The memory of February 2011 is likely to bring a shudder to all Christchurch citizens. Almost two years later, the city is far from the vibrant arts and culture hub it once was, but a familiar event could be just the thing to unite all those affected by the devastating earthquakes.
A world-famous occasion, the Christchurch World Buskers Festival is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, and will be returning to its birthplace for the first time since the earthquakes. Although central Christchurch is still struggling to regain its composure, a cluster of temporary venues have been set up to host the international and local guests set to perform at the upcoming event.
‘We are making a gradual return to the city, but it is baby steps,’ festival artistic director Jodi Wright announced. ‘We have gone back into the city where we know there will not be disruption from the circumstances we are all living through.’
Wright added that she hoped the festival will be able to return to Cathedral Square in 2014. While the return of the festival to its usual location is a welcome one, the main hope is that the festival will have a therapeutic effect on the city, and that it will return smiles to the faces of all those who have lived through the difficult period since the earthquakes.
‘Ten days of laughing has to help. I feel better when I’m in a big group of people where everybody is having fun and feeling happy,’ Wright said.
Smiles and laughter are always welcome, but the event is also likely to bring a helpful boost to the local economy. In recent years, the festival has attracted approximately 300,000 people to its shows and generated around $3 million. It also happens to be a popular event for national and international visitors, with 8 per cent of them staying in local hotels.
‘The buskers festival has established itself very firmly as an iconic event,’ Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said. ‘It attracts a lot of people to Christchurch and it is a significant contributor to economic activity in Christchurch. It brings people into the city again.’
Producing the largest outdoor festival New Zealand has to offer is no mean feat, especially in a city so recently rattled by natural disaster, but the festival has been flooded by support from five lead contractors all of whom are dedicated to seeing the city restored. Known as SCIRT’s ‘tight five’, these five companies are sponsoring the festival this year, further indicating just how closely linked the city’s rebirth is with this special event.
‘The festival sponsorship is a huge thank-you to everyone for their patience,’ SCIRT general manager Duncan Gibb said. ‘It reminds us that people are at the heart of this rebuild and that we need to enjoy our city as we rebuild it. The Buskers Festival is a live link to the city as it was and as it will be.’
This year’s performers include a range of familiar faces such as The Topp Twins, The Flying Dutchmen and Alakazam while also presenting a plethora of festival newcomers including Le Gateau Chocolat, Hot Dub Time Machine and Marie Antoinette. Music, mime, dancing, comedy and acrobatics are all on the agenda, with 33 acts from 9 different countries coming together to share in the joy.
There’s no doubt about it, Christchurch is still in the recovering process, a city slowly but steadily looking to regain its former glory. But as a recent opinion peace published by The Press put it, ‘The festival provides more than just the thrill of the circus for Christchurch. It’s about reclaiming the city centre with laughter. It’s about laughter as optimistic defiance. And it’s about hope.’
The World Buskers Festival runs until 27 January. A full program can be found on the official website.
