Dunedin Arts Festival

08/01/2025

There's a lot happening in Dunedin and the wider Otago region this year - including your favourite international arts festival based in Dunedin!

Have a read of this great ODT article to see what's coming (or a sneak peek at least).

Shows announced so far include the Canadian circus Animal, New Zealand Opera's Mansfield Park, all the way from the UK An Evening without Kate Bush and the amazing new dance work The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. You can get tickets to these on our website, and the remainder of the incredible programme will be announced on the 29th Jan.

Wānaka Festival of Colour Otago Daily Times

This year is shaping up to be a busy one in Otago as festivals return with international acts and top-performing NZ artists and home-grown talent...

17/12/2024

Final early release, and it's a doozy! - https://mailchi.mp/2b8b54319423/update-from-your-festival-team-17986300
THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES an elegant exploration by two of New Zealand's most celebrated dance luminaries, Michael Parmenter & Lucy Marinkovich.
Pianist Jeffrey Grice and lighting designer Martyn Roberts bring to life acclaimed composer Lucien Johnson’s luxurious and melancholic nocturnes.
Please note that this show will be presented in Feb as an early taster for what's to come!
Feb 14 -16 at Allen Hall. Limited tickets, so don't miss out!
Borderline Arts Ensemble

06/12/2024

Your Christmas is sorted thanks to DAF - https://mailchi.mp/1f9bae4ee4fb/update-from-your-festival-team-17986026
We're in December - is it OK to talk Christmas yet?
Because fear not - the Dunedin Arts Festival has got you covered!
Do you want to treat the important people in your life this Xmas?
Is their enjoyment in life paramount to you?
Are socks and/or scarves just not cutting it anymore?
Well, here are some suggestions to elevate you to your rightful spot of favourite family member, or cement your status as the "only one in the family that cares".
Get your tickets are www.dunedinartsfestival.co.nz

Oamaru Opera House The Regent Theatre

03/12/2024

FANS OF THE BUSH REJOICE!
‘s cabaret cult hit AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH returns to Australia & New Zealand next year! MORE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED SOON 📢
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Co-produced in New Zealand with
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🎟️ in bio
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02/12/2024

NEW SHOW ALERT!
Howl with the Hounds of Love, dance on the wily, windy moors and let your inner Babooshka run free in this glorious celebration of the irresistible forces and incandescent genius of Kate Bush and the fans who adore her.
UK singer-performer Sarah-Louise Young’s and Russel Lucas’ award-winning chaotic cult cabaret rejoices in the raw and fearlessly pioneering artistry of one of the most influential voices in pop culture.
A passionate fan since childhood, Young takes on Bush’s haunting songs and inspired costume changes, and pays homage to some of the most idiosyncratic interpretive dance moves in music video history.
Far more than an act of mimicry, An Evening Without Kate Bush is a spellbinding, shape-shifting, communal spectacle for new and diehard fans alike.

“You don’t need to be a Kate Bush fan to be transported into something very special” – The Scotsman"

Two shows in Dunedin and one at the Oamaru Opera House. Get your tickets here: www.dunedinartsfestival.co.nz

02/12/2024

A new Festival release! An Evening Without Kate Bush, direct from the UK.

An Evening Without Kate Bush The chaotic cabaret cult, AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH is here! Enter strange phenomena, revel as Babooshka sings her own song,...

01/12/2024

Don't Give Up, we're Running Up That Hill to another early release - https://mailchi.mp/0938366c526c/update-from-your-festival-team-17985913
To aid with your Christmas shopping, we're releasing another show early (that's three now!). This time the chaotic cabaret cult favourite, An Evening Without Kate Bush!
Enter Strange Phenomena, howl with The Hounds Of Love and dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights. Kate's not there, but you are.
‘A weird, wild, wonderful spectacle... An Evening Without Kate Bush is sheer delight.’ - The Sun ★★★★

On in both Dunedin and at the Oamaru Opera House

21/11/2024

The Opera or the Circus. Or both? - https://mailchi.mp/d5e2ffd5a8a6/update-from-your-festival-team-17985689

Ever wanted to run away and join the circus, but you didn't want to leave the family farm?
Ever been reading Jane Austin and thought to yourself, "this is good, but I really wish that there was more singing - especially operatic singing"?

Well, have we got news for you!

1, NZ Opera's take on the classic Mansfield Park,
2, World famous Canadian circus company Cirque Alfonse with their worldwide smash hit, Animal.

Click the link to read more.

12/11/2024

Auckland Arts Festival have just launched their 2025 programme, which includes the incredible Animal by Cirque Alfonse (the show we launched yesterday!). So, now the full tour can be talked about: Animal is doing Sydney Festival, Auckland Arts Festival, Dunedin Arts Festival and the Wānaka Festival of Colour. What a cool tour. Watch the trailer below for a taster of what's to come!

11/11/2024

So, the secret's out!
We have released two shows for next year's festival early: Animal by Canadian superstars Cirque Alfonse and Mansfield Park by New Zealand Opera!
Both these shows will be amazing, incredible experiences.
Find out more here: https://www.dunedinartsfestival.co.nz/shows

11/11/2024

Two early releases for 2025 - https://mailchi.mp/d42963198c3d/update-from-your-festival-team-17985435
Dunedin Arts Festival early announcement of two dazzling shows

In March/April 2025, Dunedin Arts Festival is bringing two highly acclaimed shows to Ōtepoti that will set the city abuzz with fine music and totally bonkers high-flying circus.
Animal by Canadian company Cirque Alfonse
and
Mansfield Park by NZ Opera

10/11/2024

Yo, Ringo! Tell the good people of Dunedin how many announcements we have for them tomorrow!

08/11/2024

Big announcement, plus $17 billion reasons the arts are great - https://mailchi.mp/d111b0002d56/update-from-your-festival-team-17985357

There's a big announcement coming your way!

Make sure you read next week's Festival email and follow our social medias to find out what the big announcement (or announcements...) is (are).

A small clue - it has nothing to do with the accompanying image, that's just us having a bit of fun.

That's all we're going to say about the big announcement for now, as we don't want to give too much away!

07/11/2024

17 billion reasons to back live performance...
New research revealed the live performance sector contributed at least $17.3 billion in social and economic value to Aotearoa (in the 12 months to 30 June 2024).

That number will blow the socks off many. The researchers from CoCa and the University of Canterbury agree the $17.3 billion figure is larger than previous estimates - it's been done using a more complete accounting of the benefits of live performance, using tools from the Treasury to enable comparison with other sectors. It includes the impact of consumer spending motivated by live performance, employment, taxation and social benefits.

Some other stats that will be of interest - and useful for future conversations - include that over 2.3 million people attended at least one live performance during the research period (the average being almost 5 performances each) and that live performance activity supports 60,500 full-time equivalent roles.

Read here for more info:

An event ten years in the making takes the national spotlight, $17.3 billion reasons to back live performance and a host of heartening arts news. 

03/11/2024

A good crowd in attendance to see at