Stories

The world’s first opera band, Amici Forever, was founded by New Zealand tenor Geoff Sewell, and he now brings his group of international West End and Broadway stars on tour around New Zealand. Bravo Amici brings a sublime experience of the classical crossover music genre, with a moving and uplifting collection of classical, contemporary and musical theatre songs. This group of talented tenors and sopranos deliver a rich range of sound that has captivated audiences and notable figures around the world, including Sir Elton John, Nelson Mandela, and the Queen. Christchurch Town Hall, Wed 26 May premier.ticketek.co.nz

In this play by New Zealand writers Stephen Sinclair and Anthony McCarten, five mates find themselves outside a pub on a Saturday night, down on their luck and drunkenly joking about what they can do to get back on their feet. What they come up with becomes a challenge they can’t back out of – an all-male strip show. A raucous comedy about taking risks, the power of friendship and the classic Kiwi ‘can-do’ attitude, this production by The Court Theatre is a must-see. The Court Theatre, Sat 1 May – Sat 5 Juncourttheatre.org.nz

An iconic Christchurch music festival that turns Lincoln village into a pumping outdoor concert, Selwyn Sounds is more than brilliant music, it’s a fantastic day out and a great way to say goodbye to summer. With a range of international cuisines available from food trucks on site and two well-stocked bars, you’ll be well fed and watered enough to dance the day away. Selwyn Sounds is in its fifth year in 2021, and this year’s irresistible lineup includes Jon Stevens of INXS, Stan Walker, The Jordan Luck Band, Che Fu, Annie Crummer, Nathan King and Andy Lynch from Zed, and The Remnants of Hello Sailor. Lincoln Domain, Sat 10 Aprselwynsounds.co.nz

Hailing from Devonport, these indie rockers released their second album, Nux Vomica, in 2006, marking a darker, heavier and more emotionally weighted direction for the group and earning themselves an international fanbase. For the first time, the band will play this iconic album live in its entirety, as well as back catalogue favourites and possibly even some new material. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear such standouts as ‘Advice For Young Mothers To Be’, ‘Calliope’, ‘One Night on Earth’, and of course, the title track ‘Nux Vomica’, which was used to great effect in the soundtrack of Italian film Il Divo. Isaac Theatre Royal, Sat 10 Apr premier.ticketek.co.nz

A concert celebrating the creative hotbed and great songwriting tradition in Christchurch, Ōtautahi Proud features a stellar lineup of local performers singing a selection of their own works and some of their personal favourites. The event is conducted by Tom Rainey and presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the events surrounding the 2020 Silver Scroll Awards, which was hosted in Christchurch for the first time in over a decade. Christchurch Town Hall, Fri 21 Maycso.co.nz

The quintessential romantic ballet, Giselle first toured New Zealand to sell-out audiences in 2012, and has captivated audiences and critics the world over. The masterpiece is returning to New Zealand in June as a new generation of dancers take on some of ballet’s most iconic roles. Mystical and lyrical, Giselle is an enchanting production that fuses all the elements of a truly special ballet: a romantic story, touching, human characters, beautiful choreography and a lovely setting. One of Royal New Zealand Ballet’s signature shows, this is an opportunity to see a timeless production of one of ballet’s greatest stories. Isaac Theatre Royal, Fri 4 – Sat 5 June rnzb.org.nz

If you're thinking of heading out of Christchurch this autumn, make sure these events are on your radar! Ripe: The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival A brand new festival for foodies and wine enthusiasts everywhere, Ripe is a celebration of the brilliant Central Otago viticulture industry and local culinary scene, taking place in the scenic surrounds of Wānaka. Wine makers and chefs from around the region will be available to talk to, with wine and food tastings going on all day. The Jordan Luck Band will be headlining a killer selection of bands and singer-songwriters providing entertainment throughout the festival. Don’t miss celebrity Chef Nadia Lim and Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas at the ‘Grand Central Woolshed’, providing cooking masterclasses and wine tasting sessions. Corbridge Woolshed, Wanaka, Sunday 21 March, ripewanaka.nz Dunedin Arts Festival Jam-packed with diverse performing and visual arts of the highest quality, the Dunedin Arts Festival celebrates the excellent...

Christchurch is blessed with views to all sides: the Port Hills, the Southern Alps, the Pacific Ocean and the Avon River. Here are Cityscape’s picks of the best spots in town to take in the views with your favourite beverage on hand. Pink Lady Rooftop See an unhindered outlook of the city skyline, the Port Hills, and the Southern Alps from the rooftop bar at the Muse Hotel. Drink Fortune Favours craft beers and Miami-style cocktails with a special Pink Lady flair. pinkladyrooftop.co.nz Beach See the sand, sea and sun from this idyllic restaurant and bar plonked right on Sumner beach. Drink a fine craft beer, a glass of bubbles, or on a warm day get into a speciality frozen cocktail. beachsumner.co.nz Sign of the Kiwi See extensive views of Christchurch and the mountainous spine of the South Island from the tippity top of the Port Hills. Drink a killer espresso...

Every time we think the Christchurch bar scene has peaked, it just keeps shooting for the stars. Nightlife in the city has never been as sweet as it is right now, and Cityscape has your guide. Headline heroes The rebirth of pre-quake hotspot Fat Eddie’s in Oxford Terrace offers toe-tapping live jazz and blues every night in an old-skool atmosphere and with some excellent snacks and drinks. You’ll find the slinky, speakeasy cool of O.G.B. resplendently housed in the Old Government Building, a favourite hangout for suits after 5pm and a buzzing spot that’s never quiet on the weekend. In Poplar Street, multi-bar venue Dux Central includes London-esque craft beer-topia Brew Bar, 1920s speakeasy-fuelled cocktails and swagger at neighbouring The Poplar Social Club and upstairs, Upper Dux’s funky sun-drenched space really takes off after dark. Bringing some super-slick sophistication to The Terrace is Terrace Tavern, with craft beers and cocktails galore...

Christchurch band There’s A Tuesday consists of Nat Hutton, Minnie Robberds, Angus Murray and Joel Becker. Co-frontwoman and guitarist Nat talks good days with Cityscape. We see you’ve been touring the country and recording new music this summer. Has it been hectic? Yeah it has been! Good hectic though. We’re feeling pretty mega lucky to have been able to play so many shows. We got to travel to a lot of places we’d never been to before and meet so many Kiwi musicians, a bunch we are huge fans of, such as The Beths, Bic Runga and Benee. What are you listening to at the moment? Lots of Soccer Mommy. We’re loving Christian Lee Hutson, Beach Bunny and The Japanese House. You’re trapped on a deserted island, what three things do you have? Hmm I’m going to have to say fried tofu with black bean sauce, a Tamagotchi, and Zack from...

Heads-up, art lovers – here is an opportunity to take home stunning works and support South Island artists as well as the excellent work of disability support organisation Hōhepa Canterbury. The 2021 Art & Sculpture Exhibition will feature artists Don Service and Simon Edwards, raising funds to build two new homes to fill some of the ever-increasing demand for specialist housing. The charitable organisation supports South Island people with intellectual disabilities to live a fulfilling lifestyle in a welcoming community – its vision is for every life, fully lived. The new buildings will provide a place to live for 12 more people. Hōhepa needs to raise $2.2 million to build the homes and fill them with all the essential household items that make life easy, functional, comfortable and enjoyable. Art & Sculpture Exhibition, Hōhepa Hall, CashmereOpening night Fri 21 MayExhibition Sat 22 – Sun 23 Mayhohepacanterbury.com

Open Christchurch is a revolutionary architecture festival, geared around giving people access to the buildings of Ōtautahi. Cityscape talks some of the city’s coolest constructions with the festival organiser. Te Pūtahi, the organisation behind Open Christchurch, really values and appreciates the myriad of ways in which our ancestors designed and built Christchurch, the city we live in,” says Te Pūtahi director and architectural historian Dr Jessica Halliday. “We want to share that with people who perhaps don’t have the time, access and opportunity to explore and learn about Ōtautahi’s most beautiful and interesting buildings.” We share our everyday lives with architecture, she says. It can bring us joy, bring us down, and it can connect us to our stories and our history. Architecture also has us looking to the future, and what comes next for our cityscape. The idea of the festival is to open a series of interesting and important...

Interior Warehouse has announced the opening of Christchurch's newest and most refreshing furniture store. The Moorhouse Avenue site, opening mid-April, will demonstrate spaces and rooms with bright, bold statement pieces so you can visualise your home’s potential to be enhanced and transformed. First started in Auckland in 2018, Interior Warehouse is a destination for unique, international furniture and homewares. The Christchurch store will be the fifth Interior Warehouse around the country, owned and operated by born-and-bred Cantabrians Sam Main and Tom Noonan. The business partners were both made redundant from long-term careers at Air New Zealand due to the pandemic, and took the opportunity to start the Christchurch store. interiorwarehouse.co.nz

Going the extra mile can pay huge dividends in the current housing market. I’m incredibly particular in how the houses I market are presented. I love to work with homes at the low, medium and high end of the market and all of these perform better when they get the loving touch. Unless a house is absolutely top notch, I suggest staging. It gives a sense of space and personality when the rooms have furniture in them, and it makes such a huge difference when you lay out all those extra details like flowers, candles and outdoor seating. I also want to make sure the house sparkles. It’s absolutely worth the investment to get in cleaners, window washers, gardeners and touch-up painters. You want to market a home's best side, and provide fewer obstacles for buyers to try and pull the price down. Also I’m very big on photos and I...

Debra Fallowfield is a straight-to-the-matter type of jeweller – she’s unpretentious, good for a laugh, and she gets shit done. She hammers out the details of ‘slow jewellery’ with Cityscape. Like the slow food movement, slow jewellery is about taking a step back and producing smaller quantities of higher quality items, and embracing the process of making them. Debra says slow jewellery is a way of honouring the craft and its history. “By working this way you get a true feel for your work. Well, that’s what I think anyway.” She’s passionate about making all her jewellery by hand. “I still refuse to use CAD, computer aided design,” Debra says. “When I make pieces by hand there’s nothing clinical or boring about them. They’re not perfectly symmetrical; they’re organic, they have a soul.” There’s a lot of reusing, recycling and revamping happening in Debra’s studio, where she works alongside her husband...

Join Cityscape on a global adventure of cuisine and culture. We check out Christchurch’s massive variety of restaurants, starting right here with Kiwi cuisine and heading across the culinary continents. New Zealand & Pacific 50 Bistro at The George is an award-winning restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving modern New Zealand cuisine and health-wise dining made with local produce. The menu at Barberra, in Cambridge Terrace, is based on fresh, seasonal ingredients and the flavours and influences of the Pacific Rim. Go there for a modern, fresh take on dining. In the Sudima Christchurch City hotel, Vices & Virtues is a modern and welcoming restaurant and bar with dishes including line-caught fish, Canterbury Wairiri Buffalo Burrata and New Zealand Angus eye fillet. No.4 Bar & Restaurant in Merivale does a mean fancy fish 'n' chips or Kiwi lamb rack, and it's also got a plethora of international flavours on...

Here’s an idea for your next gathering: if some of your guests are vegan, just create a plant-based menu for everyone. Flip Grater from plant-based deli Grater Goods runs Cityscape through her hosting menu. If you do your plant-based menu right, no one will miss animal products, and it saves labelling or explaining which elements are plant based and which are not. Plus plant-based eaters won’t need to feel like weird outsiders for trying to save the planet. Canapés Have canapés and a drink ready to go when guests arrive. Make them simple, and make them in advance so you’re not fussing at the last minute. When people arrive, set the scene with something like vegan ‘salmon’ and cream cheese canapés and a glass of bubbles. What to serve: Our Carrot Lox and Herb & Garlic Tofu Cream Cheese make amazing smoked salmon-style canapés – just put them on crackers with...

Your guide to the best of the big players and hidden haunts of Ōtautahi’s café scene. After a killer cup of joe or a silky smooth latte? Cityscape has done the rounds to bring you up to date on the city’s café scene, from the latest hotspots bringing some serious international cool through to those with legendary status. 1. Black & White Coffee OriginsPretty much everything at this micro-roaster is made on site, from the cakes, muffins, pastries and sandwiches, to the coffee roasted by the café’s own roast master. Best for… in-house roast. 2. Black BettyThe flagship café of Switch Espresso, this is an excellent choice for brunch and a perfectly brewed coffee. Best for… stocking up on brewing gear. 3. BunsenThe Arts Centre’s own alchemy lab, where the baristas are pros at many different espresso and soft brew methods. Best for… trying something new. 4. Café StirYou’ll be served...