Reset 2020

Words by  Rebecca Johnson & Brittany Baker

A Festival for Aotearoa ~ 5–15 November 
Tickets: reset2020.co.nz

Get ready to reset yourself when Taranaki Arts Festival presents RESET 2020, A Festival for Aotearoa, proudly brought to you by Tandem Group Chartered Accountants. This extravaganza of spectacular theatre, side-splitting comedy and sublime live music will light up theatres, halls and venues around the region for an arts festival like no other in November.

A stellar all New Zealand festival line-up, and tickets priced at $25 or less—it’s just what Taranaki needs for a festival fix before the year ends.

Renowned dance company Footnote New Zealand Dance will take the stage to present deeply intriguing Undercurrent – two richly detailed and deeply intriguing dance works created by Japanese choreographer Kota Yamazaki and New Zealander Rose Philpott.

Wildly funny pop parody Two Hearts: Taranaki World Tour bring their arena-sized pop-concert experience to the Theatre Royal for one night only. With original music, distractingly attractive back-up dancers, and frankly, too much confetti, Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore will dazzle audiences with their bombastic pop-comedy.

Bring your naughty out to play with laugh-out-loud love comedy, Don Juan, by much-loved troupe Slightly Isolated Dog. Expect a riotous story of the world’s greatest lover combined with brilliant theatrical magic, twisted pop songs and an interactive comedy show.

A festival show that brings to life one of the most enduring popular melodies of the twentieth century – Blue Smoke. Join Kirsten Te Rito, Rachel Fraser and Katelin Little for Portrait of Pixie Williams, interpretations of Pixie’s most-loved recordings and the songs that shaped a generation.

Dramatic theatre piece Black Lover by Stanley Makuwe will confront audiences with war, politics and colonialism. Compelling and reflective, it explores the courage to stand against injustice in a nation experiencing deep racial divides. Developed with the support of the Auckland Theatre Company.

Trick of The Light Theatre brings the wonderfully imaginative piece Tröll, a show for the whole family to enjoy! Combining storytelling, music and puppetry, this is an uncanny tale from the twitchy edges of the digital age telling a story both mythic and modern in the vein of Stranger Things. Best suited for ages 8+.

RESET 2020 also presents four ‘Around Taranaki’ performances including CRINGE WORTHY! , Super Hugh-Man and Albi & the Wolves.

Coming to Ōpunake and Inglewood, CRINGE WORTHY! A groovy, tubular, dynamite extravaganza that is equal parts nostalgic, humiliating, and hilarious! It promises to be a smorgasbord of contagious songs served with a side of bell-bottoms and a huge dollop of cheesy comedy.

Audiences in Ōkato will be swept away by stunning solo cabaret Super Hugh-Man – a heartfelt love letter to Wolverine and Broadway star Hugh Jackman, directed by theatre veteran Jennifer Ward-Lealand and presented by acclaimed Kiwi entertainer Rutene Spooner.

Adding to the magic, TSB Showplace’s Theatre Royal Lounge will transform into the Piano Bar – an intimate, after-show venue offering live jazz tunes to top off the evening following select shows.

Alongside 19 programmed shows are a slew of community events, from jewellery workshops to paint classes, free live music and behind-the-scenes distillery tours, RESET 2020’s event’s calendar will attract all ages and interests.

If you love a good feast, don’t miss Feast Festival Taranaki, from 30 Oct – 15 November. Cafes, bars and restaurants are working with brewers, distillers and food producers to serve the best spring bounty Taranaki has to offer.
Follow the Feast Festival Website (feastival.co.nz) or on Instagram (feastivaltaranaki) and Facebook for ways to Feast!

RESET 2020 runs 5-15 November with tickets on sale now.  To learn more about the programme or book in, visit www.reset2020.co.nz.

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