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Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Film feast for two-wheel devotees
Action like this should keep Big Bike Film Night film-goers on the edge of their seats. PHOTO: STEPHAN WIBMER Eight inspirational short cycling films will be shown in Arrowtown and Glenorchy as The Big Bike Film Night dismounts in Arrowtown and Glenorchy this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. "Each year I set out with just one goal — to bring together the best short cycling films from around the world for our audiences, celebrating the fun, the adventure and inspiration that bikes enable," Taupo-based curator Brett Cotter says. This year's batch includes a film featuring Queenstown mountain biker Ben Hildred tackling the local 50km Coronet Loop — last month he notched up one million vertical feet on Queenstown's Ben Lomond in just 100 days. The film night's now in its 11th year. Tuesday's screening's at the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall at 7pm and Wednesday's at Glenorchy's The Headwaters Eco Lodge at 7pm — tickets via
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
World War 2 tribute in song
Violinist Orla Dunlop Soprano Erin Connelly-Whyte Central Otago Regional Choir is performing in Arrowtown this Saturday in a tribute concert to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2. Among the numbers will be favourites the audience will even be invited to join in, including the choruses in The White Cliffs of Dover, It's a Long Way to Tipperary and Land of Hope and Glory. Other standards being sung include Now is the Hour, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and We'll Meet Again. Under the baton of Richard Madden, the accompanists include Peter Doyle (drums), Ariana Knudson-Hollebon (double bass) and Alison Frude (piano). Also appearing are two talented young artists Orla Dunlop (violin), who'll play a movement from Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto No 3 in B minor, and Erin Connelly-Whyte (soprano), last year's ODT Aria Competition winner, who'll sing Franz Lehar's aria, My lips kiss with such heat. Both will be accompanied by pianist Cameron Monteath. Tickets for Saturday's concert, 7.30pm at the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, are $30 from choir members, Arrowtown's Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown Pharmacy, Queenstown's Life Pharmacy Wilkinsons and Frankton's Summerfield's Pharmacy.
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Festival head-turners
Members of the Remarkable Men's Ballet, from left, Irik Anderson, Steve Kay, Jim Curry, Uan Spijkerbosch and Jake Neaves, surrounded by Arrowtown's Buckingham Belles, from left, Amanda MacPherson, Diana Cowie, Marion Vulliermet, Jacqui Elson and Heather Beard. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH It's an Arrowtown Autumn Festival first. Now in its 39th year, this year's festival — which starts today — will feature six highly-skilled (according to them) local dancers who are hell-bent on bringing the entertainment value. The Remarkable Men's Ballet troupe, traditionally only trotted out at the annual Queenstown Christmas Show, have this year been invited to perform — in their much-loved tutus — at today's Super Seniors High Tea, in the Athenaeum Hall, and as part of the lunchtime entertainment on the Buckingham Green tomorrow, between 1 and 3pm. Additionally, they'll take part in Saturday's street parade, which starts at 2pm. Autumn festival co-ordinator Vanessa Williams says she "cannot wait" to see the burly ballet boys in full flight, performing a routine, fittingly set to Vivaldi's Autumn, choreographed by Claire Hazledine. Balletman Uan Spijkerbosch is full of confidence ahead of their special performances. "We think we've got it. It's solid, it's dynamic, and we've nailed it." Williams says the weather forecast for the duration of the festival's looking great, and the leaves have turned at the perfect time. She's particularly looking forward to the Saturday events, which run from 8am till 4pm — drawcards include the market day, street parade, this year featuring about 40 entries, street entertainers and a vintage car display. Williams says she's also curious about two new events on Sunday. First up is the 'Pub Choir', at which punters can pop into the Athenaeum Hall at 3.30pm, and enjoy a pint while learning a couple of songs under the guidance of Natasha Wilson (In Harmony) and Rozy Winstone (SkyTop Children's Theatre), and then belt them out as a community chorus. Following that is the R18 'Casino Royale', at the New Orleans Hotel, at which ticket-holders can enjoy a night of gambling, food and drinks to bring the festival to a close. Williams, who's organising the festival for the first time this year, says she's "so excited" about what's to come. "I think everything's coming together swimmingly ... the only questionable factor is how many pumpkins we get in [for tomorrow's Pumpkin Comp]."
