The Star
Thursday May 26 2016
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Theatre/Arts
Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Ghost stories at Ferrymead
By Georgia O’Connor-Harding NATALIYA Orshchuk has always enjoyed the feeling of being both horrified and exhilarated. Now her independent theatre company will be presenting their third season of Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories at Ferrymead Heritage Park. Weird Tales of Midwinter will take audiences on a pre-show ghost walk around the park before launching into two ghost tales – Carmilla and The Sandman written by Orshchuk. The show will star well-known city performers Michael Adams and David Allen. Growing up, Orshchuk had an interest in Gothic English stories. "I think it is called the sensation of sweet horror. As a child, you want to listen to scary stories because they scare and excite you," she said. The idea to tell ghost stories at Ferrymead Heritage Park first formed while Orshchuk was visiting the park on a quiet day. "I think any ghost story you tell in the dark with a lantern in your hand at Ferrymead Heritage Park on a winter night is going
GHOST STORIES: Performer, producer, director and playwright writer Nataliya Oryshchuk in the upcoming show Weird Tales of Midwinter at Ferrymead Heritage Park. PHOTO: THEUNS VERWOERD
to appear as if it really happened there," she said. Born in the Ukraine, Orshchuk moved to Christchurch 14 years ago to escape the difficult social
and political situation brewing in her country. She initially taught Russian language at Canterbury University and is now a learning adviser
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at Ara Institute of Canterbury. In 2012, Orshchuk set up NO Productions Theatre Collective with an aim to bring together local actors, musicians and directors to create site-specific shows. She said staying in the city post-earthquake was not easy and had a large impact on her independent theatre group. Yet since setting up her theatre company, Orshchuk has enjoyed great success. Orshchuk described the theatre's last production Turn of the Screw, based on the Gothic ghost story by Henry James, as her highest achievement as an actress. "We are taking this show on a tour. We are going to perform it again during Victorian Heritage week in Oamaru in November." Orshchuk said the fact her company will be running a third season of ghost stories confirms people love mystery and romance associated with the early 20th-century where the stories are set. •Weird Tales of Midwinter will run from June 16 to June 19. To book tickets, go to http:// www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/ weird-tales-of-midwinter/ christchurch
ARA INSTITUTE of Canterbury jazz tutor Kate Taylor and her band will perform Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits at The Cavell Leitch New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival. The festival began yesterday and will run until Sunday. With a full horn and rhythm section, Ms Taylor (left) and her band will be highlighting some of Wonder’s famous tracks. “It’s basically a pull together of all the tutors at jazz school, which is awesome . . . so this band is a special kind of mix of us all playing together,” she said. While working with New Zealand jazz singer L.A Mitchell, Ms Taylor had the opportunity to open as a backing vocalist for Stevie Wonder. The Stevie Wonder tribute will be held at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral this Saturday at 7.30pm. •For tickets, go to https:// www.dashtickets.co.nz/event/ tk85vc476
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