Stories

David Suchet won the hearts of the world as the long-running lead in Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Now he’s taking time to reflect on 50 years in showbiz with his 2020 live shows, Poirot and More: A Retrospective. Kia ora, David. You’re coming to New Zealand next year – are you looking forward to it? I’m really excited about this tour and I’m really excited about coming to New Zealand because I’ve never performed in New Zealand, ever. It’s going to be a great treat for me to be with you all there. I can’t wait. When did the idea strike you to put this one-man show together? It really was started with an invitation, an invitation from the producer Liza McLean, who produced my last tour of Canada, America and Australia in 2014 with a play I was in called The Last Confession. It was so well received in Australia that...

Kate Sylvester has opened her second Christchurch store on the city's bustling Cashel Street. The large store is fresh, bright and bursting with the colours of her new Kraftwork collection. It also takes a mindful approach to sustainability. FSC sustainable plantation-grown timber is featured throughout the store, as is recycled brass. The custom-built furniture and fixtures were made with care by Kiwi craftsmen, too. Sylvester told Cityscape her latest collection "honours the craft of fashion". "The signature prints in the collection evolved from a personal tapestry project of mine and I incorporated beautiful craft techniques throughout the collection, including blanket stitching, cross stitch and intarsia," she said. When it comes to Kraftwork, we've got our eyes on the striking Lucy dress, the bright pink Holly jumper and the preppy Lee dress. Make sure you swing by the new store and say hello to the wonderful team next time you're in town for...

Town Tonic, Not Without You and Pescatore are among the esteemed finalists announced for the 2019 Christchurch Hospitality Awards. The annual awards celebrate the very best of local hospitality – from establishments and sales representatives to chefs and front of house staff. Old-skool speakeasy O.G.B. led the pack with four nominations, including one in the coveted Asahi Beverages Outstanding Bar category. The Craft Embassy, gin gin and Smash Palace rounded out the Outstanding Bar nominees. Chief executive for the Restaurant Association of New Zealand, Marisa Bidois, believed the Christchurch hospitality scene was more deserving of recognition than most. “Designing exciting and first-class dining experiences to attract people back into the city, they are at the forefront of rebuilding and reimagining the city. These are a dedicated and creative group of individuals who are critically important to the future of Christchurch,” she said. Tickets are now on sale for this year’s awards...

Hip-hop trailblazer JessB is bringing her New Views EP Tour to Christchurch’s Blue Smoke on September 14, 2019. The colourful new EP features collabs with the likes of Church Leon, Paige and Abdul Kay, among others. For JessB, New Views represents a period of personal development that broadened her creative horizons. “I’ve been taking time to connect with creative communities here and in places like New York, London and Amsterdam, and my growth and expanded worldview is what New Views is all about,” she said. The Auckland-based rapper has built a reputation as one of the country’s most promising rising stars and has been praised by the likes of Apple Music Creative Director Zane Lowe and David Dallas. In addition to the big-name shout outs, she’s toured with Ladi6 and opened for the SIX60, Fat Freddy’s Drop, YG, Lil Simz and international superstar Stormzy. Tickets for the upcoming show are now...

Alt-country group Cowboy Junkies will return to New Zealand in 2020 for the first time in more than two decades. The nationwide tour includes a Christchurch show at the Isaac Theatre Royal on May 3. The Canadian band carved a name for themselves in the late 80s with their unique brand of country, which was both quiet and reflective. A 1988 folk-inspired cover of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Sweet Jane’ shot them even further into the mainstream music scene. In the band’s 34 years in the game they haven’t once gone on hiatus or adjusted their lineup, proving they really can stand the test of time. Tickets for the Christchurch show can be purchased from noon on August 9. davidroywilliams.com

Seven young creatives will have their art exhibited in the central city as part of SCAPE Public Art’s Re:ACTIVATE project. Re:ACTIVATE promotes the creative arts by mentoring aspiring creatives and artists. Students from across Christchurch were given “rock” as a design brief, which was derived from the classic game Rock, Paper, Scissors (the overall theme for this year’s SCAPE Public Art Season). A record number of entries were received for Re:ACTIVATE, with Tessa Marshall (Sticks of Rock), Alex Sands (We Are One!), Emily Higham (Physiological Manipulation), Helena McCondach (Negotiation), and Rosetta Brown, Hazel White and Georgina Jolly (Strength in Sisterhood) coming out on top. Each of the works will be installed on the corner of Cashel and High streets, where they will be on show as part of SCAPE Public Art’s upcoming festival, which runs from October 5 to November 15. scapepublicart.org.nz

Fresh off the back of their Bay of Dreams announcement, iconic Kiwi six-piece reggae/rock/dub/funk band Sons of Zion brought the goods to The Good Home Ferrymead on Saturday night. In the second stop of their ‘Come Home’ tour, the band showed why they won ‘Best Roots Artist’ in 2018 among their many other accolades. The crowd was grooving and bopping to favourites all night, with dazzling lights and non-stop rhythmical sound from Sons of Zion and Disllastrate. Opening act Dillastrate warmed everyone up on the chilly Christchurch night with their high-energy performance. The duo performed the title track off their ‘Black Diamond’ album alongside covers including the ever-so-popular ‘Sweet Dreams’ by the Eurythmics. By the end of the set, they had the audience moving and their vocal chords warmed up, ready for the main act. Sons of Zion started their set with a bang, opening with ‘Tell Her’, ‘Be My Lady’...

If you’re looking for a reason to emerge from your winter hibernation, New Zealand Opera’s The Barber of Seville is it. Count Almaviva (John Tessier), Rosina (Sandra Piques Eddy) and fabulous Figaro (Morgan Pearse) are sure to have you in stitches from start to finish, as will the show’s antagonists. The Barber of Seville follows central protagonist Figaro as he helps the Count win the love of Rosina. Trouble soon emerges when we learn Rosina is confined to the house of her guardian, Doctor Bartolo, a crusty old man who’s planning to marry her. From this point on the performance becomes a circus (the good kind). Bartolo has the power, then the Count, then back to Bartolo. The show moves quickly, in turn holding the audience’s attention with ease. Tracy Grant Lord’s exceptional set is also deserving of mention. The colourful town of Seville easily transforms into Bartolo’s house, Rosina’s quarters...

WORD Christchurch’s spring season of events, Shifting Points of View, aims to bring some important conversations to our city. Fifteen events over four weeks (18 August – 14 September) cover topics as diverse as the Trojan War, racism and activism, the New Zealand Wars, politics, engineering, crime fiction and the history of New Zealand comedy. Headlining speakers include Simon Winchester, author of such books as Pacific, The Surgeon of Crowthorne and The Map That Changed the World, and his latest book Exactly: How precision engineers created the modern world; Natalie Haynes, host of the BBC radio show Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, with a feminist retelling of the Troy story; DeRay Mckesson, American activist and a founder of the Black Lives Matter movement; Val McDermid, Scottish crime writer; New Zealand historian Vincent O’Malley and scholar Marilyn Waring. Some of comedy’s movers and shakers, including Madeleine Sami, will be on stage to discuss the history of New Zealand comedy as portrayed in the television...

It started as a bit of a laugh and has now taken over Jamie Morton’s life. Cityscape talks to the podcast creator about sharing his dad’s pornography with the world. This is your second visit to New Zealand – anything you’re particularly looking forward to? I’m looking forward to going to Waiheke Island, that’s one of my plans this time, going to get some wine and just chill out. I actually love New Zealand – when we were here last time we started the tour in Auckland then we went straight to Australia and did that leg and we finished in Perth, and James Cooper, my co-host, and I flew right back to Queenstown and explored all of New Zealand – it was amazing. So I’m really, really excited to be back, it’s going to be great. What can punters expect to see? There must be some challenges in turning an...

Cityscapers, it’s time to put on your food critic hats, because The Christchurch Food Chase for 2019 is officially cooking with gas! The Christchurch Food Chase challenges the good people of Ōtautahi to eat their way around as many listed restaurants as possible, feasting on each venue’s Food Chase Dish, before going home to give it a rating out of five. By the end of the chase, which runs from August 1–31, we’ll know what the city’s favourite dish is. Botanic is serving up a Smoked Duck Breast Salad, Universo has an Akaroa Salmon Hash and Welles Street is putting on a Middle-East Feast. The Fermentist, Rollickin Gelato Café and Miro are among some of the other names participating. Eight special events will also take place throughout August, ranging from a six-course degustation to a family-style vegan lunch with Vanessa Ortynsky and a Jurassic Park outdoor movie night hosted in partnership...

If you think you know a good cheese toastie, wait until you cop a look at the Christchurch finalists in this year’s Great NZ Toastie Takeover. Friends of Cityscape Otto Delicatessen landed a spot in the final with their mouth-watering ‘The French Dip’ toastie. The flavourful creation was filled with provolone, cheddar, onion and mustard aioli with McClure’s Pickles, hot beef jus and potato crisps served on the side. Joe’s Garage Riccarton delivered the other local showstopper, serving up an oozing pulled lamb shoulder and Havarti cheese toastie. Thirteen mouth-watering toasties from across the country are now heading into the final round. To meet the entry criteria, all toasties had to be toasted between two slices of bread and able to be eaten by hand. They also had to use some kind of cheese and McClure’s Pickles, the rest was the cook’s creation. Head Judge Kerry Tyack said Kiwis’ love affair...

WATCHING Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood lands in Kiwi cinemas on August 15. The epic film follows struggling actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they navigate the highs and lows of Hollywood in 1969. History makes itself known in the film as fictional characters Booth and Dalton are surrounded by the likes of Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis), Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) and Joanna Pettet (Rumer Willis). Then there’s actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), the murder of whom plays out in the film. If you love the glitz and glam of Hollywood, Tarantino’s ninth instalment is one not to be missed. LISTENING Raphael Saadiq ­– Jimmy Lee Grammy award-winning super producer and Tony! Toni! Toné! member Raphael Saadiq is gearing up to release his first solo album in eight years. Expect Jimmy Lee...

August is a monster month for cinema fans, with the New Zealand International Film Festival in town. Fans of cinema soundtracks are also in for a treat, with the NZSO making the jump to hyperspace at the Horncastle Arena. Elsewhere there’s scrumptious eats, moving drama, inspirational talks and a dusting of Disney magic, as well as some stellar Kiwi sounds from The Chills, Louis Baker and Aldous Harding. Check out our roundup of August activities and events that will get you out and enjoying all that our city has to offer. The Christchurch Food Chase Help in the search for the city’s favourite dish by joining The Christchurch Food Chase. Restaurants from across the city are busy creating dishes for you to taste and rate during August. Pick up a flyer from around town or download the details from the Food Chase website and get tasting and voting! Among the eateries...

Grammy Award-winning rockers America are kicking off a nationwide tour in Christchurch this November. Original members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell will perform alongside their band at the Christchurch Town Hall on November 22. America’s 50th anniversary tour will feature all of their most memorable songs including ‘Ventura Highway’, ‘Horse with no Name’ and ‘I Need You’, among others. The powerhouse band’s uplifting music and dynamic stage presence continue to wow audiences across the globe and we Kiwis are next. Tickets can be purchased from 9am on August 6 via Ticketek. ticketek.co.nz

The South Island’s biggest New Year’s bash, Rhythm & Alps, is back for 2019, with another stellar lineup in tow. From December 29 to 31, the breathtaking Cardrona Valley will play host to some of the biggest names in music. Heavyweight producer and DJ Wilkinson will headline the festival alongside a full band and small string orchestra, bringing all his hits to a stacked New Year’s Eve set. Popular trap and bass producer RL Grime is also returning to Aotearoa New Zealand for the festival, while Jon Hopkins, Floating Points, Honey Dijon, Shy FX and Freddie Gibbs are among those rounding out the international names. When it comes to local talent, homegrown acts Opiuo, Ladi6, Mako Road, The Butlers and State of Mind are sure to bring a quintessentially Kiwi vibe to the all-star festival. Rhythm & Alps festival director Alex Turnbull said all acts were "hand-chosen" from around the world...

Hey Cityscapers, if you work in the new Te Papa Hauora Health Precinct or find yourself visiting Christchurch Hospital, you now have a new hotspot to grab a mouth-watering bite to eat. Six delicious new eateries opened on August 5 at 32 Oxford Terrace. Going under the name Eats on Oxford, the new dining lane serves up some bodacious green, clean, fresh food in the under-catered Health Precinct. The dining lane overlooks the Avon River, making it an ideal place to relax away from the precinct’s bustle. Five of six retailers are already signed up, a mixture of new and well-known names. The Serious Sandwich, already a favourite at The Colombo in Sydenham, brings its hearty fare to Eats on Oxford. Crafted lovingly with the best bread, meats, cheese and vegetables, these sandwiches live up to their name. Seriously. Your lunch won’t be the same once you’ve tried their BLT, spiced...

Cityscape HQ’s favourite health and wellness expert, Dr Libby Weaver, has a new book coming to help those of us feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. The Invisible Load: A Guide to Overcoming Stress and Overwhelm, is in stores on August 19, 2019. Dr Libby’s 12th book takes a completely new approach to understanding stress by delving into where the stress is coming from. Is it really from the pressure of our tasks, duties and responsibilities – or is it something deeper? And why are stress levels continuing to rise? The answer, says Dr Libby, is our invisible loads, the stresses we carry that no one sees and that drive how we think and feel. From the physical load on our body to the emotional load in our mind, this invisible load is what really sits at the heart of our stress. And until we learn to unpack it, reducing...