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 comedians including Dai Henwood; and in The Great Hall, Prince Orlofsky’s Masquerade Ball, featuring Toi Toi Opera and works from "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss II.

Don’t be too surprised if the festival comes to you. Eight-piece troupe Ambush Brass aim to do as their name suggests, popping up and playing everything from hip-hop classics to the Mardi Gras tunes of New Orleans.

For the budding poets out there, there will be workshops by Claudia Jardine, who wrote her latest poetry collection, Biter, while living at The Arts Centre as part of its Creative Residency programme.

And for lovers of classical vocal music, ‘Musical Mosaic: Voices Across Cultures’ celebrates the diverse melodies and narratives
of various cultures, including Italian opera, German lieder and French chansons.

So get this one in your diary and be sure to be part of the party!

The Arts Centre, Fri 8 – Sat 8 March
artscentre.org.nz

Our picks of the festival programme

Mr Big Head: Just one of the characters being brought to life by Rollicking Entertainment Ltd.

Phoebe Vic: Your chance to catch an accomplished Ōtautahi singer, musician and performer who is steadily gaining recognition for her pop sensibilities, vocal prowess and dynamic performance.

The Golden Time: This theatrical performance with live band, dance and actors tells the story of the hard times of the early Chinese settlers during the Gold Rush.

Mundi: Mundi means ‘World’ and that’s just what this always popular bunch of musos deliver – slices of music from Brazil, Africa and elsewhere mixed with flutes, voice, dancing, guitar and bass.

Fraser Hooper: Bring on the clown! Fraser’s show features a stunt duck, a human fish, eccentric dancing, and the silliest boxing match you have ever seen. Get a ringside seat for this one!

Claudia Jardine: Join the Christchurch poet as she uses prompts and exercises to help you get your ideas out of your head and onto a page. No prior poetry experience necessary! Claudia wrote her latest poetry collection, Biter, at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The
Arts Centre.

Katakata Club: Kiwi comedy legend Dai Henwood headlines this first outing of “the biggest little comedy club in Christchurch”. MC Shay Horay will try his best to keep things on track.