World Buskers Festival

The World Buskers Festival has been in Christchurch for the last two weeks, wrapping up today. Buskers are street performers (in case I'm not the only one who did not know this word until recently). They're doing shows all over town for free (donations requested). We really wanted to go see some acts last weekend, but the weather was awful and we skipped it. Finally this weekend the sun came out in Christchurch -- hooray! -- and we strolled downtown for a few shows.

On Friday night we saw some acrobats, who were really more of a circus act than a street performance. Because most streets don't have a trapeze handy. They had a pirate ship theme and were pretty entertaining.

At the end of the show, they announced they were not being paid by "the Christchurch City Council, the New Zealand Government, or any other criminal enterprise" and asked everyone to donate generously. It was interesting how they tried to play on Kiwi pride to boost donations. They said a couple would pay at least $22 to see an American blockbuster at the movie theatre, that they were 'home grown Kiwis' and that the crowd should support them at least as much as they'd support the American blockbusters. An appeal to Kiwi patriotism. Well played.

On Saturday afternoon we wandered into Cathedral Square to see a few more acts. The sun was shining - it was a glorious day. This guy was kind of creepy and funny. Here he is shouting at the pigeons. Later he took off his trench coat to reveal a red speedo.

Then we went over to Victoria Square to sit in the grass and see a few more acts. These guys were brilliant. They did a bunch of gags with a variety of props they pulled out of their pink suitcases and juggled and stuff. Very simple, classic comedy.

The next act were two American guys from New Hampshire. They juggled fire and did back flips and stuff. And then Gareth was volunteered to hold a flaming torch! Look at Gareth's impression of the Statue of Liberty:

He was one of 4 men instructed to hold a torch up high. He suspected he was being set up. Sure enough, the buskers said they needed 4 volunteers, please just raise your hands, ahh, thank you, you 4 men with your hands up... hahaha. They made him hold a rope to hold this ladder in place. Then they did some other tricks while Gareth's hands started to sweat and burn holding the rope.


Finally, his rope-holding skills were going to be put to use. The 2 dudes climbed up the ladder and did some crazy Cirque-du-Soleil stuff at the top. Mad applause all around.

Lesson learned today: even if you've already packed your sun screen in anticipation of your move, UNPACK it and PUT SOME ON before you go sit outside all afternoon in the sun.