The uplifting, experiential and multi-award-winning Rushes makes its Wellington debut in the 2018 New Zealand Festival, presented by Movement of the Human in collaboration with Te Papa and Circa Theatre.

From its sell-out 2017 Auckland Live season, Rushes will transform Circa Theatre into an intriguing warren of unique architectural performance spaces, weaving together live music, audio/visual projections, dance and physical theatre in a groundbreaking work that defies any single arts genre.  

This unique show, where live music gig meets art gallery meets theatre, dance and film, features over 30 performers from around New Zealand. With stunning visual imagery, lighting and sound, Rushes will leave you energised and exhilarated. 

In this world, audiences curate their own experience. Choreographer and director Malia Johnston explores how our relationship to physical space can influence the way in which we experience a performance, creating an immersive environment that gives audiences the freedom to explore. Johnston compares the performance atmosphere of Rushes to a gallery experience, allowing viewers to experience the work at their own pace.

“There is a condition you’re physically under when you’re in a gallery which is a different physical experience to when you’re in a theater.  With Rushes you are inside the work and the visceral nature of live performance in this context is quite magical” says Johnston.

Movement of the Human artists have worked for 20 years creating avant-garde work both individually and collaboratively. The expertise of Malia Johnston, Eden Mullholland (music), Rowan Pierce (AV) and John Verryt (set design) are fused together to create a work that is “simultaneously relaxing, energising, entrancing, playful, immersive, fanciful, inspiring and entirely delightful.” (NZ Herald)

Rushes is an exciting, intriguing, family-friendly work full of cutting-edge New Zealand talent and absolutely not to be missed!

The New Zealand Festival 2018 season of Rushes is presented in collaboration with Te Papa and Circa Theatre and shows at Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Wgtn from 23 Feb – 5 March.

Performance times: Friday 23 Feb preview: 8pm, Saturday 24 Feb – Monday 5 March: 7.30pm, Sundays: 4pm, No show: Monday 26 Feb
Tickets: $20 - 104 from www.festival.co.nz/2018/events/rushes/
View the Rushes video trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqYt9a6XGoE