First festival big hit as tickets sell fast

Creative Hastings and festival director Pitsch Leiser.

The Hawke's Bay community has rallied in support of the the inaugural arts festival, with tickets to all the first week's main shows already being snapped up.

The Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival opens tonight with a sold-out concert featuring acclaimed Irish artists Roesy and the Seisiun.

This exciting event is the brainchild of Creative Hastings and festival director Pitsch Leiser who said the cultural celebration was long overdue.

He said preparations are right on track for tonight's opening.

"I had a best-case scenario in my head and things have gone well beyond my expectations."

Mr Leiser was delighted by the response of the community and said it shows the region is "hungry for the arts".

Most of the main shows had been sold out and those wanting to get a taste of the festival would need to "get in quick", he said.

Festival-goers can expect a huge array of genres and artists catering for all tastes and ages.

The event aims to showcase a variety of acts from New Zealand and around the globe.

With artists coming to Hawke's Bay from Australia, Ireland and Denmark, the festival has an international flavour.

All performances will be at the famous Spiegeltent on the Havelock North Domain.

Mr Leiser said audiences would love the spectacular venue as it was an act within an act.

"To have it in the heart of Hawke's Bay is a real privilege."

The Spiegeltent, built in the 1920s, will host some of New Zealand music, comedy and theatre Warren Maxwell, Thomas Oliver, Louis Baker, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Mark Hadlow, and Michele A'Court.

Audiences will be indulged with 13 days of music, cabaret, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus and a fantastic series of literary events.

Mr Leiser is confident the festival will become an annual highlight on the Hawke's Bay events calendar.

-For more information or to buy tickets to the Hawke's Bay Today-supported event, go to www.hbaf.co.nz.