The Arts supporting Christchurch

Sirens
Wet Hot Beauties are doing a charity performance of Sirens

Like the rest of the country, I have been following the grim news from Christchurch with much sadness after yesterday’s quake. I want to know: How can I help?

Already I see some Arts and Theatre groups are pledging to donate money from their shows. Great stuff folks.
I am continually keeping this post up to date with all the fantastic fundraising events the Arts community are organising.

IN AUCKLAND….

Sirens
Wet Hot Beauties are doing a charity performance of Sirens

An Auckland Writers and Poet event is being planned, with all proceeds to the victims of the earthquake.  UPDATE: Now promoted by The New Zealand Society of authors, and being called a  Writer’s Read in around Auckland Libraries on Friday 25th March. Awesome.

 UPDATE 24/2: Auckland’s Wet Hot Beauties are doing a special charity performance for Christchurch of their 1930’s inspired water-ballet Auckland Fringe show Sirens this Sunday 27th February, 6pm at the Parnell Baths. Great to see artists from Auckland Fringe getting in behind the effort. AND UPDATE… it has already SOLD OUT, brilliant news. iTICKET got in behind with booking fees donated too.

 UPDATE 25/2: Auckland Theatre Company are planning a series of performances and events to raise money for organisations in Christchurch. The first is a dedicated performance of their current show Well Hung this Sunday 27th February, 4pm at the Maidment Theatre. All ticket proceeds will go to their sister organisation in Christchurch the Court Theatre. ATC write:

“The Arts Centre (which houses The Court and other arts organisations) has been extensively damaged and the theatre will be closed for a period.  We have very close ties with the Court –  a number of staff here have been on staff there in the past and a lot of actors, designers and directors have worked on productions there in the past. We want to make sure the theatre is full for this performance to maximize the donation we can give to the Court – you can book tickets by calling 09 308 2383 or by visiting www.atc.co.nz “ 

A great initiative from ATC, well worth supporting, and you can see their funny show as well. Its great to see the funds are targetted for the Court. ATC have Red Cross donation buckets for all of their performances, and plan for their next fundraising performance to be during their season of Poor Boy

UPDATE 1/3: Auckland Arts Festival have announced all proceeds from Friday 4th March Ihimaera concert are being donated to the NZ Red Cross 2011 Earthquake appeal.

With the support of writer Witi Ihimaera, producer Charlotte Yates, and the venue management and ticketing agency involved in the concert, a long-standing part of the Festival’s programme, Festival organizers are donating 100% of the box office for the March 4 concert…

The original inspiration behind the concert, writer Witi Ihimaera, says: “The concert will be our way of saying we love you, we want to support you, and we are all one iwi.

“What an honour to be able to help in this way, with a concert dedicated to all our family, friends and those from overseas who are grieving over this terrible tragedy. Our way will be to sing for them, and I hope that they will be able to hear us down there because we’ll be singing our hearts out.”

 “The Ihimaera concert is itself a celebration of New Zealand storytelling, history and creativity, performed by artists from around the country,” says Auckland Arts Festival Artistic Director David Malacari. 

 “This fundraiser performance is a practical way of helping Christchurch but also an opportunity for Kiwis to get together and share their sorrow for what has happened to Canterbury, and express their solidarity through music.”

 One of the headline New Zealand productions in Auckland Arts Festival 2011, Ihimaera is a stellar concert of 12 songs with lyrics by Witi Ihimaera and music by a who’s who of Kiwi artists.  Kirk Torrance (Outrageous Fortune) provides a linking narrative between the songs. 

Tickets to the March 4 benefit are on sale through Ticket Direct (Phone 09 976 9777 or 0800 224 224
www.ticketdirect.co.nz) and at the box office of the Genesis Energy Theatre, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. 

IN WELLINGTON…. 

 Some Wellington Fringers have started a ‘Fringe Friends of Canterbury’ detailing Fringe shows there that are offering support. Among them, The Improvisors are donating their share of the profits, El Jaguar and Friends are doing are doing a benefit concert, There’s So Much to live for are donating 50% of their profits, and How’s Wife – Happiness, Heels and Husbandry are donating 100%.

 UPDATE: Robbie Ellis in the comments below draws attention to a relief night at Wellington’s Circa Theatre on Monday 7th March.

Greg Ellis from The Improvisors of Wellington writes: “Rather than just watch helplessly a group of Wellington performers has started to put together a show on the performer’s night off – Monday to benefit the Christchurch relief appeal. Circa Theatre has given us the use of their main stage on Monday 7 March and we are going to put on a show – trying to bring together as many Wellington performers as possible to try and raise some cash for Christchurch.”

Also, the Adelaide Advertiser has an article about Sam Wills (ex CH) and others putting on a benefit gig:
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/sam-to-stage-nz-fundraiser/story-e6fredpu-1226010411555

I will update this post with more events as they are announced. Please get in contact (james@theatrescenes.co.nz) if you have an event you would like me to highlight.

There are a number of places where donations are being accepted. From the NZ Herald websitePeople can make a donation to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal either at an ANZ Branch (account number 01-1839-0188939-00) or at the National bank (account number 06-0869-0548507-00).

 Donations can be made to the Westpac Canterbury Care Fund, which is in partnership with the Salvation Army, either at branches nationwide or to the account number 03-0207-0617331-00.online here or by calling 0800 53 00 00.

 People can donate to the Salvation Army Earthquake appeal online here or by calling 0800 53 00 00.

 Donations can be made to the Christchurch Earthquake Support Fund in ASB branches or online (account number 12-3205-0146808-00).

 Vodafone users can donate to the Red Alert Canterbury Earthquake Appeal by texting “Quake” to 333 to make a $3 donation to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.

1 Comment on The Arts supporting Christchurch

  1. Greg Ellis from The Improvisors of Wellington writes:

    “Rather than just watch helplessly a group of Wellington performers has started to put together a show on the performer’s night off – Monday to benefit the Christchurch relief appeal. Circa Theatre has given us the use of their main stage on Monday 7 March and we are going to put on a show – trying to bring together as many Wellington performers as possible to try and raise some cash for Christchurch.”

    Also, the Adelaide Advertiser has an article about Sam Wills (ex CH) and others putting on a benefit gig:
    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/sam-to-stage-nz-fundraiser/story-e6fredpu-1226010411555

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  1. REVIEW: Water Ballet ‘Sirens’ (Auckland Fringe) « Theatre Scenes: Auckland Theatre Blog (Reviews, interviews and commentary)

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