Jonathan Bielski - Auckland Arts Festival

Jonathan Bielski, who began his career in theatre as a lighting designer in Palmerston North, has taken over the job of artistic director of the Auckland Arts Festival from Carla van Zon, and will lead programming of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 festivals. Most recently, Bielski was the project director for Auckland Theatre Company's new ASB Waterfront Theatre, and was at Sydney Opera House for 13 years as head of programming and then director of programming. Bielski has announced his first two shows in the March 2018 Festival, one a performance of the classic romantic ballet Giselle by the English National Ballet, choreographed by dance superstar Akram Khan, and the other a performance of George Orwell's 1984 by UK theatrical innovators Headlong.