Bay is ready for this top rate festival

CURTAIN UP: Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival director Pitsch Leiser says festivalgoers have lots of exciting treats in store.

Originally from Zurich, Switzerland, Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival director Pitsch Leiser settled in New Zealand in 1988. Pitsch has worked in arts and events throughout his 30-year career in Auckland, Wellington, Canberra and Cairns. He is now the community arts development manager at Creative Hastings, a role he's held for the past two years. Pitsch is passionate about developing arts and culture in HB and making arts accessible for the wider community. He also has a penchant for loud shirts and shoes! Linda Hall asked him five questions about the arts festival, to be held in from October 27 to November 8.

1 What can audiences expect at the Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival this year?

Festival-goers can expect a huge array of genres and artists catering for all tastes. From internationally acclaimed musicians and dancers to cabaret, comedy, circus and theatre, this is a festival filled with surprises. We've catered for families with some vibrant and colourful theatre and dance shows and, for the adventurous, we have some exciting late-night fringe offerings.

2 Tell us about the Famous Spiegeltent.

The Famous Spiegeltent is an elaborate tent of mirrors built in the 1920s in Belgium. With a lifetime spent at festivals and fairgrounds throughout the world, the Famous Spiegeltent has played host to some of the world's greatest cabaret artists, musicians and circus burlesque performers. We're delighted that Hawke's Bay people will get the chance to experience the extravagance of the Famous Spiegeltent for themselves - it's like an act in itself.

3 What do you think this event will do for arts in the region?

An arts festival in Hawke's Bay is long overdue and will put us on the international arts festival map. It will inspire local artists and performers to develop new works and is an ideal vehicle for developing new audiences for the arts in Hawke's Bay.

A festival of this standard gives audiences a taste of what arts festivals are all about, while developing our appetite for new and exciting acts.

The overwhelmingly positive response from the public suggests Hawke's Bay is ready to embrace an arts festival of international standard.

4 What was the biggest learning curve getting this festival off the ground?

It has been the most exciting ride and we have learned so much along the way. In particular, I've learnt to trust my instincts, have a belief that people will share your vision and never lose sight of the big picture.

Having a small but exceedingly talented team around me has helped make this dream a reality.

5 Pick a couple of events that you are looking forward to and why.

Arte Kanela:

I'm especially excited about seeing highly acclaimed Flamenco troupe, Arte Kanela. Heralded as one of the most exciting forces in the Australian Flamenco music scene, Arte Kanela has been wowing audiences at festivals throughout Australasia. Audiences can expect two stunning, stirring and emotionally charged performances from this talented troupe.

Double Derelicts:

My 10-year old son can't wait to see the captivating and comedic Double Derelicts. Combining slapstick, spontaneity, improvisation, clowning, hip-hop and good old-fashioned fun, this is the perfect show for the whole family.