August 31: ‘Red Heavens’ – from Stromboli to D’Urville Island

Old Lodge Theatre: Doors open 6.30pm, Show starts 7pm

‘Red Heavens’ FroMartine Baanvinger, from the solo shows ‘Solitude’ and ‘Aperture’, brings another powerful, dynamic and passionate solo show to the stage. 

‘Red Heavens’ has successfully toured over 30 shows throughout New Zealand in 2024 with Arts on Tour. Now the show will tour one more time around the South Island. 

‘Red Heavens’ portrays the true story of Angelina Moleta, an Italian pioneering immigrant on D’Urville Island, whose fate is intertwined with the forces of nature and her deep connection with Wetekia Ruruku Elkington, a high-born Māori woman. 

Growing up on the active volcanic island of Stromboli, she is betrothed to her cousin who brings her, in the year 1906, to the even more remote D’Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Through hardship and an unlikely friendship, she grows into womanhood and motherhood.

This bitter and beautiful tale is inspired by the book Angelina by New Zealand author Gerard Hindmarsh who wrote the book about his grandmother.