Today in New Zealand International Arts Festival history: Cookin' (2004), Once Upon A Deadline (2008), Don McGlashan (2010) & The Maori Troilus and Cressida (2012)
Four shows today - first is Cookin' (Nanta), which apparently is the most popular show in Korea and toured to Broadway just before it came to New Zealand! I remember enjoying it, but also that I had no idea the cook in the fourth photo was going to throw that onion in the air and chop it - much less that it was stuffed with glitter...!
The second is more of an event than a show - in Once Upon a Deadline, six writers were sent to the corners of Wellington to write a short story all day, incorporating whatever struck them through the course of the day; then we all gathered in the Festival Club to hear the results and judge a winner. There were prizes for both the judges' decision, and the public vote - and funnily enough, the popular choice was one Eleanor Catton, who has become slightly more famous and popular now! (You can still read the stories at the Festival site, too.)
Third up is Don McGlashan and Friends (and family, really) - in 2010, Don did a one-night show in the Festival Club with his pick of band, which naturally enough sold out long before anyone knew who was performing, such is his popularity in New Zealand. On the night, he was joined by a number of his regular band members, but also guests like David Long from the Muttonbirds, and fellow singer/songwriter Jenny Morris - and his children, Pearl and Louis McGlashan, who acquitted themselves impressively. (If I remember correctly, Louis is still playing, and Pearl is now working as an actor on Shortland St, New Zealand's longest running TV soap opera...)
And last but not least, The Maori Troilus and Cressida was a fully-translated version of Shakespeare's work, on its way to the Globe Theatre in London for the Globe To Globe festival, in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games. Interesting show, even for someone who doesn't speak the language!