Editorial: Creationfest a delight

Creationfest was something pretty special. Photo/Stephen Parker

Creationfest. Wow!

If anyone made the mistake of dismissing this Rotorua show as "just a wee local thing" not worth seeing, sorry, but you missed out on something pretty special.

Who needs to go to Auckland or Sydney to see performing arts and creative fashion when we have talented locals such as those who put together and executed this slick, professional festival over the past four days?

It was the first year of CreationFest, which filled the gap left behind by the old Wearable Creationz event. Organisers added an inspired twist with music, comedy, magic and dance interspersed with the wearable art and short films.

It was impressive stuff, so good, I assumed teenager Ellis Carrington was lip synching when she first came out and sang a beautiful version of Puccini's O mio babbino caro. She wasn't. Aside from a handful of professionals, most of the performers and many of the designers were local teenagers, who committed months of hard work to the show.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are gracing stages and catwalks around the world in five or 10 years' time.

And those of us lucky enough to have been at the Blue Baths this week can say we saw them when they were just starting out in Rotorua. Well done to all the performers, choreographers, designers, models, make-up and hair artists and everyone else who helped make the show so special.

You are stars. And you brought a tear to this old softie's eye.

Roll on CreationFest 2015.