Stories

Books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time this month. Bingewatching The New Look: Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche star as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel in this Apple TV series examining the advent of modern fashion in a Europe still scarred by the horrors of World War 2. While the series centres on Dior and the genesis of his famous "New Look", the lives and work of Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain and Cristóbal Balenciaga also feature. A must for you fashionistas out there. One Day: Based on the 2011 film of the same name, each episode of this Netflix series revisits Emma and Dexter on the same day every year from 1998 to the early 2000s. “By turns giddy and sombre but always swooningly romantic” is the consensus of the critics. Best viewed with friends and a box of tissues. Curb...

Lyttelton 1978. 17-year-old Chris Simmons has quit his job as DJ at Christchurch’s Stables and Bumps nightclubs and is about to board a ship bound for Sydney. Also on board is the PA and lighting rig for Kiwi prog rockers Think. The band are hellbent on breaking into the tough Aussie rock circuit, and Chris is coming along on his first gig as a roadie. More than 40 years later, Chris sits in his suburban Christchurch home surrounded by posters and photos from the dozens if not hundreds of tours and concerts he has helped stage both as a roadie and as one of the best lighting technicians in the business. The list of bands he has worked with is long and distinguished. So many stories. Now Chris is getting them all down on paper and sifting through endless photos for a book that will tell his remarkable story. Lugging gear...

Fuaao Tutulu Faith Schuster has experienced first-hand the alienation and temptation that comes with moving from Samoa to New Zealand. Now part of Neil Ieremia’s acclaimed Black Grace, the dancer shares her thoughts about Paradise Rumour, which the company brings to the Isaac Theatre Royal on 17 March. This work must have special resonance for you? Yes, totally. It has a special place in my heart. I’m a seed of the migrant dream. I was born and raised in Samoa, in Satuiatua village on the south coast of the island of Savai’i. When I came here, everything was new – the cold, the buildings… it’s the land of temptation as well. There is freedom of choice, freedom of speech, and you’re not bound by the traditions of home. What has been your experience of the issues it raises? I have some experience but not as deep as others. I have experienced...

We cop a sneak listen to L.A.B’s new album, which drops on Friday 23 Feb, and get to put some questions to lead singer Joel Shadbolt on the eve of the band’s return to Electric Avenue. We’re loving the sound of the new album. Thanks. You’re hearing the evolution of L.A.B on this album. It’s an expanding sound. The horns are quite strong on this; more and more we’re writing songs with that in mind. How was it working with producer Lee Prebble on this one? Dr Lee – he’s a legend. His studio in Wellington is our second home. We are super blessed to be working with him. He opened his doors for us and has become part of the L.A.B sound. He knows how to work with creatives. He’s a wizard. He makes these quirky suggestions that we would never think of. You started with 30 tracks for this...

The Gothic Revival walls of Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre will echo with music, comedy, circus and theatre when the Off Centre arts festival returns on 8 March. Last year’s inaugural Off Centre festival celebrated the reopening to the public of The Arts Centre precinct after extensive earthquake repairs and restoration. This year the kaupapa is simply a celebration of the arts in all their glory. For audience sustenance there’s also a host of food options, and plenty of entertainment to keep the buzz going. The list of acts and activities on the programme is exhausting – 40 entries over the festival weekend, 8-9 March. Stand by to make some difficult choices! Headlining Off Centre is Ōtautahi roots, rock, funk and reggae powerhouse 1 Drop Nation, performing as part of their ‘I'm Home Summer Tour’. Other highlights include award-winning singer songwriter Hera; MC Shay Horay with a clutch of...

It’s not eye of newt and toe of frog but some very magical ingredients go into Elsewhere Gin’s range. Forager-in-chief Mark Rose gathers the water, geology and botanicals of an area and captures their essence in a bottle. Early on a calm morning, Mark and Zoë Rose of Elsewhere Gin, with their children Luca and Otto in tow, are scouring Birdlings Flat for pebbles, agates, driftwood and bits of seaweed. So far so normal. What happens next isn’t. Mark takes the results of their foraging, including some seawater, and adds it to botanicals harvested from the nearby Okuti Valley to distil a gin that captures the essence of the area. The seawater amplifies the flavours and adds depth to the gin. The pebbles and agates replace the boiling stones or glass spheres usually used in distillation, adding their own minerals to the mix. The gathering was done in April. The resulting...

The Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival returns to swishy stages and street pitches from 19 – 28 January. Cityscape has done a deep dive into the jam-packed programme and come up with some acts that are sure to have you going O-M-G. 01 - Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium Wander in a labyrinth of light and colour, through tunnels and domes, while listening to the soothing sounds of untouched nature. The inflatable mazes of UK-based Architects of Air have transported international audiences of all ages to other worlds. This time they bring the 1000m2 Arborialis to Cathedral Square. It’s a place to wander, explore and relax. WHERE: Cathedral Square 02 - The Bread & Circus Festival Gala MC Guy Williams will need all his celebrated loud voice when the Festival Gala returns to the Isaac Theatre Royal. A combustible combination of some of the must-see acts and busking sensations from...

He’s a trouper – trans-Atlantic music superstar Graham Nash will turn 82 a month before his Christchurch gig in March. Cityscape spoke to him at home in New York during his only five-day break since kicking off a tour in January. The schedule has been gruelling – 100 shows in nine countries and 42 states of America. There are a few more comforts than in the early days of touring as part of the Hollies or Crosby Stills & Nash but the tedium remains – “I love being on the road but I hate the travelling.” The tour, which includes songs from his 2023 album Now, reaches our shores in March. Graham Nash performs at the Isaac Theatre Royal on 3 March. With so many songs to choose from, how did you come up with a setlist? It’s a bit of a dance. A lot of people want to hear ‘Our...

We talk to the Court Theatre’s Artistic Director about staging Something Rotten! and stepping into the role. This show is the biggest choreographed musical The Court has done. No pressure then? We love a challenge! Shows like this are possible because of the fantastic talent and dedication of our artists and production team. Kira Josephson choreographed this production – she is also the intimacy choreographer and swing – and has done superb work. It’s a huge undertaking but one that she has embraced—in some ways, it’s a choreographer’s dream.  What can the audience expect? A celebration of theatre and musicals! This musical is so generous. It has a cast of 23 plus live musicians, fabulous design and big, glorious dance numbers, as well as plenty of comedy. It is also packed to the brim with Renaissance, Shakespearean and musical theatre references. It’s full of gems for theatre lovers but is also very accessible....

High Street’s exquisite Monday Room has a baby sibling – Little Monday has opened right next door. The casual style of the wine bar complements the more traditional setting of its older neighbour. Little Monday’s head chef, Hannah, has come up with a delicious menu with plenty of contemporary twists to bring classic fare into the 21st Century. Here’s a taster to get your mouth watering – Crispy Eggplant with a bread-and-butter pickle glaze and hazelnut cream; Tagliatelle with shiitake mushroom in XO sauce, oyster mushroom and parmesan; or New Season Asparagus with elderflower vinaigrette, hazelnut and foraged flowers. Yum! Little Monday is open Wednesday – Saturday from 3pm. Reservations are available on the Monday Room website. themondayroom.nz/littlemonday

Books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time this December. Bingewatching Berlin: Netflix scored a runaway hit with its 2017-20 series Money Heist. This prequel series takes us back to happier times for gang member Berlin, one of the most popular characters on Money Heist despite his early death. Also one of the most reviled – Berlin is misogynistic, violent and undeniably a sexual predator. Here, Berlin and a masterful gang of thieves gather in Paris to plan one of his most ambitious robberies. After the Party: Penny accuses her husband of a sex crime and is not believed. Is she wrong? Is she being gaslit? Or is she just bonkers? Kiwi acting royalty Robyn Malcolm and writer Dianne Taylor have turned that premise into a gripping series in which everyone, including our ‘hero’, can be less than honest. Heavy territory but...

It’s a full house at The Court Theatre, a mix of date nights, family groups, and work colleagues enjoying a Christmas shout from the boss. On stage, it’s a riot. Can-can girls a’kickin’, medieval minstrels a’strummin’ and a leather-clad Bard channelling Elvis, pre-Vegas and hot! Playing from now till late January, The Court Theatre’s production of Something Rotten! is guaranteed to have you heading home with a big smile and humming its theme song, “To Thine Own Self Be True”. The Tony Award-winning musical gets its Southern Hemisphere premiere with The Court Theatre’s production. There’s a story, but in true musical tradition it never gets in the way of the song and dance. It’s England 1595 and playwright brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom can’t compete with the rock-star popularity of William Shakespeare. In desperation they pin all their hopes on “the next big thing in theatre”, which they call a musical...

Ōtautahi has a new star and she is ready for her close-up. Niamh Crooks has won a national competition by posting a ‘duet’ on TikTok with homegrown rapper JessB. Her $10,000 in prizes includes a Rockshop prize pack and studio time to further hone her sound. A new microphone is on the shopping list. The 18-year-old won the public vote to come out on top in the Spark Open Audition comp. She went up against other finalists Gibson Harris (Gibz) and Noah Seuseu, with Niamh’s original song “Devotion” swaying the voters in radio land. After making the finals, Niamh was teamed up with producer and mentor Edward Liu of recording studio BIG FAN. “Getting the chance to work one-on-one with Edy from BIG FAN was a huge win in itself.” For his part, Edy sees big things ahead for Niamh. “I was extremely impressed and inspired by how quickly she worked....

Hardcore Kiwi metallers Blindspott will rock Hagley Park in December. We talk to singer Damian Alexander about getting back on the road and back in front of their fans. You have a huge catalogue to choose from – how was it coming up with a set list? Any radically different arrangements? Yeah we do have quite a few tracks now, which is awesome. For us it’s about designing a show that has good pace and is a bit more of a journey than just playing the tracks. Our shows always have a bit of a surprise element but you’ll have to come along to see if there’s anything radically different. How are the old songs going down with a new audience? It’s really cool and we are extremely lucky that all of our material from over the years resonates with so many different age groups and attendees at the show. There always seems to be something for...

Stephanie Rumble, founder of BrightRed, is one of New Zealand’s leading fashion stylists. Fresh from judging the Fashion in the Field competition at Riccarton Park this year, the former Best Dressed Lady (Addington, 2006) talks to us about summer trends, orange jeans and her work as an accountability coach. The last few weeks must be some of your busiest each year – how has it been? It has actually been really busy with people getting set up for the summer break and wanting advice and help with summer outfits. As soon as the weather gets warmer I get a flurry of people wanting appointments and panicking about their summer wardrobes.  Did you enjoy your stint among the judges for Riccarton Park’s Fashion in the Field? It was honestly supreme fun. I totally appreciate Zane Tate and Riccarton Park for having me and the effort and thought that goes into the outfits that show...

Amber Basalaj is the force of nature behind Basalaj Beauty, the high-performance makeup brand being embraced here and internationally. Basalaj Beauty was the official beauty partner for New Zealand Fashion Week 2023 and is the key makeup sponsor for Fashion for a Cure, which raises funds each year for cancer research. Amber believes local brands and talent are the backbone of our community. It’s clear, she says, that New Zealand consumers need to reconsider their purchasing choices and recognise the vital role they play in supporting local innovation and entrepreneurship. You have had another huge year with Basalaj Beauty – what have been the highlights? Fashion for a Cure events are always something I am super proud of every year and love attending! This year in particular we were the brand partner for New Zealand Fashion Week so that was a big highlight on top of just being fortunate enough to do what I...

An innovative Z-shaped home in Fendalton has been named National Supreme House of the Year over $1 million in the 2023 Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition. Built by John Creighton Builders, the house also won the New Home over $4 million category. Judges were in awe of the home’s design. “This unique single storey captivates from every angle,” they say in their comments. “The home sits on a flat site and rises out of the ground like a landmark with its dominant vertical appearance. “The structure is cutting-edge, with three wings in the shape of a Z. The living and kitchen area make up one wing, bedrooms in the second wing, and garage, gym and wine cellar in the third. The high-end materials and fitout leave you spellbound with the high level of specs and finish throughout. The craftsmanship throughout this home is of the highest quality.” Nicknamed...

Kevin McCloud, host of the UK series Grand Designs, has been no stranger to Christchurch since our earthquakes levelled large parts of the central city. He visited the CBD when it was still a no-go zone, lent his profile to Gap Filler and other renewal projects and helped judged the Breathe: Urban Village Project competition. Kevin will bring his Home Truths show to Christchurch in February, taking to the stage for a Q&A session he knows will range widely. In fact, he’s keen to get your questions already – head to his X (Twitter) account – @Kevin_McCloud – to get yours in. Here are some we managed to sneak in ahead of the show – thanks Kevin! So how are you feeling about coming back to Christchurch? I look forward to seeing the progress every time. Last time I was there, in 2018, it was patchy. There were these great blocks of derelict...