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I’m a producer, programmer, and an arts and events manager with a penchant for festivals and projects that cross artforms and defy what you might think about when you think about “the arts”. I started programming theatre, dance, comedy and music at BATS Theatre in Wellington, moving to Christchurch to work on the Christchurch Arts Festival in 2010. Our 2011 Festival was one of the first major events in the city post-quakes, which taught me a lot about what’s important. I scarpered off to Australia, wanting more experience on bigger-scale projects.

It was great, but I had a hankering for home and a more long term role. I moved back to Aotearoa to the Auckland Arts Festival and now to WORD Christchurch.

WORD is all about creating moments for our community to come together to celebrate words in all their forms. At our heart, we’re a literary festival, but actually, we’re a whole lot more. This year will be live and in the flesh, and we are so excited to host that space.

For those wondering the answer to that very Christchurch question, I went to St Margaret’s College, trying very hard to be the next sportsperson in the family, but actually at my best in music, drama, debating, and art. I did the ultimate theatre geek move when you’re a teenager and was part of the NZ Young Shakespeare Company that went to the Globe in London, had a brief career as a Court Jester, that sort of thing. I really wanted to be a Black Fern, though. Ah well.

I’ve lived away from Christchurch a lot in the past while, but I’ve come back as much as I can and watched the city fall to the ground and build itself back up again. I can feel the energy growing, and I am so excited to come back and help build that buzz up again. I’m looking forward to making a home in Ōtautahi once more. It’s really feeling like I’m going full circle. I’m even moving in with one of my first flatmates in Christchurch!

For the full interview with Steph and Kiran Dass from WORD, head to avenues.net.nz