Ōtautahi’s Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre has released the programme for Off Centre, a festival to celebrate the centre’s restoration and the diverse creativity it supports.

Off Centre is bursting with music, comedy, theatre and workshops, with well over 50 events crammed into a the weekend of March 3-5. Most events are free and family-friendly.

Some highlights:

• Tiny Ruins
  Multi-award-winning Hollie Fullbrook and her indie-folk band bring together a rare blend of lyrical craft and exquisite musicianship, in concert in The Arts Centre’s beautiful Great Hall.
• Toi Toi Opera
  Colourful site-specific operatic scenes for everyone to enjoy.
• Th’Orchard Dreamers Reprise
  Story-telling in song featuring Mark Vanilau, Solomon Smith and Th’Orchard crew’s first-ever single Burn It All Down.
• A Baby Called Sovereignty
  Journey with local wāhine through impressive indigenous sound, movement, text, and visual arts led by Juanita Hepi

Arts Centre Director Philip Aldridge says Off Centre recognises years of patience and hard work after the earthquakes ravaged the heritage theatre site. “The construction work is complete, the fences are coming down and people can once again walk through the centre of the site from east to west. It’s a significant occasion and we’re putting on a party to celebrate!” 

Indoor events will be ticketed, and all outdoor shows free to the general public, encouraging people to explore the freshly-opened site and wander from activity to activity during the festival.

Tickets are on sale now. Some free events require booking due to space limitations, so check The Arts Centre’s website for specific events you want to attend.