Ten reasons why AK03 is going to be a hoot

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

The programme for the new Auckland Festival, AK03, was unveiled last night with acts, artists and exhibitions set to converge in the city from around the world. To run from September 20 to October 5, the festival will showcase music, dance, theatre, visual art, children's entertainment and free public events. Promoted as a tribute to the vitality of Auckland, AK03 "will be filled with over 60 events of enormous diversity", director Simon Prast said yesterday.

1. Because it goes bang

In Sticky, Britain's Improbable Theatre builds a tower from sticky tape and poles before your very eyes and then, with a truckload of fireworks, blows it up. Now that's what we call art in action. It's at Britomart Place (on September 20 and 21) and it's free.

2. Because it looks like aliens have landed

For the installation Luminarium, the grassy knoll in Aotea Square becomes an 800sq m, multi-coloured, inflatable PVC art installation-maze through which you can walk or just sit there and ponder: How did they think of all this?

3. Because it contains extreme violins

In Barrage's Vagabond Tales, the all-dancing Canadian troupe of nine fleet-footed violinists (and backing musicians) do for fiddling what Riverdance did for the jig, apparently. Other major dance participants in AK03 include the celebrated Sydney Dance Company performing Ellipse.

4. Because it has a sexy singer

German cabaret singer Ute Lemper will have her way with songs by Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Phillip Glass and Elvis Costello at her Auckland Town Hall concert.

5. Because it's louder that way

For the first time, the Auckland Philharmonia and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will play together, with 60 musicians from each combining for three works by Hector Berlioz, Richard Strauss and Gareth Farr.

6. Because it's got lots to play with

AK03 will be the world premiere for Albert Wendt's The Songmaker's Chair (directed by Nathaniel Lees), and its drama department includes David McPhail's Muldoon, the stage adaptation of The Book of Fame, and Briar Grace-Smith's new work, Potiki's Memory of Stone.

7. Because it's got the blues, and the jazz, and the rock and, yes, the roll

Among the contemporary music acts at the festival are Australian jazz trumpet star James Morrison, blues guitarists Duke Robillard, Chris Cain, Norton Buffalo (all part of the World Blues Revue), the God's Kitchen superclub, Salmonella Dub and a solo Don McGlashan.

8. Because it's Toogood to be true

For four nights at the St James, Mikey Havoc and Newsboy will be reviving New Zealand's favourite game show It's In The Bag. However, unlike in Selwyn Toogood's day "it will contain adult themes and be unsuitable for children". Promises, promises. But vying for funniest act of the fest might be Aladdin The Pantomime. And not just because it features Michael Hurst in drag.

9. Because finally, it's something Aucklanders can enjoy ...

... in between traffic jams, rates revolts, rising house prices, and international yacht races leaving town. No longer do culture vultures have to flock to Wellington or New Plymouth. Maybe some might come into town instead.

10. And because it's got numbers like these ...

AK03 goes for 16 days. It has 60 different acts, artists, or exhibitions doing 221 performances or events involving more than 100 performers. It contains eight exhibitions, 17 free events and on an average day there will be 21.1 things to see. And this is just the curtain raiser for a bigger festival in 2005. So you'd better keep September 20 to October 5 free.