Linda Hall: Bay in for bigger taste of culture

Linda Hall.

I spent a few days in Wellington last week and, boy, it was cold - the wind on one of the days just about blew me off my feet.

I love going to Wellington. It's vibrant, busy and there's always something to do or look at.

The country's capital has a rich art and theatre culture with a seemingly endless line-up of shows.

It made me think about how much our region is missing out on with the Hawke's Bay Opera House out of action.

Lucky for us, last year the Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival came to our rescue.

The amazing Spiegeltent made for a spectacular sight in Havelock North.

Thanks to the support from Hawke's Bay people hungry for some culture, the inaugural festival was such a success it is back for 2016 and, according to the communications manager, Fiona Knobloch, this year's event is even bigger with a whopping 55 shows over two weeks from October 4-16.

I can't wait to see the programme, which goes to print tomorrow and will be ready in time for the festival's launch on August 4.

Festival director Pitsch Leiser said he is "delighted with the quality and diversity of this year's festival programme that has come together through the support of Hastings District Council, CreativeNZ and a fantastic range of community trusts, philanthropic, corporate and private donors and benefactors".

The programme includes artists from the UK, USA, Australia and of course from all over New Zealand.

"There is an amazing Readers and Writers programme with some of New Zealand literature's big names speaking on a range of topics from World War I to child poverty and inequality," Fiona said.

Last year, because of work commitments, I was only able to make it to one thing. I went to one of the Readers and Writers afternoon sessions with Alex Tylee, owner and chef of Pipi cafe and author of two cookbooks, and Allyson Gofton, food writer and former presenter of television's Food in a Minute.

It was fantastic.

This year hopefully I'll be able to get to a few more.

The hub of the festival will once again be the Spiegeltent, called the Pacific Crystal Palace, in the newly developed Havelock North Village Green. There will also be performances in the Blyth Performing Arts Centre at Iona College, the Century Theatre at the MTG and the Napier Municipal Theatre.

Fiona says the Pacific Crystal Palace is a New Zealand-built Spiegeltent with leadlight windows, mirrored pillars and a satin ceiling - it's slightly bigger than last year's tent (seats 340) but still with booths and the same intimate cabaret-style atmosphere.

"A feature of this year's Spiegeltent will be the Festival Garden - featuring a purpose-built hospitality area with food caravan, bar, chocolate and coffee.

"A great place to mix and mingle and enjoy great food, local Ngatarawa wines, craft beers and cocktails before and after the performances," she said.

Sounds wonderful. Last year 30 of the 49 events sold out. I have a feeling that tickets will sell like hot cakes this year, so be in.

Tickets will be on pre-sale for Festival Supporters from August 5 and then available to the public from August 15.

- Linda Hall is assistant editor of Hawke's Bay Today.