Record numbers for Capital E Arts Festival

The Capital E National Arts Festival has come to an end after two magical weeks of culture, art, interaction, adventure and fun!

2011 was the fifth biennual Arts Festival for Capital E and it was the biggest yet – with 7 international shows, 8 kiwi events, 82 schools, 170 performances, 422 buses of students, 1,500 children attending per school day with thousands more coming with family in the weekends adding up to a grand total of over 38,000 tickets issued.

Deborah Norris, a teacher at St. Theresa’s School  in Plimmerton, took a group of children during the first week of the education programme and says the three shows and a bus represents great value for money and a unique opportunity for Wellington’s children; “They loved all the cool noises coming from funny objects in Passing Wind at The Paramount, calling out for Jack to kiss the princess in Grimace at Downstage and especially seeing the whale eating up some of their school friends in The Whale’s Tale! It’s such a treat for them to be entertained in amazing venues, it runs so smoothly and the children get such a variety of quality shows..” 

“Our entire team is proud of what the Festival achieves for our young people, their families and communities,” says Capital E Director Stuart Grant. ”We are very fortunate to be able to attract such a high calibre of international and national performing arts to Wellington, and this doesn’t happen by accident. The Capital’s compact heart, the City’s abiding support and the constant desire of our region’s young audiences to see and experience arts and culture in new ways; these elements combine to ensure success. We really believe that our Festival makes Wellington a better place, but without doubt, it is being a part of  Wellington that puts the Festival so firmly on our Capital’s cultural map.”

The Festival, through assistance funding for low decile schools, enables children in the Wellington region to get actively involved in performance and has a reputation as a truly accessible experience across all socioeconomic levels.

Our generous sponsors help make this festival possible and we could not do it without them. Capital E sincerely wishes to thank our major funders; Wellington Museum Trust, Wellington City Council, Creative NZ and all our wonderful sponsors and media partners.

Capital E National Theatre for Children looks forward to touring the show Hear to See which premiered at the Festival around New Zealand during August –September 2011.

REVIEWS:

"Astonishing, brilliant . . . Awkward Theatre Company have aced the Grimms." - Theatreview, GRIMACE
"jaw-droppingly magical... they had people gasping and sighing. Movies spend millions on SFX to lesser effect." - The Capital Times, HEAR TO SEE
"an absolutely fantastic and heart-warming piece of theatre...A must see!" - Arts Access, UP DOWN BOY
"Highly effective theatrical magic . . ." - The Dominion Post, BOATS
"dramatic imagery compelling to watch..." - Theatreview, 2 DIMENSIONAL LIFE OF HER
"A cleverly conceived blend of grossness and innocence...their stories and character traits emerge between original songs delivered with great wit and musical skill." - Theatreview, VINNIE SEPTIC AND THE PRINCESSES 
"The things that Linsey Pollak can do with a rubber tube are genuinely amazing . . . Recommended." - Theatreview, PASSING WIND