The Queenstown Memorial Hall will host the world premiere of Rita and Douglas on April 12, the touching story of the relationship between New Zealand artist Rita Angus and musician and composer Douglas Lilburn.
Told through the letters written by Angus to Lilburn and the music composed at the time by Lilburn, played by pianist Michael Houstoun, the performance explores a complicated relationship between the two.
Latin passion will spark when a dozen dancers and musicians perform in Olé Ola on April 14, taking audiences on a high-energy journey from Cuba to Argentina and Brazil with the lambada, salsa, chacha and more.
New Zealand band the Phoenix Foundation plays in the memorial hall fresh from its successful European tour on April 15.
Families can enjoy the quirky antics of Linsey Pollack in Passing Wind on April 13, also in Queenstown, as he makes and plays instruments using everyday items such as carrots, rubber gloves and a garden hose.
The Glenorchy Hall will stage two of the programme's comedy highlights: the highly acclaimed and outrageously funny Guru of Chai - which won Jacob Rajan a 2010 actor of the year award - on April 15, and, on April 16, a revival of the play C'mon Black, based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup year.
The festival's touring programme will also take performances to other centres across the Southern Lakes area, including Hawea, Luggate and Cromwell. The full programme is on the festival's website, www.festivalofcolour.co.nz.
Tickets are available through the website, by calling 03 443-4162, or from i-Site Visitor Centre Queenstown.
The 2011 Festival of Colour runs from April 12 to 17.
