Stories

After three years and as many cancellations, The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Venus Rising programme is coming to feature four works by amazing female choreographers. Cityscape talks career and choreography with Alice Topp, the creator of Aurum. Fourth time lucky for Venus Rising and Aurum! Why has the RNZB stuck by this performance, while others have been consigned to the losses of Covid-19? I think what’s special about the story we’re telling in Aurum is that it’s all about changing the way we see imperfections and learning to embrace our scars, bruises and history and find a way to see these perceived flaws as part of what makes us beautifully human. The past couple of years have been difficult and have thrown us a swell of emotion and I think this piece will only grow in its relatability. I think there’s no better to time to share a work like this...

Three Boys Brewery recently took home the big Champion Exhibitor award, as well as 12 medals and a trophy at the New Zealand Beer Awards. Cityscape caught up with boss man Ralph Bungard. How did it feel to be awarded champion? It felt amazing! The Brewers’ Guild Beer Awards is a really big deal in our NZ industry. It’s the only awards where you really get to put yourself up for comparison to all the brewers in Aotearoa. To win anything on the night is an honour and something that brewers in New Zealand really look to judge where they are at in terms of beer quality. On the night we were just so excited about all the medals that we had received for the beers that we entered in the competition that we weren’t really concentrating when it came to the big one at the end of the night. To...

Thrills, spills and speed – what’s not to like! Fan Village tickets for the NZ Sail Grand Prix on Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour in March 2023 sold out in a day but there are plenty of other good viewing spots on the Port Hills and across the water in Diamond Harbour. There will also be a free fan zone site on the grass in front of Te Pae, in the central city, offering big-screen viewing of live race coverage on the two racing days, March 18 and 19. Only 5000 Fan Village tickets went on sale on October 4 and just like the corporate hospitality and Platinum Lawn tickets before them, they went fast. Organisers tweeted late on the day that all ticket categories were sold out. Unfolding over two action-packed days, the event marks SailGP’s New Zealand debut and Event Director Karl Budge says fans are in for a treat. “SailGP...

Jane Austen, Billy T James, teen angst and political drama are all part of the compelling collection of plays that will take to the boards during the Ryman Healthcare 2023 Season at The Court Theatre. Six of the plays are written or adapted by New Zealand authors in a season that boasts a new Court Theatre commission. With several New Zealand premieres and even an Australasian premiere on the calendar, The Court is truly bringing the ‘new’ to this season. “We have shaped a season of truly compelling storytelling, designed to reflect and include the diverse audiences of Ōtautahi Christchurch and Aotearoa,” says Chief Executive Barbara George. “All will entertain you. Some may amuse you; others might give you pause to think or even shock you a little, but together they provide something for everyone to enjoy or relate to.” For Artistic Director Dr Alison Walls, “This season is about creating memorable,...

The line-up is out and presales are open – time to lock in your tickets for Christchurch’s Electric Avenue music festival. Headliners Lorde and Flume will join 50 other artists performing across five stages on February 25 in Hagley Park. Get amongst the expected 30,000 rockers, ravers and dub heads for a day of bangers, sick beats and sunshine. Other acts include L.A.B, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Supergroove and Teeks, as well as international artists including Peking Duk and Future Islands. The spectacular Synthony show will make its debut festival appearance, and a UK drum & bass headliner will be announced in November. Since the inaugural event in 2015, Electric Avenue has established a reputation as Christchurch’s biggest day out. The festival is New Zealand’s largest one-day music event. Electric Avenue is the only full festival appearance in New Zealand planned by Lorde and is part of her world tour promoting her...

One of the new kids on Christchurch’s cultural circuit, Cube Art Gallery has a real treat on show at its home in the repurposed Duncan Building on High Street. The Masterworks Collection brings a taste of internationally renowned fine art to Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Giclées of famous works by world-renowned masters, including Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir and John Singer Sargent, grace the gallery’s walls. The reproductions are mostly actual size (or near to) and feature works that will inspire and intrigue. Gallery director Paul Rees says that for many Kiwis, it’s a rite of passage to visit the great galleries of the world and view works that have shaped the history of art and chronicled moments of social, political and spiritual consequence through the ages. “But lockdowns and border closures have made travel increasingly difficult lately, so we decided to bring the next best thing right here to Christchurch.” Many of the works...

English superstar Netia Jones is directing NZ Opera’s Macbeth… and she’s also designing the set, costumes and video projection. Cityscape grabs her in a rare free moment to talk Shakespeare, Verdi, and modern tech. It seems you’re doing everything in this show except writing the theme tune. How do you manage all of that? Because I work with a studio called Lightmap, and that means that I have a team of super talented freelancers that I work with and so it makes it possible to do the directing and designing roles as one thing. And also when you’re making an opera, the things happen in stages. An opera is planned sometimes up to four years, but at least two years in advance. The set happens, and then the costumes happen, and then the video happens and then there’s the rehearsals. It’s totally doable, and the reason for doing it is, it...

All the entertainment you'll need for the spring season on the small and big screens, plus books to lose yourself in, new albums to rock out to, and podcasts to enlighten. Viewing on the big screen Hocus Pocus 2 - It's been an absolute Halloween classic for nearly 30 years, and now the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters are back to put a spell on us all over again. This time around, it’s three high school students who make the mistake of bringing the child-hungry witches to modern-day Salem, and must then try to stop them from wreaking havoc in their quest for revenge. Thirteen Lives - Our hearts were in our mouths back in 2018 as we watched the events unfold on the news, and now Thirteen Lives puts us right at the heart of the miraculous Tham Luang cave rescue. A team of Thai Navy SEALs, cavers, divers and locals...

Nails by Tomo is a speciality Japanese nail salon specialising in hand-painted nail art and nail health. Cityscape drops in for a pamper. The mani-pedi is synonymous with self-care, sadly something we don’t always get time for. Nails by Tomo has a brand new location in St Albans, and it’s a welcome escape where I can kick back and get the whole self-care treatment I’m really craving. I walk in to a cute-as-heck salon with tasteful pink walls, wooden floors and navy accents. The atmosphere is calming, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of a mall salon. Artists Tomo and Atsuko have years of experience as Japanese nail artists, and they know their stuff when it comes to the latest nail technology. They use select Japanese products that are gentler on the nails, and the luxe treatments are beautifully effective. The nail services on offer include a huge range...

A wellbeing programme born in Christchurch is a bubble of hope helping people around the world deal with grief and develop resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I feel really buoyed and excited about the future of Christchurch,” says New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience (NZIWR) director Dr Lucy Hone. “We often have visitors at home, predominantly young people down from Auckland because that’s where our sons are now, and they are always amazed at how beautiful our city centre is.” She believes the story of Christchurch’s new face and its post-quake life should be shouted from the rooftops. “People want to come here, so we need to get better at showcasing that we are the best little city in the world to live in,” she says. “I have had enough of it being presented as the Garden City with images of punting, because we are so much more than that....

For the next instalment of our Winter Wellness series, we further our practice of one of the oldest forms of health: yoga.

On cold winter mornings, can we all agree that it is extraordinarily hard to wake up? That AM chill is real, but the thought of a heated room surrounded by like-minded yogis is what pulls me to the studio. Mats are in place and free to hire for each class so that’s a big bonus: no schlepping my gear in the cold required.

I’m welcomed by the open lobby and adjoining lounge that is fresh, inviting and invigorating to the core. It’s the essential precursor to a positive and powerful session. Yoga is a vibe, and the studio surroundings help set the tone for each practice. Soul Studio Hot Yoga on Mandeville Street elevates the ancient practice to new heights with its highly skilled staff, whose experience encompasses many different aspects of yoga.

Soul Studio Hot Yoga classes have been developed to suit a range of health and fitness goals and abilities, from absolute beginners to advanced hot yoga enthusiasts. All classes are built on the principles of yoga asana: intention, breath, movement and awareness.

I decide to get my glow on with Soul Hot Flow. This is an energetic practise that pairs together dynamic movement and regulated breathing. The class runs 60 minutes. With a room temperature of 38 degrees, my body is primed for stretch and strengthening. Over the course of the hour, we flow through standing sequences, balances, core and floor work, topped off with guided relaxation.

Other classes include Soular Power, Traditional Bikram, Soul Yin Yang, Restorative Yin, Pilates Fusion and a beginners’ class, so there is something for everyone. Booking is a breeze, too – I registered online in a matter of minutes, and it was simple to select a single session with a couple of clicks. There are options for a concession card or signing up for unlimited yearly sessions – popping into a class whenever I feel like it definitely has its appeal!

With plans underway to go beyond the traditional classes, Soul Studio Hot Yoga is now collaborating with corporate groups, hotels and hospitality to take the mat to new places and offer yoga practice and wellness to anyone, anywhere. Now more than ever, the benefits of the mind, body and soul connection through yoga are clear, and Soul Studio is taking the lead in spreading the word.

soulstudio.co.nz

MOTTE, AKA Anita Clark is a violinist and composer hailing from Ōhinehou Lyttelton, whose atmospheric, expressive instrumentals and haunting vocals play on your heartstrings like, well, a violin. With a new album out and a tour to follow, Cityscape caught up with her to find out a little more about her many projects. We love the Cold + Liquid album. How are you feeling about it all? So stoked and also relieved that the album is being released to the world, and very grateful that Ben Goldberg’s Ba Da Bing! Records wanted to pick the album up. The ‘Only I’ video is beautiful and conceptual – what’s the feeling you’re looking to convey here? The video was a collaboration between me and dancer Jareen Wee, she absolutely had the reins with how she wanted to move to that song in the filming. Aside from that, I have the conceptual notion that...

It will another great summer of art in Ōtautahi this year, with eight nationally and internationally renowned artists bringing works to the central city for SCAPE Public Art Season 2022. Each artist’s work will showcase their unique interpretation of this year’s theme, Sweat Equity, a compelling conclusion to Managing Curator Jamie Hanton’s overall vision of Fictions, which has tied together SCAPE Public Art Seasons 2020-2022. The artists will be contributing both newly commissioned works and pre-existing works across different media, including digital moving image, sonic art, augmented reality and sculpture. The Season 2022 artists are Hye Rim Lee, Wendelien Bakker, Scott Flanagan, Jon Jeet, Pacific Sisters, Eddie Clemens, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries and Dr Jo Burzynska. Hanton says of the line up: “I’ve chosen this diverse group of artists because their work reflects the many ways our bodies, minds, and hearts are impacted by, and respond to, the late capitalist environment...

A moist and flavourful loaf that fills your house with glorious Christmassy aromas while it’s baking, this is one of Grain Coffee’s most popular cabinet treats. Perfect served warm or cold with a little butter. This loaf also freezes well, so you can keep one out and save one for later. Makes: 2 loaves | Prep. time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Dish deets: Vegetarian INGREDIENTS ·         370g salted butter, chopped into pieces ·         2 cups golden syrup ·         3 cups plain flour ·         1½ cups soft brown sugar ·         1½ tsp baking powder ·         1½ tsp baking soda ·         2½ Tbsp ground ginger ·         1 tsp mixed spice ·         1 tsp nutmeg ·         2 tsp cinnamon ·         4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten ·         380ml full-fat milk MAKING IT HAPPEN 1.      Preheat oven to 150°C fan bake. Line and grease two large loaf tins. 2.      Melt the butter...

Cityscape went along to the first performance of the national tour of Call of the Huia, an exploration of lost Aotearoa art songs. Musical historian Michael Vinten acts as our guide for this performance, which spans different styles and eras of pre-1950s songs by Kiwi and immigrant composers. The show starts off with a piece by wāhine Māori musician Erima Maewa Kaihau. Maewa Kaihau is the writer of ‘Haere Ra’; te reo Māori version of ‘Now is the Hour’; and it is fantastic to hear a less famous and equally beautiful work, ‘Akoako a Te Rangi’. The first part of the performance is a celebration of the ‘Maoriland’ style of sung poetry from the early colonial period. We move through six sections of three short songs each, in which the talented singers, Oliver Sewell, Catrin Johnsson and Wade Kernot take turns performing in their own style accompanied by pianist Bruce Greenfield....

This is Paul’s special take on the classic French stew. Rustic, rich and full of flavour. Serves: 4 | Prep. time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 3 hours Ingredients Lamb ·         1kg diced lamb or 1 shoulder of lamb (deboned and cut into 2-inch pieces) ·         100g garlic cloves ·         1.5 chicken stock ·         10 baby turnips (or use 2 parsnip if turnips are hard or come by) ·         1 carrot (peeled and diced to 2cm) ·         150g haricot beans (or use cannelini beans) ·         3 Tbsp tomato paste ·         1 bouquet garni ·         350ml white wine ·         2 Tbsp mint ·         2 Tbsp parsley ·         2 Tbsp marjoram Anchovy crumb ·         1 Tbsp olive oil ·         40gm butter ·         8 anchovy fillets, drained and chopped ·         1 cup panko breadcrumbs ·         2 Tbsp flat leaf parsley ·         1 small lemon, zest only ·         Salt and pepper, to taste  Making it...

Do you adore a beautiful buttery Chard, or do you want to swish it all directly down the drain? As it turns out, this dry white grape is somewhat divisive. The recent WineFriend Great NZ Wine Census show that Canterbury’s favourite white wine is Chardonnay, with a quarter of the votes going the way of this classic variety. And our least favourite white wine is… Chardonnay! More than a quarter of Cantabrians hate it. So what is it about Chardonnay that gives Canterbury wine drinkers such strong opinions? We asked wine reviewer and WineFriend chief tasting officer Yvonne Lorkin, and her answer was, well, she doesn’t know. She’s a dyed-in-the-wool Chardonnaylien and wants to be embalmed in 2014 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay when she dies. “However some folk are very much in the ‘I can’t stand it’ camp and that’s fine,” she says. “It takes all sorts, right? Perhaps they just...

We've been waiting (im)patiently since the Rocket Man's last New Zealand shows were cut short at the beginning of 2020, and now our patience has finally been rewarded. Elton John is returning to New Zealand in January 2023 for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, and he's added an extra show right here in Christchurch. This will be the first time Elton John has performed in Christchurch for thirty years, a special thank you to fans who have been waiting years for his return to Aotearoa. Elton John is the most successful male performing solo artist of all time, and this incredible worldwide tour is the last-ever chance to see an absolute legend perform live. Hailed by fans and critics worldwide, the Farewell tour has left audiences universally spellbound, a truly daring and intimate celebration of an incredible 50-year career. Elton embarked on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in September...