in the city and especially for our children. Their performance was energetic, kind and heartwarming especially with the song they dedicated to the city and those we lost. It was truly a wonderful experience to see them. Then there was Circus Quirkus, who also performed for free with sponsorship. The kids had an absolute blast watching it – the boys really falling for the clowns and my wee girl entranced by the acrobatic girls. From the pre-show clowning around right through to the end the kids, who generally can't sit still, were interested and engaged. Apparently they come back every year so this is a good one to watch out for next year if you have small, and even not so small, kids.
Events like these have raised the spirits of our children over these last three months and will hopefully continue to do so and there is a lot for them to look forward to. Kidsfest is still going to run as usual in July, for example. There may be slightly fewer events and may be some things displaced and running at new centres, but even if that is the case it looks like there will be plenty to choose from – and as usual much of it will be free so those who are struggling will still be able to give their children some fun in the middle of winter.
Performances for adults
I took a skim through Avenues, my new favourite way to find out what's going on in the city, and was rather stunned by just how much is still happening as far as performances go. Out of the things on offer, I eventually chose to go see The Importance of Being Earnest at Riccarton Bush. Performed by Scriptease Productions in the Celebration Theatre, a large marquee which provides an intimate theatre experience, this was possibly the best play that could have been put on in Christchurch right now. We need laughs and lighthearted humour. We need to relax and have fun in a safe and secure environment and this performance offers all of that. For the most part the acting was relaxed and well directed and the actors were clearly having fun with the play and their parts – especially the guys playing Algernon and Jack. The set changes were well done and beautifully incorporated into the performance and it was lovely just to sit back and enjoy the familiar words of the play performed so engagingly. I had a few little quibbles (for example from where I was sitting part of the stage was obscured by one of the major props and so a lot of the nuances of some of the actions were lost behind a cushion) but overall I really enjoyed myself. It's running til Tuesday with a matinee tomorrow (Saturday) and I highly recommend that if you need a laugh and want to get out for an evening this is an excellent way to achieve both.
If plays aren't your thing, other events on offer this month according to Avenues are the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights, the NZSO performing Romeo and Juliet and a Mid-Winter Masquerade Ball. Then, there's the news that while the Court Theatre may be out of the Arts Centre for the meantime, it's certainly not down – it will be reopening in a new venue from mid July, and Scared Scriptless is already running at a variety of venues around the city. It also appears confirmed that the International Film Festival will be showing in Christchurch in August.
So, the next time someone says there's nothing to do in Christchurch there's plenty of ammunition to counter that with. Like everything, shows in the city have changed, with new and sometimes innovative venues being the order of the day, but there is still a lot to see and do to overcome the blues that winter could bring with it. For a city that is supposedly on its knees, we are, in fact, blessed with a wide range of really interesting things on offer if we only look outside our usual routines and take a punt on something new. It's all out there, Christchurch – it's just up to us to go get into it.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-10 04:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-10 04:57 am (UTC)The Importance of Being Earnest was so much fun. I mean, it's always been a fun play but I've mostly read it or seen film versions - on stage, with actors clearly reveling in the frivolity of it all, it was just so much MORE fun :D
Kids' performance groups are lots of fun too. You should check them out - horribly catchy tunes with lyrics pitched at a kid's level? No-one can resist that :P
(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-12 09:41 pm (UTC)