Follow the Narnia lampposts up through the domain on a balmy summer evening, with the cicadas playing eardrum tennis and surrounded by all that intoxicating greenness, you realise what a beautiful oasis we’ve been gifted right in the heart of our city. What better place to witness Auckland Festival’s opening weekend skyrocket into the stratosphere with Groupe F’s world premiere of Skin of Fire.
With the buzzy vibe and beauty of thousands of happy folk parking it on the grass under a full moon, with their cheese and crackers and chatter, and the sweetest dub beats (by International Observer - yes!! Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey) it’s well worth making time to chill pre-show.
On opening night we were blessed with jazz, the soulful husk of Frank Yamma and David Bridie, and the most beautiful and stirring kapahaka from Western Springs College. On Friday night Kalaga’la and Pacific Underground take the stage, followed by the sweet melodies of Tiny Ruins on Saturday. The kids in the coffee cart are stoked they’ll have better work stories for at least three days.
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If you’re lucky you’ll be met at the gate with
French styles accordion from Tracey Collins. |
Groupe F create a feast for the senses from the get-go, with dreamy fairy light people, appearing from white, snowy tussocks to roam the crowds. The waves of light, sound and fire build and just keep coming, gentle and pretty one minute, raw and pulsating the next. You feel it in the earth beneath you before it explodes into the sky in, frankly, the biggest ass firework display you’ll EVER see. It’s really not shy. ‘Wait, what, there’s more?’ Why yes, there is … look over here …
It is the most exhilarating sherbet fest for every sense you’re blessed to have. Dump your smartphone I say. You’ll never do it justice. Using the Auckland War Memorial Museum as a mighty sandstone canvas, Groupe F leads us through animal kingdoms, over the frontline and into urban cityscapes, from raging volcano to the cold functionality of a qwerty keyboard.
Your eyes will be wide, and your mouth will hang open. I promise.
Creative director Christophe Berthonneau and his team have created a stunning homage to Auckland and our festival. You’ll have seen the insta/twitter explosion, and rightly so. Don’t let the weather put you off. This is a once in a lifetime. I can guarantee you will say (quite a few times) ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’ as you drift spellbound back into the city.
Skin of Fire is on at Auckland Domain on Friday and Saturday night. Gates open 6.45pm. Show starts 9pm.
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