Arty facts

• Performances of 'Alice'
Playhouse Theatre's school holiday production of Alice in Wonderland runs from July 16 to 24. It is directed by Anita Cumming, who directed Badjelly the Witch a year ago. The play has sessions at 11am and 2pm daily, except for Saturday 16 (11am only) and Sunday 24 (2pm only), at the Albany St theatre.

• Festival acts announced
An Israeli choreographer, an opera based on a Maori chief, a Belgium-based circus act and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist will feature in the New Zealand International Arts Festival next year.

The festival, which runs from February 24 to March 18, announced the four acts this week.

Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter brings a young company of dancers and a live band to perform Political Mother.

The NBR New Zealand Opera will present Hohepa, a new opera based on the story of Maori chief Hohepa Te Umuroa, imprisoned in Tasmania in the 1840s. Written and composed by Jenny McLeod, Hohepa features Phillip Rhodes and Jonathan Lemalu.

A big top on Wellington's waterfront will host three generations of Belgium's Ronaldo family performing a circus "with a contemporary theatrical twist".

Thomas L. Friedman, foreign-affairs columnist for The New York Times and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, will be a keynote speaker at the festival's Writers and Readers Week, from March 9-14. The full programme will be announced on November 2.

• Youth Art Awards
Results of the Otago Art Society's Youth Art Awards, judged by Roy Almond. -

- Best school: Karitane School.

- Sponsor's choice: Aidhan Taylor (9), I Clank, I Stare.

- 11-13 years: Caitlyn Kilner (12), Me, 1; C.J. Collingwood (12), Ralf, 2; Liam O'Brien (11), Blended Flowers, 3; Jordan Davis (13), Self Portrait, merit.

- 8-10 years: Caitlin O'Brien (8), Rainy Night Light, 1; Samuel Crawford (10), Join Together, 2; Michael Wade (9), Cock-A-Doodle-Doo, 3; Carina Donegan (10), Pretty in Pink, merit.

- 5-7 years: Georgia Loach (6), Flowers, 1; Archie Hennephof (5), Water, 2; Noah Osaki (7), Soccer Stars, 3; Kealy Cullen (6), Fluffy Teddy, merit.

• Cabaret's new venue
Cabaret-theatre show "Cab Sav: A Savvy Cabaret" has had a change of venue, moving to the Globe Theatre. The show runs until Sunday. Producer Karin Reid said the show ran into an "unforeseen issue from the DCC" at its original As Is Performance Space in Princes St. The show is on nightly at the Globe at 7pm until Saturday, then at 2.30pm on Sunday.

• Graduates at Blue Oyster
The Graduate Exhibition at the Blue Oyster Project Art Space this year, curated by University of Otago art history graduate Emily Palmer, features Dunedin Art School graduates Oliver van der Lugt, Claire Mahoney and Tom Garden.

The guiding curatorial concept for the exhibition is "environments", which each artist has interpreted differently.

Van der Lugt explores unseen aspects of domestic environments, Mahoney's installation investigates collecting, while Garden's digital images reference new technologies. The exhibition runs until August 20.

At 2pm on Saturday, July 23, Maggie Gresson, the executive director of Artists Alliance, will be involved in a panel discussion about young and emerging artists in New Zealand.

• Library marks Poetry Day
The Dunedin City Library hosts a poetry evening next week to mark National Poetry Day 2011.

The evening features Fiona Farrell, Joanna Preston, Richard Reeve, Michael Steven and Rhian Gallagher, with David Howard as master of ceremonies.

Bookings are essential (on 474-3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz) for the event on Friday, July 22, which runs from 7pm-9pm.

• 'Art in Law Vl'
exhibition Works by students and graduates of the Dunedin School of Art are on display at the University of Otago Faculty of Law in the exhibition "Art in Law VI".

The exhibition has been curated by artist Desi Liversage, and runs until November 17.