An arts festival for everyone
1 Drop Nation
When Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre created a weekend celebration of its heritage restoration in 2023, it was meant to be a one-off.
But Off Centre was a hit. Too good to lose; the festival is back. This time in a compressed format over a Friday night and all-day Saturday.
The Off Centre programme is jam-packed with over 30 acts with broad appeal. A good proportion are free or by koha. The major drawcard (with free admission) is Ōtautahi’s 1 Drop Nation, known for its mix of roots, rock, funk, and reggae and its electrifying stage presence.
Kā Mōrehu
Twisty Twins
Other headliners are by turns exuberant, edgy, intelligent, and beautiful: an intimate performance by singer-songwriter Hera; Katakata Comedy Club presented by Shay Horay featuring Dai Henwood; Prince Orlofsky’s Masquerade Ball, with the sumptuous music and surprising staging of Toi Toi Opera; new work from Jolt Dance, Sole, featuring disabled dancers; and Kā Mōrehu, in which kā toi Māori practitioners respond to texts about New Zealand’s future.
There’s plenty more, including family-friendly events, buskers, cinema, and delicious kai options. As they say, art is food for the soul!
8–9 March, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre