May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 1

CANTERBURY TALES – FESTA 2013

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 2

Building on the success of LUXCITY at FESTA 2012, a follow-up production is being developed under the name of CANTERBURY TALES as the major event for FESTA 2013. This collaborative project will intertwine performance, architecture, art and business/hospitality. With a view to better developing the arts and performance side of the project, FESTA is working with Free Theatre Christchurch to coordinate a number of performance groups, artists and community groups to work in collaboration with architectural schools around the country and local businesses to create a ‘city within a city’ for four days. As with LUXCITY, the studios will work with FESTA and collaborators to develop, design and build 1:1 installations for the project.

Similar to LUXCITY the project will be based on different sites in the central city with light structures providing an interactive architecture for observation, contemplation or play for spectators. However, unlike last year CANTERBURY TALES will include a procession or parade of masked performers, giant puppets, etc. from site to site. Spectators will be able to join this procession on its way to the different sites, which will in turn be activated with performances of different Canterbury tales. The late medieval setting of Chaucer’s tales and the carnivalesque procession of the pilgrimage to Canterbury cathedral will provide a variety of inspirations for the performative sites as well as the procession of puppets. On the other hand, the format for the production will be able to include a wide variety of different performances, contemporary or otherwise, so that all sorts of community groups, artists and arts organisations can be involved.

CANTERBURY TALES will allow the community to actively re-engage with their place, playing with its imaginary identity of a, to a large extent destroyed, medieval (English/Gothic Revival) past and imagining its (Pacific/Global) future. This is a collaborative process that will see local, national and international responses to the extraordinary situation in Christchurch, allowing this city to be an epicentre for creative urban renewal through experimental architecture, art and performance. As with LUXCITY, local businesses will anchor the different sites, installations and performances, but their particular activities (for example food or drink offerings) will be more integrated into the site performance. Key coordination roles will be taken by Free Theatre to curate the performance contributions; and FESTA for location design and the legal and logistical implementation in the city and community context.

Major sites will include the following performance groups and artists:

1. Pacific Underground (coordinators: Tanya Muagututi'a and Pos Mavaega) 2. A grouping of Christchurch’s sound and visual artists (including: Bruce Russell, Roy Montgomery,

Adam Willets, Graham Bennett, Jason Mill, Tjalling DeVries, Chris Reddington, and dancer/choreographer Julia Milsom (Coordinator: Zita Joyce)

3. The Loons Circus Company with Fleur de Thier (Coordinator: Mike Friend) 4. Free Theatre Christchurch (Coordinator: Peter Falkenberg) 5. The CSO and Cathedral Choir (Coordinator: Gretchen LaRoche) 6. City Market: artists representing Ngai Tahu (Coordinator: Maani Sterling) and an assemblage of

performance groups (including Tablo, A Different Light, New Music Ensemble)

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 3

This year will also include international contributions: Professors Thea Brejzek and Lawrence Wallen are bringing scenography students from the University of Technology Sydney to work on an installation for the river with local artist Graham Bennett, scenographer Mark McEntyre and artists of Ngai Tahu. (Note: conversations are underway with other international institutions).

A number of community groups have also expressed interest in being involved including: Gap Filler, Life in Vacant Spaces, Student Volunteer Army, Farmy Army, the Society for Creative Anachronism and The Ministry of Awesome.

This event is designed to help lay the foundations for an inclusive, vibrant and innovative city of the future.

LOCATION: Christchurch City Centre

DATE: Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th of October 2013

More detailed information available if required (including: timelines; outlines of projects to be developed on sites; and detail of procession make-up).

Please contact: George Parker (FESTA Project Coordinator, CANTERBURY TALES) george@freetheatre.org.nz

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 4

Please note the images and sketches below are not for publication, including on the internet, without FESTA's permission.

'Archrobatics', Unitec Architecture Department with Beach Bar. LUXCITY, Festival of Transitional Architecture, Saturday 20 October 2012. Image: Bridgit Anderson.

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 5

'Altitude', Unitec Architecture Department with Cassels and Sons. LUXCITY, Festival of Transitional Architecture, Saturday 20 October 2012. Image: Bridgit Anderson.

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 6

'In Your Face', an interactive and fashion installation. A collaboration between The University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning, and Infinite Definite. LUXCITY, Festival of Transitional Architecture, Saturday 20 October 2012. Image: Bridgit Anderson.

'Kloud', The University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning and White Elephant Youth Trust. In the background, 'Archrobatics', Unitec Architecture Department with Beach Bar. LUXCITY, Festival of Transitional Architecture, Saturday 20 October 2012. Image: Bridgit Anderson.

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 7

2012/2013 Summer Workshop – Canterbury Tales (Supported by a CCC Creative Communities Grant). Free Theatre developed prototypes, models and sketches. Image: Chris Reddington.

The Merchant. Canterbury Tales (FESTA 2013). Inspired by the Bread and Puppet Company. This puppet will take at least 15 people to operate. Image: Chris Reddington.

May 2013. Prepared by George Parker, FESTA Project Coordinator, Canterbury Tales 8

The Knight. Canterbury Tales (FESTA 2013). Playing with the provincial festival – a tractor converted into a puppet (in collaboraiton with the Farmy Army). Image: Chris Reddington.

The Procession. Canterbury Tales (FESTA 2013). Six major puppets will initiate a range of Canterbury tales in sites through the city. The Procession will also including a diversity of masked performers. Image: Chris Reddington.