New Zealand / Covid 19

Auckland Arts Festival cancels French performance due to Covid-19 impact

17:31 pm on 26 February 2020

Auckland Arts Festival has cancelled a French performance show due to the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

A performer is suspended from high-wires during the outdoor aerial performance of the show Place des Anges in the UK. Photo: AFP

Chief executive David Inns said the arial spectacle Place des Anges was hampered by rising air freight costs driven by the Covid-19.

"It's a huge disappointment. We've been working on this show for five years to get us here."

Place des Anges was set to be performed at Auckland Domain from 13-15 March as part of the 2020 Festival.

Tickets will be fully refunded.

Inns said the festival had been hit by other impacts from Covid-19, including increased flights costs for the Los Angeles Master Chorale group Lagrime Di San Pietro, which had to cancel its show in Hong Kong.

"We are fully confident everything else will keep rolling as programmed," he said.