“No one believes in God anymore, but everyone believes in Bach”
Mauricio Kagel
 
“I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones”
John Cage
Ars Acustica - our avant-garde theatrical music fair in the woods.
 
Surrounded by trees and orchards in the heart of Waltham, we invite you to join us for our first theatrical adventure in Waldheim, Seven Oaks (Waldheim is the Germanic version of Waltham, which translates literally to “home in the woods”).
 
Ars Acustica builds on our earlier successful collaboration The Mauricio Kagel Project (2015), which was presented in the Christchurch Arts Festival. Featuring works by Argentinian composer Mauricio Kagel including “Exotica” and “Ballet for Non-Dancers”, Ars Acustica now also delves into Kagel’s major influence, the pioneer of avant-garde music - John Cage.
 
Directed by Peter Falkenberg in collaboration with UC School of Music under the curatorship of Mark Menzies, NZSO conductor Hamish McKeich and the CSO.

Wednesday 30 January, 8.00pm
Thursday 31 January 8.00pm
Friday 1 February, 8.00pm
Saturday 2 February, 8.00pm
 
Waldheim, Seven Oaks (35 Hassals Lane, Waltham)
Online booking essential
https://www.facebook.com/events/424598381410690/

Instrumental Theatre Workshops and Symposium

In the lead up to Ars Acustica we offered a series of Instrumental Theatre Workshops where the participants created their own Instrumental Theatre performances and this also provided an opportunity for them or their creations to become part of the project themselves.

A free public Symposium also took place on Saturday 2nd Feb in the TSB Space at Turanga Central Library providing an opportunity to hear the collaborators talk about their experience creating Ars Acustica.
“We performed Cage’s 4’33” during one of Free Theatre’s Ubu Nights when I was down for the project in 2015, these guys really get Cage and his works still have the power to shake up our expectations, to really engage an audience”.
NZSO conductor Hamish McKeich
Reviews

Tony Ryan, The Press "Ars Acustica: a theatrical adventure on the woods"

Erin Harrington, Theatreview "A clear artistic victory that might be too much of a good thing" 

Brett Johansen, What's Up ChCh
"A constant stream of unexpected, occasionally hilarious and occasionally disturbing twists"

Interviews
RNZ Checkpoint Friday 21 December "Free Theatre may have found a new home in time for Christmas"

RDU with Matt Orchard on The Morning of Absolute Truth show Thursday 24 January Interview- Ars Acustica

Audience feedback:

"Thanks Free Theatre!! I loved it! The setting, Waldheim, incredible! The performers amazing!! It was a feast of the senses! Una fiesta de los sentidos!!" - Juan Pellegrino

"Thanks for an awesome night, really enjoyed it" - Aaron Hapuku