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The Kiss Inside – Douglas Wright SkyCity Theatre 16th April

It always amuses me how Maori culture is perceived in an arts context, it’s more readily acceptance by mainstream middle class audiences than its portrayal by so-called radicals on the news

The use of an old Maori chant or tauparapara is a powerful visual in the opening stanza of stalwart Douglas Wright’s world premiere of his latest work The Kiss Inside. Billed as a “kinetic meditation on the search for ecstasy in human culture”, one can’t help but think of this as biopic peek into the life of Wright a Rangatira who lends himself to appearing in the show adding credence to this interesting body of work

The symbolism of Life the ever present tree, the idea of redemption or the poi swinging figure in a burka all emblems against a soundtrack including Sufi music, Patti Smith and J.S. Bach. Five dancers building a visual cascade of human movement, it’s deliciously dark and morbid take on life and all its subtleties is explored. This is dance theatre at its most potent, challenging and mysterious

The Kiss Inside opens at Auckland’s SKYCITY Theatre on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April, followed by one night only performances in Wanaka (as part of the Festival of Colour), Dunedin and Nelson only performances in Wanaka (as part of the Festival of Colour)

“explosive, lyrical and distinctively Wright’s own” – NZ Herald (rapt)

“an important work in divining and inspiring a New Zealand culture” – National Business Review (rapt)

AUCKLAND:
SKYCITY Theatre | Thursday 16 & Friday 17 April 8pm
Book tickets at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz

WANAKA:
Lake Wanaka Centre | Tuesday 21 April 8pm
Book tickets at www.festivalofcolour.co.nz (part of the Festival of Colour)

DUNEDIN:
Regent Theatre | Friday 24 April 8pm
Book tickets at TicketDirect 0800 224 224 www.ticketdirect.co.nz

NELSON:
Theatre Royal | Tuesday 28 April 8pm
Book tickets at TicketDirect 0800 224 224 www.ticketdirect.co.nz