Spiegel Fest will kickstart the Taranaki Arts Festivals' official festival season for 2022-2024 and give audiences even more reason to celebrate the end of the year and approaching summer.
Taranaki Arts Festival Artistic Director Megan Brown is excited to see the festival come to life after COVID disrupted plans for the previous arts festivals in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
"After a challenging few years, we all deserve a celebration! We don't think there's a more fitting way than with the return of the iconic Spiegeltent to Puke Ariki Landing and an end-of-year party rich with music, comedy, and theatre."
The festival lineup features five international, award-winning performers and shows, including Rebel, the David Bowie-inspired, glittering glam rock non-stop circus phenomenon, and WERK IT!, an all-new, high-energy, big tricks, acrobatic comedy romp featuring Australia's hottest acrobats.
Spiegel Fest will also showcase an array of artists from across Aotearoa and talent from right here in Taranaki. Festival favourite Rutene Spooner returns with his new show, Thoroughly Modern Māui, and Kiwi comedians Eli Matthewson and Morgana O'Reilly will bring plenty of laughs. Swell: Musical Tides, a musical debut featuring some of the best Taranaki songwriters and musicians, including Barnaby Weir of The Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties fame.
"The programme celebrates our local community, talented local creatives, and the best from across Aotearoa and sees the long-awaited return of artists from overseas. We've programmed the festival with performances around the wider region, Waitara, Hāwera and Ōpunake so that the vibrancy and excitement these shows bring reaches beyond the New Plymouth CBD," Brown says.
Suzanne Porter, TAFT CEO, says Spiegel Fest timing is perfect for the region leading into the festive season. The venue offers a unique and memorable night out for end-of-year celebrations.
"The Spiegel Fest tent and festival precinct is a fantastic venue to host large groups. In 2019, it was hugely popular for everyone looking for a unique way to celebrate the end of the year. We're encouraging ticketholders to make a night of it, get out and enjoy our CBD's hospitality. The timing of our programme means you can enjoy an early show, pop out for a drink and bite to eat or enjoy the festival precinct, then head back in for one of our late-night performances."
Festival naming partners Baker Tilly Staples Rodway are counting down till November and are equally enthusiastic about the return of live shows to Taranaki.
"We're excited to be the major sponsor of Speigel Fest again this year! After two years without it, we can't wait to see the Taranaki community out and about supporting the arts, having a fun night out, spending quality time together and feeling and experiencing something positive. TAFT has put together an amazing programme that everyone will enjoy, so we're counting the days until we can see the impressive Spiegel Tent go up! As major sponsors, we would encourage you to peruse the programme, plan to see some shows and be part of our region's supportive arts community. See you there." says Daimon Stewart, Managing Director, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Taranaki
Taranaki Arts Festival's 2022-2024 season includes four festivals over the two-year cycle that kicks off with Spiegel Fest this November.
In 2023 the popular four-day Right Royal Cabaret Fest returns to warm up winter in June, and in October, TAF will present 're:imagine', a new ten-day festival celebrating the arts.
The festival format concludes with Winter Fest in 2024 with a complement of music, theatre and comedy alongside the popular literary programme.
"These four niche festivals aim to grow the festival's reach and provide an exciting range of arts experiences for our community. Alongside each celebration will be the well-attended school programme and four regional programmes." Brown says.
The Spiegel Fest 2022 programme is full of entertainment for all ages, and tickets are expected to sell fast.
"We can't wait to see the city, and region, come alive with arts and events as we edge towards the end of the year. Our team love what they do and works hard to deliver world-class events for our people, and we certainly wouldn't be able to deliver or present the calibre of performances on offer without the support and commitment from our festival partners, patrons, and sponsors" Suzanne Porter acknowledged
The Pacific Crystal Palace Spiegeltent itself is an impressive space that must be experienced. The Crystal Palace is a travelling 330-seat performance venue made up of 3000 pieces. The 40-tonne palace is based on the Belgium-designed Spiegeltent of the 19th century; it features the same magic as the European style, although it is brushed with hints of Kiwiana culture.
With New Zealand ferns on the ornate mirrors, paua carved into the wooden pillars and gorgeous stained glass windows featuring harakeke, the Crystal Palace is a lavish space that will whisk you away and leave you smiling.