-
Five Questions with Shona Riddell
Shona Riddell is a Wellington-based writer with a love of cold weather and an interest in the history of remote locations. She has written three books including Trial of Strength: Adventures and Misadventures on the Wild and Remote Subantarctic Islands and picture book, The Tale of the Anzac Tortoise. With a new book, Guiding Lights: The Extraordinary Lives of Lighthouse Women releasing in late August, I caught up with Shona to find out about the book and where her fascination with lighthouses began.
-
Interview with Jo Marsh
Jo Marsh's multimedia theatrical adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet opens at BATS Theatre on 21 August. Employing a combination of live action and multimedia, the classic play will be brought to life with just three performers and distilled into a one-hour performance.
I caught up with Jo talk about the production, her adaptation and creative process.
-
Interview with Hayden Taylor & Maya Handa Naff
Hayden Taylor (Ngāi Tahu) is the Musical Director and Maya Handa Naff the Vocal Director for WITCH Music Theatre's upcoming production of Lizzie the Musical, based on the life of accused American axe murderer Lizzie Borden. This follows their successful collaboration on previous WITCH productions Into the Woods and Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.
WITCH Music Theatre is an alternative production house for music theatre work in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, creating concerts, cabarets to full-scale musicals. They champion LGBTQIA+ art, progressive programming, and create spaces for local artists to create engaging and entertaining work.
I popped into their rehearsal space toward the beginning of their rehearsal period to catch up with Hayden and Maya about their roles, the production and which cast albums they're currently listening to on repeat.
-
Meet the Makers: The Grid's Shannon Brosnahan Inglis
Shannon Brosnahan Inglis is a co-founder of The Grid, a new immersive art space coming to the heart of Wellington for two months this winter. The opening exhibition, Rivers of Wind, has been created by The Grid’s other co-founder, Delainy Jamahl, and opens on 5 July.
I sat down with Shannon to ask her about the space, the opening exhibition, and long term plans for The Grid.
-
My Musical Life: Julia Deans
Julia Deans' career has seen her front one of New Zealand's most popular bands, Fur Patrol, release critically acclaimed solo albums, perform the works of iconic musicians Joni Mitchell and Jacques Brel, collaborate with The Adults, SJD and Neil Finn (among others) and perform classic albums live as part of Come Together.
After the announcement of four special Fur Patrol shows to mark the 20th anniversary of their second album Collider, I asked Julia to give us some insight into her musical life.
-
Meet the Makers: Anna Coddington
Anna Coddington (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue) is an award-winning New Zealand songwriter, singer, producer, children's book author and law student. Her new album, Te Whakamiha, releasing on 28 June blends te reo Māori and English and showcases a new, collaborative songwriting style.
I reached out to Anna to ask a few questions about the record, her songwriting process and what music has been exciting her lately.
-
Interview with Artist Jane Perry
Jane Perry is an independent Wellington artist known for her elegant, graphic and lively work. After ten years studying and working in London, she returned to New Zealand in 1979 and has forged a career as a painter and illustrator, racking up an impressive number of award nominations and exhibitions along the way.
Her paintings evoke her personal stake in her subject, whether the inspiration is a mood, music, politics, memories or conversation. Her understanding of composition is unmistakable.
I've gotten to know Jane quite well through sitting next to her at NZSO concerts, and when she launched a new website to display and promote her art, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to share her and her work.
-
Five questions with Kristin Kelly
Joy Cowley Award-winning author Kristin Kelly is about to release a new picture book, Mitchell Itches, about a boy growing up with eczema. An ex-nurse who moved into primary teaching after having children, Kristin initially started writing books when she found there was nothing available about certain topics she wanted to bring into her classroom.
I caught up with Kristin to ask her a few questions about her writing process, eczema and her publishing journey.
-
Q & A with Jules Daniel
Despite using they/them pronouns comedian Jules Daniel swears they are definitely, if not probably, not a horde of bees. A 29yo with a BA (theatre & film, with a minor in gender and sexuality) from Victoria University, Jules has been nominated for Young Performer of the Year twice (2012/2010) and for Best Joke and Best Newcomer at the 2019 Wellington Comedy Awards. They were a Wellington Raw Quest finalist in 2020 as well as producing and performing shows in and around Wellington and performing comedy at the Welcome to Nowhere Festival (2019/2023).
You can catch Jules at the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo with their show The Transgender Agenda on 25 May at Fringe Bar. You can also see them on the line-up at The Wellington Comedy Club Rainbow Showcase on 15 May at Te Auaha.
I caught up with them ahead of these performances to ask a few questions about their shows, comedy in general and just what (or who) makes them laugh.
Get Good Emails Get the latest Festival updates by email
Core partner
Core Funder
Digital Partner
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts is brought to you by the energetic team of Tāwhiri, along with the generous support of our fantastic partners.