paekakariki fringe

kicking off

2007-02-11T07:42:00.000+13:00

Well we are well under way. There are lots of things that will be done differently next time and I especially have learnt tonnes. I have laid in bed thinking about the things I have to do in the morning and am surving on the coffee that Siggy has supplied me and bananas. However, we have lights, sound and stuff. Helen Heath and other poets had an un-scheduled change of venue last night (Sat) into the church, thanks to Margaret's generosity. It was actually delightful in there and suited the intimacy of the poetry. Then the 13%ers Emilie Zoe Baker and Klare Lanson had a storming gig with a small but really enthusiastic audience. They now have two committed 12 year old (Ceris and Hayley) fans and budding 'fannyists'(the new generation of feminists as described by Emilie in one of her pieces).
I am now beginning to get excited and might even enjoy myself. Tonight another bunch of Melbournites are coming to town and will delight a St Peter's audience with the spoken word of Sean M Whelan and the rock music of the Mime Set. There will also be a more local flavour with a cabaret compared by the hilarious Sue E AKA Tyree Robertson. Playing will be, Sheba, Tyree and her new band and there is a rumour that Hinemoana will make a special guest appearance.
But first of all there is loads of stuff happening for the kids. A clown at 1pm, a storywalk with Annabelle Buttons at 2pm and the Fat Teddies at 3pm. And for those with a sense or a taste for rhythm Mabeth of Hands on Drumming has an event to join in with at 2pm. I am not sure when to eat.
On Monday for those interested in politics and who are hopeful for peace should get themselves informed by the documentary 911 Press for change which will be presented by Miles Thompson on Monday night. Check the link

traffic violations and front pages

2007-02-02T21:16:00.000+13:00

Paekak's little fringe has been enjoying some notoriety this week. Nigel Swan interviewed me for Beach FM on Thursday. I was amazed at how nervous I felt. I am feeling quite nervous generally. It's scary behind the scenes. I haven't spent much time here before. I've always swanned in done my bit and gone to have fun at the rest of the festival. Forgive me all you organiser types I took for granted.
Anyway back to the notoriety (courtesy of Sandi Hall who is sending out wonderful press releases and being less flakey than anyone else). Then the Fringe Truck got us in trouble. I arrived back in Paekak after the aforementioned radio thingee and Alan Wehipeihana came and told me the police were going to tow the truck, Chris has been trying to get hold of you. Then I went home and Tali from the Kapiti Observer rang me and asked me if I would like to comment on the 'Fringe Truck Incident'. The lovely people at the service station had allowed us to park the truck on the grass verge next to SH1, for everyone to see. However, this was difficult for some people to see properly as they left the service station and one such person complained to the police. The police arrived ready to call in the tow truck. Meanwhile the service station people have called Paul who is cycling over to move it. And Chris from Paekak Auto's gets roped into it by the police. He then tries to prevent a tow away; unsuccessfully trying to break in and calling around to find Paul. Paul arrives to find a $60 parking fine and moves the truck to another piece of grass a bit further away.
Then to top it all off at the same time as this is all going on Amanda Hanan of 'Girls in cars talking about boys' is being interviewed and members of her cast photographed by the Dominion Post. See Fridays FRONT PAGE!

catching up

2007-01-28T12:53:00.001+13:00

I am not feeling very on top of everything, but rather slightly to the left of centre. My blissful holiday has ended with a bit of a bump - small town politics and lots of catching up. However the sky is blue, the music is playing and there is a sweet breeze blowing. I am now going to get back to making things work properly.
I am beginning to see posters for individual gigs which are really exciting. Like the one for Diane Spodarek's 'Marley & Rachel and A Body Part' with an image we will all remember and the very cheeky knit wear number from 13% Punk. I am so looking forward to seeing everything.
We have now got a festival with extra added music. The J Birds and Ziggy (who will be playing inside a giant picture frame) being exciting late comers and Home Fire Burning and Candela confirming. So dust off your red shoes and get ready to dance.
Now acts are seriously signing up for the cabaret night on 11th Feb and 3rd March. The comedy night is on the of 22nd Feb. Tyree Robertson will be appearing as the charming Sue E to compare on the 11th. Prepare to be outraged in the best possible way. If you feel you've two minutes of stupidity you'd like to share or a short set of songs, some puppets, a monologue, some magic, a multi-media wotsit or some strange hybrid let us know. It doesn't have to be ready for Broadway, just show us what you got.

Paekakariki Fringe Program Published

2007-01-26T20:14:00.000+13:00

The program has now been publised. Corrections, comments etc to Jess@virtual-cert.com please.

2007-01-14T17:40:00.000+13:00

Now that the silly season is ended life and the organising of festivals must go on. Winnie Laban's office confirmed that she will join us for the launch on 9 Feb. Also confirmed are Lewis Scott, Apirana Taylor and Lyndsay Rabbit and a very nice man from Kapiti Office Products in Paraparaumu has offered to sponsor us. For now whilst there's still time for skiving I've got to have a word with the Tasman Sea.

joy riding

2006-12-15T19:12:00.000+13:00

I feel like I am chugging up to the precipice of a rollercoaster. I am travelling more and more steeply towards the moment when gravity will take control. Soon I will hurtle through christmas, parties, presents and all, career sideways around the summer holidays, slip, slap, slopping on the way and then plummet several thousand metres towards the Fringe. Time is rushing up to meet me like a rhinoceros. I must remember to take a breath.
I am getting close to having enough confirmed to go to the printers. The plays are being cast. There's a few new ideas. Ziggy emailed me about some original music he would like to perform inside a giant picture frame in Cambell Park. Holly Ewens and collaborator Andy Hummel have come up with a bit of a twist for her second music event. I don't want to give any suprises away but it's now called 'The Blind leading the Blind'.
I am so pleased that we have such a good balance between music, writing and visuals. I would like there to be more installations though. Any wacky or weird ideas out there. I know some great places to put stuff.

rain makes it green

2006-12-08T11:46:00.000+13:00

whilst I am sitting at the computer and talking on the phone today the rain is swelling the ground and growing that lush greeness out there.
I am already having a good day. After playing a bit of phone tag I got to speak to Lorraine from R-30, 'comedy for those who would rather have a nice lie down'. They are now confirmed for Sat 24th Feb. Another night I am looking forward to. Details and pictures will be on the website soon. I also had a chat with Artis who wants to put a blackboard music event on in the sand dunes. He is chasing the right permissions and logistics. I will hear back from him on Sat and will post any news.
I just got a phone call from Lewis Scott who had read an article in the Capital Times about Paekakariki's fringe. I was a bit suprised because I didn't know we had an article in it. He said I should speak to Apirana Taylor and Lynsey Rabbitt about a performance poetry gig with him. So I just did and they are going to look at the dates. So there you go.

torture!

2006-12-06T21:51:00.000+13:00

As my 11yr old daughter said to me the other day, "there's only one torture about living in Paekakariki. On the way to school you can see the sea but you can't go swimming because you're going to school". Today I decided to go swimming, well walking actually, on the beach. Mr Tui was singing to me too sweetly to stay indoors.
So I haven't got much to report. I got a few emails. I sent a few too. Tidied a few glitches and that sort of thing, but I will be back tomorrow with something exciting to say I'm sure. There is this huge pile of stuff waiting to be unleashed and wrangled - the printing, the publicity. Today is just a lull before that storm.

Keep Talking

2006-12-05T15:13:00.000+13:00

This morning I was pleased to see Holly Ewens and Shona Holborow arrive at my front door. We enjoyed a coffee and discussed my play The Blue Flower. Holly is playing Parsi the young runaway and Shona is playing Abbi the wily old lady of my piece. They came up with the lovely idea of having Janet Holborow play her Cello live for the transitions between live action and film. It is such a rich melancholy sound that will fit perfectly.
Then tonight I met with the Community Board Trust or the Community Trust Board to get them in the loop. They all seem to be happy about the ideas that I put forward. At the end of the evening I had a chat with Steve Burgess about the Youth Group helping out. A couple of them may bomb some signs and the Fringe Truck (Fruck), the infamous orange hotrod from Paekak. That would be cool. I would like them to help decorate the space with us so they have a sense of involvement and ownership in the whole thing. Then Mary Cornwell approached me with a very generous offer of help with the costumes for the play. She is a professional and worked for TV ONE for a long time. That will be another enriching layer to the whole piece.

Major Update to the Paekakariki Fringe Calendar

2006-12-04T23:30:00.000+13:00

Lots of new dates have been added! Still time to submit your proposals.

VJ night Saturday 17 Feb 2007

2006-12-04T21:57:00.001+13:00


Put it in your diary. We will light up the Paekakariki night with projected fantastics.

Calendars and Cabarets

2006-12-04T19:23:00.000+13:00

Well tonight/tomorrow I am going to get up our provisional events calendar. I know I will have to change it quite a lot, but it will give everyone a flavour of what will be happening.
Had a good chat with Dempsey Woodley about the Comedy Night and the Cabarets. He has agreed to compere for us, which is great. I know he will make the night real good fun no matter what is thrown at him. I can see a dressed-up St Peter's Hall, full of people in comfy arm chairs with standard lamps and cocktails, all having a good time. A little Gypsy Jazz from Steve Sherry, a few laughs, a song and who knows what. All kept abuzz in Dempsey's capable hands. And all on my doorstep.

lights

2006-12-03T14:18:00.000+13:00

Well we are filling in the diary and starting to confirm more and more events. I am starting to feel really excited. It's going to be a really full-on, fun three weeks. I spoke to Ben Fulton today about a narrative/musical/play about Nick Drake he would like to put on. It sounds really intimate and interesting. I also got an email from Claire Ashton who has two plays she would like to put on. Then got in touch with Julian from Pukerua Bay who works with projected stuff and VJs. There will be quite a few VJs. A three girl umbrella out of Raven vs Pony, Simulacra and possibly Renan from France. There will be a VJ/projection night on 17 or 18th of Feb. Julian is also interested in working with Emily Boonen on a homage to the old pub with a projection of the pub onto the old building.

full head

2006-11-28T23:12:00.000+13:00

My head is very full. Full of Fringe stuff that is. A play in the back seat of a ford estate, VJ's, printing budgets and all kinds of crazy ideas are mixed up with strong coffee and the rest of my life. At least I haven't got time to do crap things like shopping and cleaning. However out of the maelstrom a schedule of events is coming together and I might even get it all to the printers on time. For now I am very excited about everything and will fill this space in with all the definates soon. So many people are so enthusiastic from Earl and Robyn in the cafe to Rozel from the Community Board and from James at Bats to Rita at Kapiti Coast District Council who all said 'What a great idea'. Only one person (whom I shall not mention) has been negative so far. Thank goodness Debbie is around to make sense of all my scribbled notes and keep things on track. Vanessa is doing great things drumming up advertisers and maybe even a big sponsor (cross our fingers) which will make things a lot easier. Loads of exciting artists, performers, writers, musicians and others are getting invoved. Plans for a 'Launch Party' are coming together. Pony vs Raven are going to let the whole event spill out of thier shop and provide a venue for three lady VJ's to light up the evening. From 4pm there will be tasters of some of the events and performances to come and other things to entertain: extracts from the 'Conversations with Girls in Cars', songs from Holly Ewens, Rythms from Marbeth, spoken word performances from a Melbourne trio, street theatre, stalls, horse vaulters and good food and drinks. I can't wait.

Holly comes on board

2006-11-28T22:16:00.000+13:00

It looks like Holly Ewens songstress and actress extraordinaire will be taking part in the Paekakariki Fringe. She will give us a taste of rich, poetic lyrics and velvety voice at the launch party and then later on in the festival we will see her music set in a new play that she has written.

New Website

2006-11-22T21:37:00.000+13:00

We've not even broken cover with the first web site and we are already on our second! The new web site is shaping up at http://paekakariki.fringe.googlepages.com The first web site was hosted for free by microsoft's office live but it quickly proved not up to the task. The google pages are still free and allow us to include a richer experience.
Now we just have to get everything we want to say onto it. WATCH THIS SPACE!