Auckland City is set to come alive this weekend in a fiery burst of colour, culture and performance as the Auckland Arts Festival takes centre stage. Here is a round up of some of the biggest crowd-pleasers.
Auckland Arts Festival
Carrabosse - Fire gardens
Blazing landscapes and otherworldly fire-gardens will burn across the Auckland Domain this weekend, starting this Friday at 8:30pm.
It will be a fairground of fire with hand crafted contraptions, music and metallic inventions used to showcase the spirit of Carabosse. Adult tickets can be purchased at the gates and children under 4 free.
See here for more details.
No Man's Land
New Zealand will hear a "love letter to peace" this weekend when No Man's Land brings together the descendants of opposing forces in World War I and reunites them in friendship and musical exchange.
International musicians will perform alongside 150 virtual musicians from more than 20 countries including Lebanon, Armenia, USA, India, Hungary, Syria and Palestine.
The performance starts at 8pm and tickets start at $35. See here for more details.
Marama
New Zealand Maori and Pacific culture comes together in Marama, a touching, visceral show that calls to the voices of a vanishing world.
Directed by Nina Nawalowalo, with compositions based on field recordings, Marama shines a light deforestation, women and culture and the effect on the spiritual identity of New Zealand.
Tickets start at $39. See here for more details.
La Cucina dell'Arte
The circus is coming to town and with it, hearty helpings slapstick, vaudeville and traditional comedy.
The sixth-generation of a renowned Belgian circus family, Danny and David Ronaldo bring to life the story of the world's worst restaurant.
Tickets start at $39. See here for more details.
New Zealand Juggling and Circus Festival 2016
Jugglers looking to jam are invited to the New Zealand Juggling Festival for a chance to showcase skills and talents to other potential performers.
The Festival invites all local, national and international visitors, from complete beginners through to professionals to Parakai Springs this weekend. A marquee with circus workshops will be set up, as well as a public show just for fun.
Tickets start at $30. See here for more information.
The Tempest
The Pop-up Globe Theatre will play host to one of Shakespeare's finest works, The Tempest, this weekend.
This full scale working model of the Globe Theatre in London has already seen the romance of Romeo and Juliet and the drama of Twelfth Night. Now Shakespeare's last solo work for the stage sees the magician Prospero bring his enemies to his enchanted island, where love and magic intertwine to achieve lasting reconciliation.
For more information, go the website here. Tickets start at $15