International buyers 'go wild' over New Zealand work

IFACCA/Artshub,
11 March 2002, New Zealand

International producers, festival directors and venue managers 'went wild' over performances from three New Zealand performing arts companies featured at the recent fifth International Australian Performing Arts Market in Adelaide, according to Australian festival director Robyn Archer. The biennial, five-day event is the only major international performing arts market in the southern hemisphere, and draws delegates from Australasia, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, to view and book performance works. This year's event marked the second appearance by New Zealand companies, and was followed by a tour of 12 international directors, including Archer, to the view more of the nation's talent at home. Among the market's 40 spotlight performances were 25-minute excerpts from three New Zealand companies: Taki Rua Productions' Woman Far Walking, From Scratch's Pacific Plate, and Black Grace Dance Company's Best of New Works program. National arts development agency, Creative New Zealand recently released the comments from Robyn Archer, currently Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival and of Tasmania's biennial 10 Days on the Island Festival. She also dubbed the nation's presence at the market 'very impressive'. 'There was a real interest in understanding indigenous New Zealand work,' Archer commented, 'Taki Rua’s showcase went wonderfully. People were "bowled over" by Black Grace and delegates stormed the New Zealand booth afterwards. And I particularly enjoyed From Scratch, who were inventive, quirky and very funny.' Archer’s comments were echoed by a Scottish delegate, Mary Shields, who is hoping to put together a season of New Zealand work for the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival; while Hawaii-based international presenter Tim Bostock, says the country has a wealth of talent. 'Certainly, more New Zealand work will be coming to Hawaii in the next few years. My challenge is how much we can fit into a single season,' he said. Creative New Zealand supported the three companies to showcase their work at the market, also hosting a booth and producing the publication, Going Global, which promotes 28 local performing arts companies with tour-ready repertoire. Cath Robinson, the organisation's Arts Development Manager, commented: 'Our aim was to create a lasting impression of the diversity, depth and quality of the work in New Zealand and feedback suggests we did that incredibly well. There was a fantastic buzz.' Further information regardind Creative New Zealand is available online at: www.creativenz.govt.nz