Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Every week on RNZ’s Culture 101 we explore the cultural richness of this country by catching up with a local in a place, big or small.
There’s no better demonstration of that richness than the cultural scene over-the-hill, top-of-the-south at Tākaka in Mohua, Golden Bay.
Tākaka is a town that, with its galleries and venues, visibly represents a region full of artists. Theatremaker Martine Baanvinger joins Culture 101 and says there’s a very active performing arts community, ranging from theatre and dance to fire poi, circus and belly dancing.
Martine Baanvinger in Red Heavens Photo: supplied
Things get busy as summer arrives, particularly with an array of summer festivals in the surrounding natural areas, like Luminate/Lunasa, Yatra, and Twisted Frequency. Nearby is also one of Aotearoa musicians’ most beloved venues, The Mussel Inn and, in town, a venue more dedicated to electronic music, The Roots Bar.
Martine credits the Golden Bay Community Arts Council with keeping things very active with annual events: Bay Art (a big art exhibition), a Cobb Valley artists residency programme, Bay Lit (literary festival), Golden Bay Arts Festival and a winter Light Festival.
Baavinger has been touring Aotearoa this winter with her solo show Red Heavens and is back in the Tasman-Nelson region this week for her last six shows.
Based on the book Angelina by Golden Bay author Gerard Hindmarsh, Red Heavens portrays the true story of Angelina Moleta, who moved from the island of Stromboli in Italy to D'Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds, aged 16.
Red Heavens performs in Tākaka’s Village Theatre tonight, before hitting Mapua, Motueka, Richmond and Nelson over the week.
The Mussel Inn. Photo courtesy of The Mussel Inn. Photo: The Mussel Inn. Photo courtesy of The Mussel Inn.
