A ballet, a play, a studio visit and a TV programme

Meridian Season of Carmen
The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s
St James Theatre Wellington
June 5 - 12

In The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s forthcoming Meridian Season of Carmen the nineteenth century Spanish setting is changed to a backdrop of modern-day Rio de Janeiro. Set to George Bizet’s music for his famous opera, this is dramatic dance theatre at its best.

This highly visual, contemporary take on a classic story sees Carmen working in a cigarette factory by day. By night, you’ll find her hanging out with a dodgy crowd of small-time crooks at the seedy Bar Pastia. Sultry and ruthless, Carmen uses her seductive powers to devastating effect. Able to disarm with a sideward glance, the independent and strong-willed Carmen manipulates every situation to her favour.

When José makes the mistake of falling in love with Carmen, things spiral out of control. Caught between duty and desire, José’s uncontrollable desire for the dismissive Carmen can only lead to disaster.

Meridian CEO Tim Lusk says Carmen will certainly add some spice to 2010. “It’s appropriate that, as a power company, we are sponsoring this electrifying production of Carmen. We are delighted that our 11 year association with the RNZB continues to bring this standard of dance to New Zealanders.”

First performed by the RNZB in 2002 and choreographed by Dutch-born Didy Veldman, this production of Carmen canvasses a variety of genres and will appeal to lovers of theatre, music, dance, and design.

Civic Theatre, Invercargill
17 - 19 June

Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
23 – 26 June

Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
29 & 30 June

Municipal Theatre, Napier
3 & 4 July

Aotea Centre, Auckland
7 – 10 July

Martin Basher, McCahon Artist in Residence
Open Studio
69 Otitori Bay Road
French Bay
Titirangi

Saturday 12 June
Open hours: 11am - 3pm

In February 2010, Basher became the 11th recipient of the Colin McCahon Residency in Titirangi. The residency is housed in an award-winning house and studio complex on the site of McCahon¹s own residence.

While In residence he is working on a new body of paintings and related wall-work, dealing with commerce, spirituality, and desire. Of the McCahon residency he says, "...Working in this wonderful environment, and with the terrific support of the McCahon trust, I have the opportunity to focus and develop my work enormously. It is a great opportunity, and I am very lucky to be here."

Martin Basher was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1979. He studied at Columbia University in New York City, earning a Bachelor¹s Degree in Fine Art in 2003. Following a period working in New York and Europe, He returned to New Zealand in 2004, exhibiting in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, with solo projects at High Street Project in Christchurch and the City Gallery of Wellington, and participation in the 2006 emerging artist survey at ARTSPACE, Auckland, curated by Brian Butler and Laura Preston.

In 2006 Basher returned to New York to study in Columbia University¹s MFA program. His first exhibition was a solo project at Susan Inglett Gallery in New York in 2007; the show was selected as an ARTFORUM critic¹s pick.

Basher earned his MFA in 2008, and followed this with projects at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, Exit Art, New York, and dealer spaces in New York and Miami. The same year he was awarded the inaugural Susan D Goodman Emerging Artist Residency, named for New York patron and collector Susan Goodman, and spent the fall of 2008 in Berlin on the residency.

Haumanu “From the world of light, into the world of music”
Episode 1: Papa-Tu-A-Nuku, Earth Rhythms
Maori Television Monday, 17 May, 8pm.

This seven part documentary series explores the ancient sounds of Taonga Puoro and the community of people working to ensure they are preserved for posterity.

Taonga Puoro reflects the natural sounds and rhythms of nature and the environment. Historically, and in varying degrees in modern times, Taonga Puoro was used in the arts of healing and cultural ceremony. Due to historical events, there was a decline in the use and cultural practice of the instrumental traditions within Maori culture but the knowledge base connected to them however there has been a revival of this art form over the last 30 years, led by the late Hirini Melbourne.

This series examines the seven areas or whanau that make up the sounds of Taonga Puoro and the whakapapa and purakau pertaining to them. It goes on ajourney into the ancient sounds and instruments themselves. With a reo content of 70%, this series is also rich in tikanga covering the various historical accounts of the seven whanau, their place in Maori society and their purpose.

Heroic Faun No. One is the untold story of the bravest faun in all of Narnia written and performed by Gregory Cooper
The Rebel Alliance
The Basement Theatre - Auckland
June 23 – 30

Heroic Faun No. One was the superb runaway hit of the Auckland Fringe Festival with an ultra short 3 night sell out season at The Basement

The play is the true story of writer and performer Gregory Cooper’s rollercoaster ride when he is cast as a featured extra in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Life changes overnight as he ascends from obscurity to wearing James McAvoy's discarded wig while witnessing the weird wooing of Tilda Swinton by Centaur Sandro Kopp, the notorious extra banned from the set of Lord of The Rings by Peter Jackson himself.

Gregory plays himself in the unique and hilarious insight into the wild vortex of blockbuster filmmaking that nearly drove him insane. Most recently Gregory was seen in ATC’s production of Le Sud as Lyndsay Marshland .

Heroic Faun No. One is directed by Russell Pickering, a rebel veteran who performed in both The Bomb and A Night of French Mayhem. This is his first time directing a Rebel Alliance production. Incidentally, Russell, was also an actor in Narnia where he played the featured extra part of… Heroic Faun No. Three.