Green Fire Islands: 'From Grass Roots, To The World Stage'

Project 2012-05-13 06:58:55 +1200

WATCH THE VIDEO FILMED & CUT BY NIMBUS

Green Fire Islands is possibly the world"s most exciting and dynamic music collaboration. We need your help to film the 2012 Tour around Europe. Its a really brilliant story that needs to be told.

WATCH THE GREEN FIRE ISLANDS TRAILER

Trailer and all photographs thanks to the talented Kathrin Simon.

Green Fire Islands is performing in London on the Oceania stage during London’s Cultural Olympiad amongst other tour dates. 

This is London’s welcome to the millions of visitors expected to flood the city for the 2012 Olympic Games. WOW! 

Green Fire Islands is the only New Zealand act to perform in this two day 92 act festival. We are all really excited about this prestigious opportunity.  

Green Fire Islands is the story of the renaissance of two powerfully creative cultures, Irish and Maori, via the medium of their music, poetry and dance, and their meeting and interaction.

The first production of Green Fire Islands was in March 2008 in New Zealand. The then unproved concept of bringing the two cultures of Ireland and New Zealand/Maori together was an outstanding success.

The acclaimed cinematographer Alun Bollinger has documented the development of the Green Fire Islands story and its performances around New Zealand during its 2008 tour. 

Why we need your help: 

Many observers have commented that Green Fire Islands has the potential to become one of the worlds most desired and loved stage shows. This has been a response to the first production that had the effect of drawing consistently strong emotional responses from its audiences.

The rehearsal time in Annamakerrig in Ireland this July is going to be extraordinarily intense. 

We need our talented film crew to be able to adequately capture the next lot of footage for the documentary. This will involve filming these rehearsals and our Irish Premiere in Dublin. It will also be capturing the audience reaction in London on the Oceania stage in Greenwich.

Further we have been invited to Vienna to perform in a 13th Century Franciscan church in the heart of the city of Vienna.  This is an enormous promotional opportunity. Just imagine the film finishing its world debut part of our story in Vienna!

We already have the interest of people interested in and in a position to take the show forward to international touring.

The film crew"s expenses are circa $50K. Any further money we raise will go towards post production development such as editing, manufacturing and promoting all around the world. 

(I mortgaged my freehold house to help pay for the first production and to get it to where it is now...unfortunately the bank won"t extend that loan!!) 

What the money will be spent on:

From The Dominion Post 12 March 2008: Review by Matthew Davis

"GREEN FIRE ISLANDS sees the coming together of two cultures deeply rooted in song and dance. Led by Irishman Donal Lunny, this two hour performance is based on a collaboration between Irish and Maori musicians. On paper it seems a risky mixture of song, kapa haka, poetry and the ancient Gaelic singing style, sean nohs, yet on stage it was executed brilliantly. Together the 14 piece ensemble created a unique dialogue between the two island nations as they wove traditional instruments into a contemporary setting. Though the show had been rehearsed only within the past week, it had taken a decade to organise. On the evidence of last night it was certainly worth the wait."

From The NZ International Festival: Festival Director Lissa Twomey and CEO David Inns April 2008

"Green Fire Islands was a highlight for many in the Festival, offering the captivated audience the opportunity to experience the richness of our local culture alongside that of Ireland. It was an evening full of spirit, warmth and exceptional talent, which was a journey for all. Thank you for taking us on that journey and entrusting us with the presentation of your "vision".

From NZ Weekend Herald, March 15th, by Scott Kara

"Mao-rish music a conflicted wonder; blending two such passionate cultures was sure to strike sparks!"

From Dominion Post"s "Festival Highs and Lows", published after the festival had finished, 19/03/08 This from reviewer Jennifer Shennan

"HITS: Green Fire Islands: Heavenly pairing of ancient and new Gaelic with old and new Maori, in music, song and poetry."

Thanks to our current funders: 

We would like to thank our current funders and sponsors for getting behind this exciting project. You, along with many other contributers and sponsors have helped us get to where we are today. WE LOVE YOU!! 

• Creative New Zealand 
• Culture Ireland
• The Tindall Foundation
• Gallagher

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