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 competing are Barberra, Belgian Beer Café Torenhof, Botanic, Francesca’s Italian Kitchen, Rollickin Gelato Café, Universo and Welles Street. There is also a programme of special events including degustation dinners and an outdoor movie night.
NZ Opera’s The Barber of Seville
New Zealand Opera kick off their 2019 season in Christchurch with the riotous and utterly hilarious The Barber of Seville, which will take to the stage at the Isaac Theatre Royal (August 1/ 3/ 5/ 7). The production’s international lineup of talent is outstanding – American mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy takes on Rosina with support from John Tessier as Count Almaviva, Andrew Collis as Almaviva’s aging rival Dr Bartolo, Ashraf Sewailam as Don Bastilo and rising operatic star Morgan Pearse as Figaro, plus many New Zealand talents. Each performance will also feature the Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus, and the CSO under the baton of New Zealand Opera director of music Wyn Davies. With rave reviews already pouring in, if you’re looking for a night that is entertaining, make sure you grab tickets to The Barber of Seville. You can read our Q&A with Sandra Piques Eddy here.
Drax Project
Fresh from headlining sold-out shows in New York and London, Kiwi pop sensations Drax Project are performing in Christchurch on August 2. In the space of a few years, Drax Project have gone from busking on the streets of Wellington to selling out their own tours and opening for some of the biggest names in music, including Ed Sheeran and Lorde. This will be the first time they headline their own show in the Christchurch Town Hall, and it is destined to become one of those “you shoulda been there” moments. You can read our Q&A with Drax Project drummer Matt Beachen here.
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars fans, mark your diaries and prepare to be whisked off to a galaxy far, far away when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs the epic soundtrack to Star Wars: A New Hope while the film screens in the background. Going down at Horncastle Arena on August 3, this one is sure to be an absolute treat.
The Father, Court Theatre
Profoundly moving and darkly comic, The Father has become one of the most acclaimed new plays of the decade and focuses on the misconception of time, memory and dementia. The show, which is sure to stir emotion in everyone who sees it, is showing at The Court Theatre from August 3 – 24.
Louis Baker
Hot off the back of the release of his debut album, Open, homegrown talent Louis Baker is bringing his modern soul music to Christchurch. Baker is set to perform at Blue Smoke on August 8, covering everything from his newly released numbers to fan favourites ‘Black Crow’ and ‘Addict’.
New Zealand International Film Festival
If you’ve been counting the days until the New Zealand International Film Festival kicks off, the wait is almost over. This year’s programme includes quirky documentaries, a Cannes Film Festival winner and an assortment of local cinema. Sessions are running from August 8 – 25 at the Isaac Theatre Royal and Lumière Cinemas in the Arts Centre. Amazing Grace, By the Balls, Maiden and Portrait of a Lady on Fire are among the must-sees.
Disney on Ice Celebrates Mickey and Friends
In search of some family-friendly fun? It’s hard to look past Disney on Ice Celebrates Mickey and Friends. The show covers Disney’s rich history, from Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Toy Story, Finding Dory and fearless Polynesian princess Moana. The show is set for Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena on August 17 and 18, with sessions at 10am, 1:30pm and 5:30pm.
Dr Libby, ‘Overcoming Overwhelm’
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and stressed and haven’t quite nailed the cause of it all, Dr Libby’s brand new talk ‘Overcoming Overwhelm: Getting to the Heart of Stress’ will provide a fresh perspective and clarity on how to process those feelings. Learn how to live a full and thriving life without sacrificing your mental, emotional and physical health; distinguish where you might be using stress to mask other feelings; the impact that being overwhelmed can have on your hormones; and techniques to help calm your nervous system. Catch Dr Libby at the Charles Luney Auditorium on August 21.
TEDX Christchurch
Get ready to be inspired, intrigued and challenged by the lineup of speakers who will grace the Christchurch Town Hall stage on August 24 and 25. TEDxYouth will take place on the Saturday, with TEDxChristchurch going down on Sunday. Sunday’s 12 inspiring speakers include Matt Brown of My Fathers Barbers, Australian blogger Constance Hall, TVNZ’s Jack Tame and civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson.
Aldous Harding
It’s been a busy year for Lyttelton songwriter Aldous Harding. She’s released her critically acclaimed third album Designer, made her US television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and this month, she’s returning home for a nationwide tour. Harding’s lively show is coming to the James Hay Theatre on August 28. If you’ve never seen the alternative folk singer live, you’re in for a show of a lifetime.
The Chills
Pioneers of the ‘Dunedin sound’, The Chills are heading out on tour in August, with legendary frontman Martin Phillipps at the helm and fitter than ever. The tour comes several months after the deeply personal documentary, The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, and will see the band performing hits from both their adored back catalogue and their 2018 release Snow Bound. Just 120 tickets are available for the intimate Space Academy show on August 29, so be sure not to sleep on it.
CSO: Requiem
Soloists Anna Leese, Bianca Andrew, Jared Holt and Paul Whelan are joining forces with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for Mozart’s Requiem. The world renowned composer died before he was able to complete the piece, adding a layer of both tragedy and mystery to the compelling piece of music. Book your tickets now for this must-see performance on August 31.
Early warning: Ultimate Queen Celebration
Time to start practising your Queen sing-alongs! Freddie Mercury doppelganger Marc Martel is bringing his band and stage show to Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal on September 1. If you are one of the millions worldwide to have pushed the Oscar-winning Freddie biopic Bohemian Rhapsody to more than $1 billion in box office earnings, Marc’s Ultimate Queen Celebration is the perfect encore. Tickets for Marc Martel’s Ultimate Queen Celebration are on sale already, so don’t wait for the hammer to fall and leave you ga-ga, get in quick and he will rock you.