Stories

One of New Zealand’s most well-loved music artists Stan Walker is hitting the road and will be calling into various venues across the country as part of his new and upcoming tour Springboard. The tour will see Walker taking to the stage and performing songs from his impressive back catalogue as well as his brand new smash single ‘Give’ which was co-written by Six60 frontman and all round legend Matiu Walters. He’ll also be accompanied by three of New Zealand’s most exciting up-and-coming artists, Lepani, Niko Walters and Jordan Gavet plus his longstanding backing band The Levits. No stranger to the entertainment industry, the ‘Black Box’ and ‘Take It Easy’ hitmaker has been a prominent figure in the music realm since his 2009 win of the seventh and last season of Australian Idol and he’s gone on to release five studio albums, appear in five motion pictures and also take up...

Wow! What a mind-blowing performance! This is definitely one not to miss. Rapturous waves of applause at curtain fall said it all – the opening night audience loved it! Black Swan, White Swan takes big risks with its retelling of the classic Swan Lake story but the risks pay off. Stunning choreography by Mário Radačovský (loved the swan silhouettes from the corps de ballet) brings the tragic love story right into the 21st Century. Some things haven’t changed – the ballet and all its “females” still revolve around the male, Siegfried. And at key points, the traditional rendering of Tchaikovsky’s music and the modern choreography still align. In other parts, the expected pas de deux is absent and instead we get fight scenes. And between who? It is possible to read all of Siegfried’s struggles as internal, with his nemesis, Rothbart, being some force coming from within rather than without. Very...

Our picks of the best flicks, music, books, games and TV to get into this season. Watching The Lion King While the 1994 Lion King flick will hold a special place in our hearts, there’s no denying that we at the Cityscape office are low-key ecstatic for the 2019 version, which will hit the big screens on July 17. Helmed by The Jungle Book’s director John Favreau, the CG-animated re-imagining will have some big names stepping up to voice the main characters, with Donald Glover as Simba and Beyonce as Nala. James Earl Jones also makes a comeback and is tapped to reprise his role as the villainous Mufasa, and Seth Rogen will provide the comedic goods as the beloved Pumbaa. Relive the nostalgia and sing along to the hits that defined a generation – both Hans Zimmer and Elton John are back on muso duty and are set to re-work...

Good news Cityscapers – Ballantynes has partnered exclusively with upscale US home-furnishing brand Pottery Barn and its siblings Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm, and you’ll be able to see what’s on offer when all three join the line-up in the new Homewares department when Bally’s Lichfield Street building re-opens in October. Pottery Barn specialises in casual, comfortable and stylish home furnishings. Rocking a timeless design aesthetic, Pottery Barn provides inspo for every room, including living, dining, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and office. Pottery Barn Kids’ designs create kid-friendly, stylish and innovative spaces for the nursery, bedroom and playroom. West Elm creates unique, affordable designs for modern living, with a strong commitment to Fair Trade-certified, handcrafted products. Pottery Barn is such an iconic US brand it even gets its own references in Friends and several other sitcoms, so make sure you check out what the fuss is about come October. ballantynes.co.nz

Christchurch is set to be blessed by a wonderful concoction of light, sound, movement and food when the Christchurch Arts Festival takes over from July 26 – August 4. Kick-starting the festival is a free opening spectacle called A Winter’s Tale, which will be led by Free Theatre who will provide an immersive experience along the new City Promenade. The festival is also tapped to feature multi-award-winning performances, workshops, shows, a Ngāi Tūāhuriri/Ngāi Tahu Market and hāngī for a 1000 people. Festival director George Parker says, “It’ll be a mid-winter carnival that will bring our community together and, along with the rest of the programme, bring a sense of warmth, reflection and renewal to Christchurch as we make our way towards spring.” Other performances locked in include The Clearing – a contemporary dance performance by renowned choreographer Ross McCormack; songstresses Julia Deans, Bella Kalolo and Flip Grater who will perform alongside...

Otto Delicatessen is the best thing since sliced bread, taking the hole in the wall sandwich bar to the next level. Featuring a rotational selection of European-style sandwiches, fresh seasonal salads and other worker-inspired lunch items; this inner city lunch bar is located at The Yard Eatery, making it ideal for those looking for something healthy and tasty on the go. theyardchch.nz

Paying respect to the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, which heralds the start of a new year in the Māori calendar, the Arts Centre will take star gazing to new levels as it celebrates Matariki with a wealth of events. From June 25 to July 7, you can expect traditional kai served alongside stalls selling crafts and jewellery with a Kiwiana twist, local singer songwriters taking to the mic (including Bic Runga) and traditional performances. They are also set to host a variety of activities such as workshops as well as a market. Gather the whanau and celebrate new beginnings, reflect on the year that has been and what is to come and have an overall great time to mark this momentous occasion. artscentre.org.nz

For theatre of the different kind, you don’t want to miss the hilarious and talented performances of the Pop-up Globe Theatre Company, who will bring their theatrical shenanigans to the Isaac Theatre Royal on July 12. The multi-award-winning Auckland-based company will take on Shakespearean classic Hamlet and wild comedy Measure for Measure, with audiences being immersed and incorporated into the performance. Speaking on what audiences can expect, founder and artistic director Dr Miles Gregory says “for the first time, we’ve created a touring set and shows that bring all the magic the of pop-up globe performances – the blood, the incredible audience connection, the dances and the song, and above all the remarkable art of Shakespeare done well.” For an entertaining night of theatre be sure to check this out! popupglobe.co.nz

It’s been four decades since Neil Young released his seminal 1979 album Live Rust and to celebrate one of the greatest repertoires known to rock, a sensational lineup of Kiwi musos will band together and play hits from the iconic album. Those tapped to perform include Liam Finn alongside Samuel Flynn Scott and Chris O’Connor of The Phoenix Foundation, award-winning musicians Reb Fountain and Delaney Davidson, as well as the prodigious SJD and The Bads’ Dianne Swann and Brett Adams. Expect smash hits like ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’, ‘Cortez the Killer’ and ‘After the Gold Rush’, plus an opening set of classics spanning Buffalo Springfield to Crazy Horse. Catch this epic night out when it takes over the James Hay Theatre on August 8. premier.ticketek.co.nz

An illuminating night of classical music is on the cards when the wildly talented musicians of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra take to the Ron Ball Studio in their winter performance All That Glitters (July 4). The night is part of the CSO’s Studio Series of one-hour programmes carefully curated by the orchestra’s musicians, providing a fascinating insight into their inspirations. Other performances in the series are Virtuosity (August 8) and Journeying Inward (September 12). cso.co.nz

A night of high-octane rock awaits when the lads from City of Souls storm into Club Tavern on July 6 for one explosive performance. With a stellar lineup of musicians who earned their stripes in local and international hard rock and metal bands such as Blindspott, Blacklistt, 8 Foot Sativa, New Way Home, Cold By Winter, In Dread Response and Solstate, you know these guys are no strangers to the music scene and are going to bring the noise. With previous gigs as supporting act to rockers Villainy, Devilskin and US rockers Halestorm, and locking in a deal with Aussie label Wild Things, City of Souls have cemented themselves at the forefront of rock in New Zealand and are a live act not to be missed. teamcityofsouls.com

Prepare to be blown away by the powerful vocals and show-stopping performance of The Kingdom Choir – most notable for their epic rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Founded in 1994, the choir have developed a unique sound that demonstrates the community they share through their high-impact and enthusiastic performances. As well as having a phenomenal stage presence, their repertoire spans many genres from classic hits through to contemporary vocal-driven songs such as Beyonce’s ‘Halo’ and John Legend’s ‘All Of Me’. Catch them when they take over the Christchurch Town Hall stage on August 11. vbase.co.nz

An entire weekend of TEDx celebrations is on the cards when TEDxChristchurch and TEDxYouth@Christchurch link up and bring TEDxChristchurch: Tūrangawaewae – A Place of Belonging to the Christchurch Town Hall on August 24 and 25. Now in its 10th year, the event will inspire and challenge those who attend, thanks to the sensational lineup of speakers set to take to the stage. So clear your diaries of any social activities and snap up tickets to either of these two empowering days of talks. tedxchristchurch.com

The inimitable Royal New Zealand Ballet will take to the Isaac Theatre Royal stage and showcase Mário Radačovský’s compelling choreographic work Black Swan, White Swan. A daring and seductive retelling of Swan Lake, Radačovský’s work is a deeply personal take on the classic love story and follows Siegfried, who is caught between two women – the black swan and the white swan – and his overpowering struggles with temptation, love, pure evil and himself. Captivating, beguiling and draped in style, be sure to snap up tickets to this performance (June 27 – June 29). "..brilliant production, the inventive re-exploration of humanity’s familiar struggle.." - Mona Williams, DANZ Magazine "..what we'd just seen expressed all that was humanly possible by means of lean muscle, fingertip and bone." - Leah McFall, SUNDAY Magazine "..spectacular lifts are repeated in the stunning, visceral duo work.." - Tania Kopytko, Theatreview "..mesmeric and achingly lyrical, Sara Garbowski"...

Urzila Carlson opens up about being private, and fan-girls over Oprah. Any advice for those budding stand-ups out there? Just start doing it, and write every day as much as you can. Only make jokes in the beginning that you won’t mind your mum hearing. It’s super easy to fall into filth straight away. Keep it tidy. Like many comedians you had a bit of a rough upbringing – do you think that is a prerequisite for being funny? No, not at all, I know many comics with a great childhood. You just need to be able to observe people and be able to see the dysfunction so you can joke about it. Have you been back to South Africa since you left in 2006, and if so, how did it go? Hells yeah! I go back nearly every year. I’m the Tourism Ambassador for SA and I love it. My kids...

There’s no better time to sup a delicious glass of mulled liquor than in winter, and our friends from The Spirits Workshop have put their expert spin on the winter warmer by throwing their sublime Curiosity Gin Pinot Barrel Sloe into the mix. Ingredients 1 litre apple juice100ml lemon juice1 sliced orange1 satchet Curiosity Gin botanicalsCuriosity Gin Pinot Barrel Slow Method 1. Heat the juice, orange and gin botanicals together in a large pot until simmering.2. Turn down the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.3. Put about 150ml of the hot mulled juice in a heatproof glass or mug.4. Add 30ml of Curiosity Sloe Gin and garnish with a slice of the orange out of the pot. Makes about 7 cups of winter warmth for the soul! thespiritsworkshop.co.nz

Nikki and Toby Eaton, brains behind renowned catering company Eaton Drink Co and the hella funky Southside Social, have added super slick restaurant Barberra to their résumé. Described as a “fresh, modern approach to dining”, and with emphasis put on the concept of dining the way you want to, at Barberra you can peruse their exquisite culinary lineup from share plates, to entrees, mains and desserts or you can even up the ante and select a dish from each section of their menu and create your own degustation experience – now that’s rad. Find Barberra at 151 Cambridge Terrace. barberra.co.nz  

If you haven’t peeped the brand-spanking-new Nespresso Boutique which has opened up shop on Cashel Street – just a stone’s throw away from its original premises in Ballantynes – then brace yourself for an experience like no other. Featuring experiential coffee tastings and workshops, the concept store allows guests to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of high-quality coffee. Boasting state-of-the-art tech – there’s no queueing at a traditional counter, instead you place your order through one of their tablets – the boutique also houses a capsule recycling collection point, Forest Stewardship Certified wood, and technological systems in place to reduce energy and water consumption. Designed by award-winning architecture and interior design practice Universal Design Studio, the boutique is an expertly crafted store capturing the essence of the Nespresso brand from the table-tops finished with used coffee grounds to the lush greenery embedded with coffee plants. An absolute must-visit for lovers...