Christ, Kim Dotcom and Aotea Centre take centre stage

Jesus Christ, Kim Dotcom and the Aotea Centre are centre stage for Christmas entertainment.

There are a number of very different Christmas entertainments on offer in Auckland this month, including one work 270 years old and another probably not yet finished.

THE EDGE presents
Unwrapping Christmas
Aotea Square
December 7-21
Free street theatre, live music and dancing

Bandstand under the Stars
December 21-7

A chance to dance under the stars. From salsa to swing, Bollywood to a Celtic ceilidh and classic ballroom, this is a chance to get dancing shoes on and learn some new moves. The perfect way to end a summer evening and celebrate the Christmas season.
Hosted by Nick Rado, 2011 Winner of NZ comedy’s best MC.

Live at Lunch
Monday to Friday, December 10-21
12 noon to 2pm
Music by local Kiwi artists. Featuring: Spoilers of Utopia, Valiant Boys and Tuba Christmas.

Emerging Pixels #2
December 4-21, Aotea Centre

Taking inspiration from several animation techniques, A Painting gives you the opportunity to interact with classic masterpieces such as van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhone.

The Messiah
Auckland Choral and Pipers Sinfonia
Uwe Grodd, Conductor
Auckland Town Hall
Monday, December 17, 7.30pm
Tuesday, December 18, 7.30pm

Auckland Choral has presented its annual performances of Handel’s great oratorio Messiah for m ore than 150 years. The work has been a perennial favourite since its first performance in Dublin in 1742 and has been included in Auckland Choral’s concert seasons since 1855.

This year the soloists include Baroque specialist Lauren Armishaw, who is returning from Holland, and alto soloist Kate Spence and David Griffiths (bass), both firm favourites with Auckland audiences. Tenor soloist Dana Wilson will be giving his first performance in New Zealand since arriving from the United States.

Mega Christmas

Written by Nic Sampson and Barnaby Fredrick
December 12-22
The Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave

This week the Basement confirmed it has obtained an addition to their cast in Kim Dotcom. He joins a formidable rotating group of actors and public figures including Shane Cortese, Jacinda Ardern, Kimberley Crossman, Michael Hurst, Oliver Driver, Pua Magisiva, Mia Blake, Siobhan Marshall, Harry McNaughton, Cameron Rhodes and Thomas Sainsbury.

The show has been written by Nic Sampson and Barnaby Fredric, who created the 2012 NZ International Comedy Festival hit Bombs Away!

The pair say they have made sure this year’s show full of inappropriate jokes and enough New Zealand celebrities and musical numbers for you to poke a candy cane at.

Helping bring quality laughs since 2008, The Basement general manager Charlie McDermott says: “We really missed the Christmas show last year and it’s awesome to have it back. As usual, it’s a fundraiser and we’ll be using the money to transform the foyer into a gallery space for emerging visual artists.

"I love the ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ nature of these shows. It’s gonna be a totally anarchic night out. Woohoo, a festive panto not for the whole family.”

The story follows the usual plot line of “Twas the night before the night before Christmas”.

In this version, however, there is a North Pole work party and Rudolph wakes up savagely hung over and discovers Santa is missing.

Along with Elf and Tinsel, he hatches a plan to steal the magic sleigh.

Following clues around the world to find their employer, all they know is that whoever Santa is with is wearing dive boots.

Chased by a bi-polar bear and using Santa’s Facebook check-ins and location services to track him down, Elf, Rudolph and Tinsel have one day to bring home Santa and save Christmas.