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Theatre and Events

Just Theatre
    • Mo Etc.
      • Straight out of Wellington, multidisciplinary act Mo Etc. creates music for the soul. With formal theatre training and acting under her belt, local singer-songwriter Moana fell in love with the music scene – spending hours upon hours writing tunes to feed our inner soul and emotions. Her 2022 release ‘Underwater’. Accompanying the release is its […]
      • Accepted from Newtown festival 2019 by feedreader
      • Tagged as:
      • theatre

    • H.y.p.e vol. 2
      • H.Y.P.E VOL 2 is a reimagined contemporary dance work of H.Y.P.E (How You Perceive Energy) from UKU’s sold out season at the NZ Fringe Festival. This work will take you on a journey through extreme physicality and subtlety whilst exploring different
      • Accepted from Bats Theatre openings by feedreader
      • Tagged as:
      • fringe-festival

        • BATS Theatre, 1, Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • The role of vacant urban space in a Covid crisis
      • <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Jan Bieringa, Sophie Jerram, Linda Lee and Jason Muir with 'Exquisite Kaitiaki' by Miriama Grace-Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel at Urban Dream Brokerage and Brokered Dreams book launch, 2/57, Wellington. Image: Ebony Lamb Wellington communities need more creative and public spaces as inner city population booms and housing crisis puts rental stress on the young and vulnerable  Covid-19 and economic recession leaves empty shops and buildings empty in Wellington Urban Dream Brokerage programme will resume connecting artists with owners of unoccupied property Applications for artists to run projects are now open online www.urbanddreambrokerage.org.nz  <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Ariki Bloomwell presenting welcoming karakia. Image: Ebony Lamb As the residential property market escalates, and as increasing numbers move into city apartments, a need for inner city spaces for exchange and community is growing.  With significant growth in commercial property left vacant since Covid-19 hit, the programme Urban Dream Brokerage is relaunching in Wellington to provide vital spaces for people to exchange, meet and help the city develop.    Following its first run between 2012 and 2018 in response to the Global Financial Crisis, creative space programme Urban Dream Brokerage (UDB) has been relaunched funded by the Wellington City Council Tipu Toa: Build Back Better / City Recovery fund.  <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Image: Ebony Lamb The relaunch is spurred by a rise in unoccupied property around Wellington city due to the pandemic, and the need to create shared public spaces and experiences in a central city whose population is growing fast. The programme continues to run in Dunedin and has previously run in Porirua and Masterton. After the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake many buildings were taken off the Wellington market for strengthening, meaning fewer spaces could be used. Now property owners are embracing the renewed opportunity to enrich the city with artist and community occupied spaces.  “We have a commitment to a city that feels good for the most vulnerable and gives space to the most generous. We see ourselves as intentionally curating projects that will provoke change, for example decarbonising and indigenising the city,” says UDB co-founder Sophie Jerram. <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Victoria Singh from The Waiting Room Image: Ebony Lamb “Other cities across the world including Brussels and Barcelona are taxing buildings that are vacant for more than three months, providing incentives to keep buildings occupied, something that could work well when property is surging in value.” The aim of the brokerage is not just to help restore the city to pre-pandemic levels and types of activity, but to help create a new and better place where art acts as a bridge that welcomes all comers.  UDB co-founder Mark Amery makes a case for culture providing a vital sense of place and meaning for city dwellers that leads to economic development.   “A cultural recovery in Wellington is more than about attracting visitors through events.  Culture is fundamental to our wellbeing and a sense of ownership of the city for those who live here. And we also invest financially where we feel a sense of belonging.” <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Mark Amery and Helen Kirlew Smith. Image: Ebony Lamb A book of past projects  Brokered Dreams: 98 Uses For Vacant Space has just been launched. “We also need to test new models of living space as we face environmental and social crises. Artists and community groups are leading the way,” says Amery. <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Brokered Dreams: 98 Uses for Vacant Space. Image: Ebony Lamb Wellington City Council is supporting the brokerage to re-enliven the city in 2021 with activities, including support for the performance programme The City as a Theatre and a rejuvenated Cubadupa. UDB is produced by Maverick Creative, managed by dynamic Political Cutz performer Jason Muir with Linda Lee from Shared Lines Collaborative. Muir is already visiting property owners to find homes for projects. “UDB rules! My creative practice emerged from Urban Dream Brokerage so now I feel proud to manage the project and look forward to enabling others on their journey, to share their dreams with the people of Wellington,” says Muir. Urban Dream Brokerage was established in 2012 by Sophie Jerram and Mark Amery as part of their Letting Space entity under the umbrella of Wellington Independent Arts Trust. UDB found spaces around New Zealand for over 120 creative projects, some short and some long term with more than 40 property owners, allowing the artists’ work to infuse energy into the properties while new tenants were found. Some projects continue in the properties where they started - Come Sew With Me in Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth Park is celebrating this month its third anniversary, while others like Coliberate a ‘mental health gym’ are now successful innovative businesses.  Brokered Dreams: 98 Uses for Vacant Space - the book is available at www.urbandreambrokerage.org.nz/book or at Unity Bookshop Wellington. <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Evzen Novak, Thomas Lahood, Darcy Case Laurie Foon, Suzanne Tamaki and Gerry Paul during karakia. Image: Ebony Lamb <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Sam Trubridge. Image: Ebony Lamb <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Crowd at two/fiftyseven. Image: Ebony Lamb <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Image: Ebony Lamb
      • Accepted from Urban Dream Brokerage Blog by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • cubadupa
      • theatre
      • porirua
      • covid-19

        • Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • We're back!
      • <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Young Visionaries Tēnā koutou katoa  We come with great news! We are delighted to write that the Urban Dream Brokerage is relaunching in Wellington city (see the website), with support from the WCC City Recovery Fund for the first year. We are now open for new applications from both citizens with new ideas for vacant space to increase public participation in the city, and from property owners with vacant space that needs enlivening.  UDB continues to be funded through the Wellington Independent Arts Trust but Letting Space (Mark Amery and Sophie Jerram) are announcing the handover to Maverick Creative led by broker Jason Muir and staff Linda Lee and Tallulah Farrar. We have been in discussion for some time, and Mark, Sophie (and past brokers Helen Kirlew Smith and Tamsin Cooper) are professionally involved in training and overseeing the establishment of the UDB over the first six months. Excitingly, Letting Space are also curating six commissions with WCC funding for UDB in 2021 (details here).    Pencil in the busy Xmas diary a rather special launch celebration for Thursday evening 17 December 5.30pm at Level 2 57 Willis Street (above Unity Books) which will see the launch of a UDB Book 2012-2018, Brokered Dreams, and the introduction of a raft of exciting programmes for early 2021 Theatre as a City with Performance Arcade, Cubadupa, and the dynamic new artist powered work space we are in for that evening Two/Fifty Seven. More details to follow. RSVPS required,. Many exciting ideas and property relationships are already in development and we are all so thankful for the support and enthusiasm this is already receiving at a vital time for Wellington city, and indeed the planet, to look for new models of being together in urban environments as we see apartment blocks rise, income and property inequality issues, significant wasted vacant space as we potentially face a recession and dramatic new challenges with Covid and environmental factors. Urban Dream Brokerage is a mechanism for all in our community to lead. Our aims remain as follows: Increase diversity and community through living spaces in the city. Reduce vacant space and increase citizen ownership in towns and cities. See stronger representation of mana whenua in the city. Increase professionalism and help innovate business development. See creatives, artists and community service groups resident long term in the CBD. Increase mixed use of the city's building stock. Increase public engagement in the city See our cities known for their innovative use of space and public interaction. We are excited to be working in closer partnership with major creative partners like PlaygroundNZ and Creative Capital Arts Trust, WCC, Wellingtonnz and major property partners to support independent artists, community organisations and creative-minded citizens to occupy this special city.  We are a service for the whole city and want to hear from you. We can’t wait to celebrate together.
      • Accepted from Urban Dream Brokerage Blog by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • covid-19
      • cubadupa
      • theatre

        • Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6040, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Weekly Wrap Up (Week 12, Term 2)
      • Important Dates Monday 20 July: Start of Term 3 Wednesday 22 July: Parents’ Evening (Senior Students) Monday 27 July: Parents’ Evening (Junior Students) Monday 27 July: Board of Trustees meeting 6pm Important Information Principal’s message In his end of term Principal’s message, Dominic reflects on the events of the past month including our recent open evening and music evening, events which, not so long ago we felt would be unable to take place. To read Dominic’s full report, click here. What’s happening? Open Evening and 2021 enrolment We welcomed over 400 families and whānau to our open evening last Monday on what was possibly the coldest night of the year. Our team of student and staff guides took tours around the campus, students were actively involved in promoting different areas of school life, and everywhere was alive and buzzing with activity. Enrolments are now open for 2021. Our enrolment process starts online at: https://portal.whs.school.nz/index.php/enrolment. If you have any questions, please email Jude Aspinall, our enrolment officer on jude.aspinall@whs.school.nz        Music Evening Our Music Evening on Wednesday 1 July gave students the opportunity to showcase their talents. With a range of big band, groups and solo items, pieces in a range of styles and genres, it was a fabulous evening compered, as always by music teacher Fritz Wollner. To view the photo gallery, click here. Instrumental and vocal lessons update If your Junior student is interested in taking instrumental / vocal lessons but has not yet enrolled, please download the form from the Student Hub and hand in or email the completed form to Fritz Wollner Lessons will be reorganised for Terms 3 and 4. If students have not been attending regularly, they need to see Mr Wollner as soon as possible to ensure they do not lose their spot. Tamatha Paul – lunchtime lecture The Feminist Club was delighted to welcome Wellington Councillor Tamatha Paul to deliver this Thursday’s lunchtime lecture. Tamatha (Ngāti Awa / Waikato Tainui) was first elected to Council in 2019 and is one of three Pukehīnau / Lambton Ward counsellors for 2019-2022. As an independent candidate, Tamatha campaigned on issues including zero waste, connecting communities and the importance of prioritising future facing leadership. As can be seen from these pictures, Tamatha’s visit attracted a large audience, keen to welcome and listen to her.         Year 10 Computing – Photoshop and political discourse Students in Gus Donaldson’s Year 10 computing course have been developing skills in Photoshop through working on a project on the theme of political discourse. Their work is currently on display in the foyer outside the library. The posters, with the narrative from their creators alongside them, are powerful pieces of work that clearly exemplify the students’ views and response to current issues in the world around them. The display will remain in place at the start of Term 3 and you are invited to come and view it.              WHS Ink – Junior Art club zine 30 Year 9 and 10 students have been working on their own artwork during each week’s WHS Ink sessions. Coordinated by Teacher Aide, Connor Morrison-Mills, this group of talented students’ work is now included in their very own zine. Click on the image below to see more. Outdoor Education’s snowy tramp It has been cold enough for many this week, with the storms and freezing winds around Wellington. The Outdoor Education students showed their mettle by heading out on a tramp in the Tararua range earlier this week. They made it as far as the Powell Hut before the weather conditions made it too risky to continue and they turned back.              Achievements He Kākano – AWD Tenpin Bowling On Thursday 2 July, He Kākano students competed in the annual AWD Tenpin Bowling competition against students from other Wellington colleges. All students and staff had a fantastic time and there were some really strong bowlers in the group. The top three WHS students were Talib Prime, Darius Ngature and Joshua Nathan.              Roxy5 finalists ‘En Passant Films’ and ‘Look Away’ are both WHS finalists in the Roxy5 film competition this year. Screenings will take place on Friday 31 July at the Mclaurin Theatre, Victoria University. The winner will be announced at the Red Carpet awards evening at the Roxy Cinema on Wednesday 5 August. We are waiting eagerly to to see whether The Work of An Artist (En Passant Films) or Hey Cassie (Look Away) will scoop a place. Pictured below are En Passant Films: Sam Quinn, Rory Maher, Nym Jones, Liv Calder, Sky Gobbi, Jack Whitehead, Namu Dahlberg and Ashton Gordon.   Open Evening: Business Studies Logo quiz winners Many thanks to all those students and whānau who entered the Logo quiz competition that ran at our recent open evening.  The answers were: Air NZ, Disney, The Warehouse, Starbucks, Wellington HS, Te Papa, The Heart Foundation, Wellington City Council and Netflix.  The winners were Toby, Tama, and Oscar. Sports Boys 1st XI Football On 27 June, our boys 1st XI football team beat Newlands College 4-0, taking them to the top of their pool. This Saturday the team will play St Patrick’s second team. If the team win or draw they will go into play-offs on 18 July against either Onslow College or Wellington College for a place in the Youth Premier Reserve. Good luck team!  
      • Accepted from WHS news by feedreader
      • Tagged as:
      • newlands
      • tours
      • issues
      • bowling
      • business
      • music
      • te-papa
      • theatre
      • wellington
      • education
      • art
      • libraries
      • storm
      • snow
      • lectures
      • cinema

        • Wellington High School, Taranaki Street, Mount Cook, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Announcing Urban Dreams Monthly Lunchtime programme 2018
      • <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Thomas King Observatory, Wellington, work residency for artist Julian Priest in 2018 with thanks to the Wellington Museums Trust. Introducing for your diaries the Urban Dreams Monthly Tuesday lunchtime programme for March to May 2018 at Toi Poneke. We've got a great set of guests, across artforms: Leo Gene Peters, Julian Priest, Sacha Copland, Kerry Ann Lee and our mayor Justin Lester. We're always aware of the holes in knowledge between artforms even in a small city, so read on for more details on these strong artists. First gathering: next Tuesday March 13. An opportunity for artists or all kinds to network and discuss ideas working in new ways in Wellington city. Tuesdays 12.30-2pm March 13: On being embedded. Working with other industries and groups - what is the potential for residences or having artists embedded in different spaces in the city? We talk with two artists who have been working in work residencies and have an interest in how their work can interact in new ways through this: theatremaker Leo Gene Peters, and visual artist Julian Priest. Leo Gene Peters is a theatre director and maker and founder of A Slightly Isolated Dog who have been creating celebrated devised work since 2005. “We’re trying to have a conversation with the public about what matters to each of us… and through that conversation we’ll create performance work. The goal is to find new and different ways to use live performance, conversation, virtual platforms, social media (and other things) to create a space where we can meet and reflect together. A space where we can discuss important questions in our lives that we normally don’t talk about with strangers.” A Slightly Isolated Dog are currently in residence at Creative HQ. who aim to help develop and grow businesses in Wellington through “nourishing entrepreneurial talent and driving innovation.” Julian Priest is an artist working with participatory and technological forms and recent work explores relationships to different infrastructures including time, energy, security, health and communications. In 2017 Julian created the Citizen Water Map Lab with Letting Space as part of the Common Ground Public Art Festival where Hutt City residents and community groups were invited to collect ground water and bring it to the lab and test it with data represented in an illuminated installation that produced a map of local water quality. Julian was co-founder of early wireless freenetwork community Consume.net in London. He became an advocate for the freenetworking movement and has pursued wireless networking as a theme in fields of arts, development, and policy. Julian is currently undertaking a residency at the Thomas King observatory Wellington (supported by the Wellington Museums Trust), an old 1912 observatory which is part of the Carter Observatory complex. April 17: On the art of keeping in business. Sasha Copland and Kerry Ann Lee. The realities of the business of being an independent artist. We introduce two artists both interested in working in a variety of different ways with the public and communities. Kerry Ann Lee is a celebrated visual artist, designer and educator who uses hand-made processes and socially-engaged projects to explore hybrid identities and histories of migration. She creates installation, publication and image-based work and has a long practice in independent artists’ publishing. Sacha Copland is a dancer, choreographer and the Artistic Director of Java Dance Theatre. As she told The Big Idea here she believes in the power of dance to build empathy and her works aim to permeate and dissolve the distance between people by creating dance that “clambers into your senses and gets underneath your fingernails.” Founded in 2003 Java is a professional dance company that presents dance theatre nationally and internationally often working in site specific locations, or creating work around specific themes that engage new audiences. May 8: On creating creative capital. Mayor Justin Lester  A discussion with our mayor who holds the arts and culture portfolio on what is needed to take our creative scene to the next level. All events are free. You are very welcome to bring your lunch. For podcasts of the 2017 series go here.
      • Accepted from Urban Dream Brokerage Blog by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • events
      • theatre

    • The end of Webstock as we know it?
      • Maybe Marco’s on to something. Maybe the era of conferences like Webstock is coming to close. We can tell you this, though – Webstock 2018, our 12th edition, is the end of something for us. In a few months, the St James theatre – home to Webstock – will be out of action while it receives […]
      • Accepted from Webstock blog by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • theatre

    • After Partying
      • To celebrate the Webstock Week that was, the fine folks at Serato are putting on a shindig at the grand Embassy Theatre on Friday night. Thanks Serato! There’ll be lashings of hearty food, an excellent assortment of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and The Amazing Travelling Photobooth will be in action to capture your precious party […]
      • Accepted from Webstock blog by tonytw1
      • Tagged as:
      • art
      • theatre

    • Circa 2015 Season - jam-packed with theatre for all audiences!
      • Red Riding Hood, the PantomimeBy Roger HallSongs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas WilliamsDirected by Susan Wilson2-10 JanuaryCirca One What a big smile you’ll have …Don’t miss Circa’s fabulous Christmas panto! And this year Red Riding Hood is back with one of the great traditional stories – innocent Red Riding Hood, her poor, short sighted grandmother, and of course the handsome woodcutter and that villain of all villains, the Wolf!There’s lots of laughter, hilarious jokes and musical goodies in Red’s basket as she sets off on her journey to entertain young and old with this marvellous magical treat.“A great way to introduce kids to the magic of theatre, and Red Riding Hood is easily the ideal Christmas outing for the holdiays … a treat” – Salient“Roger Hall’s helter-skelter Red Riding Hood… is wonderfully exuberant seasonal fun” – The Dominion Post The Kitchen at the End of the WorldBy William ConnorDirected by Steffen Kreft16-25 JanuaryCirca Two “Something is coming. I don’t know what it is. And I don’t know if I should fight it or welcome it.” One snowy evening, an empty 83-room hotel on the edge of the Vastness receives a thin guest who has walked all the way from the City. Penniless, he is smuggled into the hotel kitchen where a kind cook works near an extraordinary thyme plant. He says that creativity is dying. Described as “intensely beautiful”, “provocative and moving”, The Kitchen at the End of the World is the story of marionettes who know they are limited by the extent of their strings – even kissing can tangle them – but they crave what lies beyond their reach. A story about home, the unknown, and the courage to face everything in between. The show captivated audiences at its sell-out debut season during the Greytown Festival 2012and is a powerful reminder that puppetry is not just a children's art form. SeedBy Elisabeth EastherDirected by Kerryn Palmer17 January – 14 FebruaryCirca One SEX & DRUGS, WITHOUT THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IVF isn’t foolproof and IUDs aren’t failsafe. iPhones come with ovulation apps and ‘choosing from the menu’ means selecting your sperm. Seed follows four women as they try to get pregnant, stay pregnant or become un-pregnant - the dilemmas of modern reproduction. Elisabeth Easther’s Seed is winner of the 2014 Adam New Zealand Play Award, which recognises and celebrates the best in new writing for the theatre. It’s a multi-narrative play about the mysterious business of fertility, with all of its challenges, heartaches and hormones. Seed is a drama that’ll have you laughing ‘til the tears are running down your face, and it’s a comedy that’ll make you cry. “Highly entertaining, funny and sophisticated” - Adam Play Award Judges “[A] sophisticated, witty and very contemporary meditation on the timeless processes of procreation.” - NZ Herald STARRING: Tess Jamieson-Karaha, Jamie McCaskill, Emily Regtien, Holly Shanahan and Amy Tarleton Warning: Adult themes and strong language. Demolition of the CenturyBased on the novel by Duncan SarkiesCreated by Duncan Sarkies and Sean O’Brien31 January – 21 FebruaryCirca Two Welcome to the world of Tom Spotswood, an insurance investigator who has lost his socks, his suitcase, his ex-wife and his son, Frank. Fresh from performances in the New Zealand Festival, Auckland Writers Festival, Tauranga Arts Festival and Nelson Arts Festival, Demolition of the Century sees author/performer Duncan Sarkies (Two Little Boys/Scarfies/Flight of the Conchords) stage a humorous and sometimes heartbreaking look at families, memories and the fragility of the human mind. He is accompanied by musician Joe Blossom, who plays a soundtrack that is both haunting and invigorating. “A series of brilliant vignettes, delivered in an inspired cabaret-style reading by the multi-talented Sarkies, and outstanding musician Joe Blossom… Blossom not only creates fluid and essential musical transitions, but his beautiful vocals, self-accompanied on piano and guitar, imbue this work with a powerful pathos that allow glimpses of the inner landscape of these characters. Demolitionis a fast-paced, darkly captivating cabaret-comedy, which leaves us fully entertained and tantalizingly close to solving a puzzle.” –Bay of Plenty Times Wake Up TomorrowPresented by Everybody Cool Lives HereIn association with ActiveDirected by Isobel MacKinnon21-28 FebruaryCirca One Welcome aboard Active Airlines! Join the eccentric passengers during this compelling, surreal and funny flight. Made under the guidance of Wellington theatre makers in collaboration with Active, a service for youth with an intellectual impairment, Wake Up Tomorrow was created from the minds of these incredible young people. Audiences will be transported from the mundane moments on a long haul flight to bizarre and hilarious scenarios.  Please fasten your seat belts, make sure you are in the upright position and enjoy the journey. We may or may not arrive at the expected destination. “In a work of this kind there is always a delicate balance to be held between presenting a polished product at the same time as allowing for a playful improvised quality to emerge that allows the actors to perform to their strengths. This was very evident in the final few scenes …” – Madeline McNamara Yep, Still Got It!By Jane Keller and Sandy BrewerDirected by Alan PalmerMusical Director Michael Nicholas Williams28 February – 21 MarchCirca Two YOUTH IS A GIFT OF NATURE, BUT AGE IS A WORK OF ART – Stanislaw Jerzy Lec Following the huge success of BOOMERS BEHAVING BADLY, Jane Keller returns with another hilarious show. A little older, a little wiser, a lot sassier, and even more confused. Whatever happened to the days when a cloud was a cloud, when face time was over a G&T, and we punctuated our sentences with full stops - not smiley faces? From senior sex and those pesky STDs to shopping sprees and colonoscopies, Jane shares stories of abject embarrassment, medical (mis)adventures, empowerment, and acceptance. In YEP, STILL GOT IT!  she embraces the power of an older woman with no FOMO. Together with the brilliant Michael Nicholas Williams on the piano Jane brings a brand-new show to Circa Two combining her special style of storytelling with her virtuoso Broadway voice. Capital E Kids FestivalCirca One CaterpillarsBy Kallo Collective Directed by Thomas MoncktonProduced by Show Pony7 March 10 am & 11.30am A tale of two puppeteers’ failed attempts at beautification. In the magical world of flitting butterflies, jumping eggs and giant swaying flowers, two lycra-clad puppeteers try their hardest to remain unseen and at service to their puppets: two enormous plump caterpillars. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, with nothing but their wits to cover up their escalating blunders, two appealingly hopeless clown puppeteers bring upbeat absurdity, slapstick silliness, and a good dose of reality to their hilarious and unpredictable antics. Beards! Beards! Beards!By Trick of the Light TheatreDirected by Hannah SmithWritten by Ralph McCubbin HowellProduced by Show Pony21 March 10am & 1pm Beatrix didn’t want a tiara. Beatrix wanted a BEARD! From Charles Darwin to Abraham Lincoln, Karl Marx to Mr Twit, it is said the secret to power and greatness is all in the size and shape of the beard. This is a tale of one young girl’s increasingly inventive efforts to grow the world’s most magnificent beard. Join a madcap and hilarious musical romp of physical comedy and clowning, as our plucky young heroine shakes up social rules and attempts to answer the questions that have puzzled mankind since the dawn of the beard. Suitable for  children 5+. The PianistBy Circo Aereo (Fin) and Thomas Monckton (NZ)In conjunction with Show Pony (NZ)Directed by Sanna Silvennoinen and Thomas Monckton7-22 MarchCirca One Direct from Edinburgh Fringe and the London Mime Festival, last year’s hit returns to Circa! “It would be no exaggeration to declare Thomas Monckton nothing short of a genius.” – Broadway Baby (UK) “I doubt very much that you’ll see, in fact I am prepared to bet on it, a funnier show this year…miss him at your peril”  – The Dominion Post (NZ) Fresh from a five-star reviewed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sell-out season at Circa Two last year, award-winning performer Thomas Monckton returns with his smash hit The Pianist, this time at Circa One! The Pianist is a solo comic contemporary circus piece by Thomas Monckton (NZ) and Circo Aereo (Finland). The show is centered on, in, under, and around the magnificent grand piano. Accompanying this elegant apparatus is the poised pianist himself. Only he is so focused on impressing everyone that before he realises it, his show has transformed from the highbrow concert he hoped for, into a spectacularly amusing catastrophe. Suitable for all ages. The Mystery of Edwin DroodA musical by Rupert HolmesDirected by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford28 March – 25 AprilCirca One Who the Dickens did the deed? You decide! A non-stop ride of mystery, murder, and musical delight! Based on Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is filled with clues, red herrings, villainy, and debauchery. Everyone on stage is a suspect – and it's up to you to decide how this mystery ends!Hot off Broadway, this Tony Award-winning theatrical genius is led by director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford (Midsummer (a play with songs)), who reunites with the artistic team that brought Grease and Mamma Mia to the Wellington stage. The cast includes beloved actor of stage, screen and radio, Lloyd Scott, and internationally renowned soprano, Barbara Graham (Christine, Phantom of the Opera). The Mystery of Edwin Drood boasts spectacular big dance numbers, rousing showtunes, stunning theatrics, magic, and illusions!  Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score“One of the most inventive, inspired and rousing musicals ever devised.”—AM New York“Infectious fun!”—Time Out New York “Bawdy fun!”—Associated Press “Sheer fun!”—The Wall Street Journal Two MortalsDirected by Geoff PinfieldPerformed by Rachael Dyson-McGregor & Mike McEvoyComposed by Beatrice Lewis1-18 AprilCirca Two 'A powerful theatrical experience suffused with humour, beauty and emotional intelligence' – The Melbourne AgeTwo Mortals is a delicate, poetic and humorous exploration of life, death and the moment in between. Composed word-for-word from interviews with people who live and work at the ends of life – morticians, cryogenicists, palliative care workers and ministers – Two Mortals weaves these true stories and experiences into a richly theatrical exploration of mortality. This uplifting work about one of our society's most taboo subjects was directed by Chapman Tripp Director of the Year Geoff Pinfield. Created and performed by Rachael Dyson-MacGregor and Mike McEvoy, Two Mortals sold out two critically-acclaimed seasons at Melbourne's La Mama Theatre. Improv for KidsBy The Improvisors7-18 AprilCirca Two Kids love theatre that’s interactive. So do the Improvisors. Kids (and their grown-ups) loved the 2014 season of Improv For Kids, so we’re bringing it back. It’s a great opportunity to introduce your kids to the world of live theatre. We may not have millions of dollars worth of computer-generated effects, but we do listen to kids and we make their ideas central to what happens on stage. In Improv For Kids, imagination is the best special effect of them all! Don JuanBased on Don Juan by MoliereCreated by A Slightly Isolated DogDirected by Leo Gene Peters25 April – 23 MayCirca Two World Premiere A sexy, fierce, raucous celebration.  Don Juan explodes with the energy of a music gig or a club.  It’s a cabaret.  It’s chaos.  It’s a furious adrenalized romp through the games of attraction and sexuality.  It’s the BEST… PARTY… EVER.  Five mad performers use a variety of theatrical forms and styles to bring an adaptation of Moliere’s classic play to life.  Loaded with pop songs and flirting, this imaginative work will continually intrigue, delight and surprise. While the bar keeps serving drinks.  All night long.   Created by A Slightly Isolated Dog, one of Wellington’s most innovative and exciting companies.  Critically acclaimed and award winning shows include:  Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants (2009, 2011), Perfectly Wasted (2012 - in partnership with Long Cloud Youth Theatre) and Settling (2007). A Servant to Two MastersBy Carlo GoldoniA new adaptation by Lee HallDirected by Ross Jolly2-30 MayCirca One NZ Premiere Love, passion and pandemonium Goldoni’s much-loved comic classic is a masterpiece starring a wily servant whose cheeky, inventive trickery gets the best of his masters, in a merry mix-up of mayhem and mistaken identity. Truffaldino, the scheming and perpetually hungry servant, concocts a zany scheme to double his wages (and his meals) by simultaneously serving two masters – the lovelorn Beatrice (disguised as a man) and her lost lover Florindo. Hilarity abounds In this sharp, new, rapid-fire adaptation by award winning dramatist Lee Hall (The Pitmen Painters, Billy Elliot).   A delicious, madcap Italian comedy of lovers, disguises, tricks, traps, mishaps and meatballs! “A sparkling, wonder filled new version by Lee Hall... An evening to cherish” – Daily Mail “A hugely enjoyable night out" – Covent Garden Life TheatresportsBy The Improvisors3 May – 14 JuneCirca Two Part of NZ International Comedy Festival The Improvisors are back at Circa with another season of this very popular show. Each night two teams of Improvisors take suggestions from the audience and spin them into short scenes, songs, poems or whatever else takes their fancy. Each show is completely different – what does stay the same is that Theatresportsis always a great night’s entertainment for the whole family. We don’t know what ideas you are going to throw at us – we do know that our kind of improv magic has been keeping audiences laughing over many years. Theatresports – putting the “make up” on stage. Second AfterlifeBy Ralph McCubbin HowellDirected by Kerryn Palmer29 May – 13 JuneCirca Two Return Season of the 2014 Young and Hungry sensation!Dan was an internet junkie – now he’s calling it quits. But in order to forge a new profile, he must face up to his online history and it’s not going down without a fight.When Dan finds himself sucked into the Second Afterlife – a dark underworld of the internet, a very real and dangerous landscape of broken memes, deleted pages, and the ghosts of profiles past. Second Afterlife is a dark comedy about life (and death) in the digital age. Inspired by Dante's Inferno, and in the tradition of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, it is a twisted allegory for the Facebook generation – a poetic, ass-kicking romp to the darkest corners of the web. “Ralph McCubbin Howell cements his status as one of NZ's best young playwrights with Second Afterlife and director Kerryn Palmer, her designers and crew, and her exemplary cast of six do him proud.” - TheatreviewBy arrangement with Playmarket.Edge/Turning PageBroadway Star, ANGELICA PAGE“An actress of the highest possible voltage” – Wall Street JournalPerforming two shows, alternate nights, two weeks only6-20 JuneCirca One EDGE written by PAUL ALEXANDER Set in 1963 on the day of Sylvia Plath’s death, Edge presents the self-told story of the troubled poet and author of The Bell Jar, The Colossus, Ariel and the Pulitzer-Prize winning Collected Poems. “… a resurrected Sylvia Plath… the showcase of a lifetime” NEW YORK TIMESRETURNING TO OUR STAGE 10 YEARS AFTER ITS SENSATIONAL 2005 CIRCA SEASON TURNING PAGE written by ANGELICA PAGEGeraldine Page’s sparkling career earned her a record-breaking eight Academy Award nominations, an Oscar for Best Actress in 1986, and made her one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Turning Page is the triumphant and heartbreaking true story of one of the most celebrated actresses of all time, written and performed by the person who knew her best: her own daughter. “A privilege” Los Angeles Times Matariki Development FestivalPresented by Tawata Productions22 June – 4 JulyCirca TwoAn international indigenous playwrights’ festival boasting an enviable whakapapa of the very best of contemporary Maori & Pasifika theatre.  MDF 2015 features new writing by Natano Keni, James Nokise and Pikihuia Haenga. the beautiful onesWritten and Directed by Hone KoukeProduced by Tawata ProductionsMovement by Dolina Wehipeihana & Hone KoukaDesign by K*Saba, Tama Waipara, Johnson Witehira, Wai Mihinui, Jaimee Warda, Sopheak Seng, Laurie Dean 27 June – 11 JulyCirca One World Premiere A hyperreal digital love story.  the beautiful ones is a story of young love.  A promise Hana made to Ihia – a promise to return.  Will she return?  Will love triumph over temptation?  the beautiful ones bursts from the late night sheen of a city club.  Beautiful bodies & vital vocals.  Defiant dance moves and the meaning of love.  the beautiful ones features a dance floor for the audience to share the vibe.  From the company that brought you I, George Nepia, Sunset Road and TŪ. Warning: Contains Big Beats & Dance Music. The Ugly OneWritten by Marius von Mayenburg; translated by Maja ZadaDirected by Giles Burton11 July – 8 AugustCirca Two A scalpel sharp, absurd comic fantasy about beauty. Lette thinks he is normal, but when he discovers that he is, in fact, unbelievably ugly he turns to a plastic surgeon for help. Suddenly he is the most beautiful man in the world. Fame and riches follow; women want to sleep with him and men want to look like him. And with surgery they can look like him. Exactly like him. Received around the world to great acclaim, The Ugly One now receives its NZ premiere. With writer von Mayenburg’s star very much in the ascendant, this show is a must see.   "A stripped bare satire on the nature of beauty. If you are interested in theatrical story-telling see this show." – The Times (UK) “Savage social satire … A small but perfectly formed play” – The Guardian (UK) “The concept is simple but the philosophical implications are profound: What if money could buy the perfect face? It’s The Elephant Manmeets The Matrix” – Post City (Toronto) The Hound of the BaskervillesBy Arthur Conan DoyleAdapted for the stage by Clive FrancisDirected by Ross Jolly25 July – 29 AugustCirca One Sherlock Holmes vs the Powers of Evil A bloodcurdling howl is heard across a cold, moonlit moor; the horrifying, spectral hound has claimed another victim … When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his remote estate, in eerie, seemingly supernatural circumstances, Sherlock Holmes, the legendary, world-famous detective and his assistant, the ever-reliable Dr Watson are called upon to unravel the extraordinary mystery of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous and most popular story, in an exhilarating adaptation by Clive Francis (Our Man in Havana), sees four actors playing all the parts in this gripping, classic tale of terror. A thrilling, ripping good night of fun, drama and suspense! “A cracking good yarn … Excellent ... Highly enjoyable." - Daily Telegraph "Chillingly atmospheric... this fun show will really thrill. " - The Observer Downton AdlibBy The Improvisors2 August – 27 SeptemberCirca Two Quality costume drama – only funnier. An aristocratic English family and their servants face the challenges of life in the early twentieth century. A cast of Wellington’s top improv comedians face the challenge of making up a brand new episode every night. We supply the characters, you supply the key plot ingredients and the result is costume drama as you’ve never seen it before. Love, laughter, passion and a wide range of hats! The Travelling SquirrelBy Robert LordDirected by Susan Wilson5 September – 3 OctoberCirca One NZ Premiere “We that live to please must please to live” – Dr Samuel Johnson From Robert Lord, the author of the award-winning and much loved Joyful & Triumphant, comes The Travelling Squirrel, a romp through the fickle nature of the entertainment industry. Protagonist Bart compares his struggles as a writer to those of Roger the squirrel, a misunderstood painter. Hilarious and packed with larger-than-life characters, this play is a testament to Lord’s ability to write brilliant comedy.  A satire tempered with deep affection, The Travelling Squirrel depicts a dangerous world in which fame and fortune are always temptingly just around the corner “This is surely one of Lord’s funniest plays, just as it is one of the most moving”   – Philip Mann “For two decades, Robert Lord’s plays astonished and entertained theatre audiences with their sharp satire and flamboyant farce.”  - David O’Donnell The BookbinderWritten by Ralph McCubbin HowellDirected by Hannah SmithPresented by Trick of the Light Theatre25 September – 10 OctoberCirca TwoThey say you can get lost in a good book. But it's worse to get lost in a bad one... From award-winning company Trick of the Light Theatre (The Road That Wasn’t There) comes a story of mystery, magic and mayhem. The Bookbinder weaves shadowplay, paper art, puppetry, and music into an original dark fairytale in the vein of Coraline and Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell. An inventive one-man performance for curious children and adventurous adults... suitable for children 8+. Best Theatre and Best in the Fringe - NZ Fringe 2014 International Excellence Award - Sydney Fringe 2014 "Spell-binding storytelling at its purest and best..." - Theatreview"Absorbing and imaginative… a small gem of theatre" - The Dominion Post "Tuned to perfection... Bookworms of all stripes and ages will adore it."- The Age, Melbourne For more information visit www.trickofthelight.co.nz GiftedBy Patrick EvansBased on the novel of the same nameDirected by Conrad Newport10-31 OctoberCirca One It is 1955 and beyond the famous hedge something magic is about to happen. In his beloved garden the “Father of the Nations Fiction” Frank Sargeson is waiting for his old mate Harry to turn up. Instead, he encounters a young woman fresh from a mental institution. Her name is Janet Frame. Their world is about to change forever. From the director of Rita and Douglas comes this very funny and profoundly moving story. Touring the Arts Festivals in 2013 to incredible reviews and widespread acclaim it’s now Wellington’s chance to experience this celebrated New Zealand production. “Like an exquisite work of art, the play Gifted is honed to near perfection … go and see this gorgeous production.” – Taranaki “Superb performances by all … it is thrilling … it makes for astonishingly joyful, mischievous theatre.” – Dunedin “Sheer quality” – Christchurch Adventures in PianolandWritten and performed by JAN PRESTONDirected by GAYLENE PRESTON15-17 OctoberCirca Two How I learned to stop worrying and love the piano The irrepressible Jan Preston comes clean on her longstanding and sometimes bumpy road to piano stardom. Jan will spin yarns from dives in Soho to the concert halls of Europe, to stealing a piano in broad daylight from the 1860s Bar in Lambton Quay. She will accompany herself, of course, on Circa Theatres' lovingly cared for piano.  You will hear Chopsticks as you have never heard it, with Jan's original songs and compositions providing perfect counterpoint to her story. AcheBy Pip HallDirected by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford24 October – 21 NovemberCirca Two Fate, chance and rooftop romance.  Ache is a fateful comedy about two thirty-somethings trying to find their way through modern love, materialism and the Wellington dating-drought. At a time when we are promised happiness with the swipe of a card or the swig of a bottle, true joy and connection seems almost impossible. At crossroads and rooftop gardens, fate decides to surprise them. At last, connection, chemistry, charisma. He’s perfect, she’s gorgeous. Only timing’s not as kind – he’s taken. Is it just not meant to be or will she push timing aside and take fate into her own hands?   Achingly-funny and heart-breakingly sad, Ache is a modern story of love, timing and seizing the day.Don’t miss this WELLINGTON PREMIERE, finally on our stage after its SOLD-OUT season at Christchurch’s Court Theatre. All Our SonsBy Witi IhimaeraPresented by Taki Rua5-14 NovemberCirca One World Premiere Courage and loyalty is tested in this new play by Witi Ihimaera “Once they fought each other, now shoulder to shoulder they fight together” Two generations go to war while a third fights a battle to keep her family at home. Waru Mataira and his two sons Tai and Rangi volunteer to represent the Maori iwi of Mataira Mountain in the New Zealand Native Contingent to Gallipoli. Under the guidance of their Pakeha leader Alec Campbell, they join the battle on the western front as part of the newly titled Pioneer Battalion where their courage is tested and so too are their loyalties. Taki Rua Productions presents the World Premiere of All Our Sons, a ground-breaking play by Witi Ihimaera. Roger Hall’s Robin Hood, the PantomimeSongs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas WilliamsDirected by Susan Wilson21 November – 20 DecemberCirca One There he is! Oh no he isn’t. Oh, yes he is!! With loaded bow behind a treeYou never know where he will beHe moves like velvet, sleek and svelteAround the Wellington town belt His eye is quick, his aim is sureHe robs the rich to feed the poorHe’s always on the side of goodThe hero known as Robin Hood He lies in wait for those who ownA big estate and second homeFor millionaires who don’t pay tax  For bankers who don’t watch their backs You’ll see them suffer their defeatIn Circa’s brand new summer treatA pantomime for one and allIt’s Robin Hood by Roger Hall “fabulously fast and furious ... A treat”  - Capital Times “ACTION-PACKED… TONS OF FUN FOR YOUNG AND OLD!”  - The Dominion Post A Child’s Christmas in Wales (and other memories of childhood)By Dylan ThomasDramatised and performed by Ray Henwood28 November – 20 DecemberCirca Two What has been described as one of the most magical of Christmas stories is brought to the stage by Ray Henwood. It is rounded out by other memories of childhood, first presented by Dylan Thomas in one of his regular talks on the BBC Welsh Home Service. Thomas had a very happy childhood and so many of his young experiences resonate still with us today.The town of Swansea which is the locale of his stories had changed little by the time Ray was growing up. While Dylan lived in more salubrious surroundings, Ray was a “Sandfields” boy referred to by Dylan- and played in many of the areas described in the stories. It is a truly timeless tale and family celebrations have changed little, even in countries that celebrate a summer Christmas. Dylan’s work brings back memories that resonate so well with young and old. it is a true celebration of our experiences growing up. www.circa.co.nz
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        • Circa Theatre, Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)


    • Kapiti Playhouse Open Day
      • Been to the theatre and wonder what goes on out the back? Or perhaps you’ve never been to the theatre and you’re interested in what goes on in general? Or perhaps you are somewhere in-between! Kapiti Playhouse is holding an open day on Sunday 27th October from 10am to 4pm. Come on in and talk […] The post Kapiti Playhouse Open Day appeared first on Kapiti Playhouse Inc..
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    • PechaKucha Night - Oct 26
      • PechaKucha is back - the worldwide rapid-fire presentation phenomenon, (20 slides for 20 seconds each), returns to Downstage, this time with an open theme, meaning topics covered can range from dance, to travel, to online start-up...and this time, our very own CEO Hilary Beaton takes the stage with a presentation of some long hidden secrets from her past entitled: My Life in Hair.
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        • Downstage Theatre, Cambridge Terrace, Mt. Victoria, Wellington, Wellington Region, 6011, New Zealand


    • 'The Thought Exchange' (Free Entry)
      • The Thought Exchange is an experiment by Downstage Resident Company, A Slightly Isolated Dog, in creating theatre that connects to and collaborates with the community in new and innovative ways. CONVERSATIONS STILL TO COME: Wellington’s Geology and Earthquakes Tuesday 11 September at 6.00pm Thursday 13 September at 6.00pm Settlement of Wellington, its history and architecture and the relationship between Maori and Pakeha. Saturday 15 September at 4.30pm Thursday 20 September at 6:00pm
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        • Downstage Theatre, Cambridge Terrace, Mt. Victoria, Wellington, Wellington Region, 6011, New Zealand


    • We're Open for Open Day!
      • Wellington Open Day is your chance to discover Downstage this Sunday 27 May between 10am and 5pm. Get behind the scenes and explore back stage, climb up to the lighting grid, operate the control desk or just hear some of the stories from Downstage’s long history.
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        • Downstage Theatre, Cambridge Terrace, Mt. Victoria, Wellington, Wellington Region, 6011, New Zealand


    • Midnight in Paris - Movie Night fundraiser
      • The Downstage Theatre Society was the group who first put Downstage on its feet back in 1964, and they've stood alongside us ever since. Next Monday 10 Oct they are holding a special advance fundraiser screening of Woody Allen's new film Midnight in Paris at the Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn. With an ensemble cast including Owen Wilson, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody and Marion Cotillard, this is Allen at his best, funny, insightful and with a touch of magic at work, as he explores his abiding themes of love and neuroses in the City of Light.
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    • Meet the Artist with Te Radar
      • Te Radar's 6:30pm performance of Eating the Dog on Tues 20 Sep will be followed by our regular Meet The Artist audience question-and-answer forum. Our Special Guest Moderator is no stranger to the fascinating qualities of our historical curiosities. He's Te Papa CEO Michael Houlihan (pictured). The discussion between these two avid history lovers should be lively, and you can be a part of it!
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