Posterous has been a faithful friend in our efforts to keep you updated about our goings on. However we have a brand new shiny website which has a blog built into it. It is much more socially savvy so head on over and check it out. We update on regular weekly basis.
Thanks for following us here!
This blog post is a bit like writing a post card when we owe you about three long letters, but post cards are still nice aren’t they?
2010 has been a huge year. Seven shows, one tour, a summer school, festival presentations, the Next Stage, the Young and Hungry Festival, plenty of education and literary activity, two tents, an LA Times review, a couple of prestigious Hackmans, a Best of Auckland award from Metro and one big shift.
From hereon in, the only way is up. We’ve moved into new custom built premise at the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall and will host a couple of open homes in the new year which we’ll keep you posted about. Being asked where the Greek Orthodox Church or what time the free Spanish dance concert is on as we pass people on the street, makes a change from being asked where the Countdown was for sure. The new premises are pretty amazing, and while we loved being located downtown we’re enjoying the new neighbourhood and looking forward to getting to know the community.
To wrap things up for the year we asked a few of our Facebook friends to tell us what their ATC highlights have been this year:
"Watching Andrew Grainger in Le Sud rehearsals trying to convince Raymond Hawthorne that Francois Duvauchelle would have a back sack and crack. Lovely cast, lovely director and crew, fantastic memories."
Dave Armstrong
"Sitting next to Dave Armstrong on one of the last shows of 'Le Sud' and nearly missing my cues as he was enjoying himself so much!! Part of the show scribbling notes to himself and the rest of the time nearly falling off his chair!! Good times!! :-D"
Robert Hunte
"Exploring 1994 in Germany for many months of rehearsal in EXCHANGE (Young & Hungry) .... Es war großartig! So much fun to be a part of."
Candice de Villiers
"Cabaret - the experience, the venue, the courage, the whirlwind of an evening out..."
Vicki Allpress Hill
"Jen Ludlam - August Osage County, blew my mind. In fact, the entire cast."
Kate Louise Elliott
"Cabaret - Sex on legs all of them! Atmosphere was awesome too."
Gemma Wood
"Two highlights: the juxtaposition of poetry and mayhem in 'Horseplay’, and beautiful naked bodies and a wonderfully perfect seediness in 'Cabaret'."
Verity Ann Davidson
Finally – thank you to everyone who has been involved this year – actors, designers, choreographers, musicians, playwrights, crew, subscribers, audiences around the country and in Auckland, regional touring partners, ambassadors, teachers, ushers, front-of-house staff, suppliers, our sponsors and funders, board, patrons, benefactors, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, Meet-up-erers, Theatre Clubbers and anyone else we’ve left off this list.
Theatre is a collaborative art form so thank you for your hard work, dedication, support and custom.
Have a very safe and happy Christmas. We’re back on deck on Wednesday 5 January so we’ll see you then with another year of theatre.
From all of us at Auckland Theatre Company.
We’re in the process of getting our new website sorted. It’s going to be great – lots of new features and plenty of room for some Facebook, Twitter and blog action.
We’re going to write a short blog post (which will be housed on the site) about each show next year but rather than us re-jigging some existing copy and telling you what we think, we thought we’d ask you what you think.
You can check out the line up here (thank you Geon for the ebook).
Let us know what your favourites are and why in the comments section and we can include your feedback when we launch the new site to the world!
The 2011 Slow Reveal Competiton is now closed.
Thank you to all who entered. We will be announcing the winner and publishing the 2011 brochure on line at some stage today so keep an eye out to see how many you got right.
To stay up to date throughout the year make sure you visit our Facebook page.
Hope to see you at theatre soon!
Firstly, apologies for letting this blog get a bit cob-webby. It has been all hands to the pump round here as we programme the 2011 season, get the brochure done, begin work on a new website with the fantastic bka interactive, prepare to build our end of year venue (a Spiegeltent and a hosting lounge) and obviously rehearse the show that's going into the Spiegeltent, the well known and much loved musical, CABARET.
The Salon Perdu Spiegeltent has arrived in New Zealand and from October 20 you will notice a lot of activity in the Eastern Viaduct as we set to work erecting it and the adjacent hospitality dome. The two tents will roughly be located here
Soon we'll have the 2011 brochure done and ready to send out into the world. We look forward to hearing what you think about it and being able to share it with you in lots of exciting new ways. In the meantime we ducked into the rehearsal room last week and caught the cast and director of CABARET in action.
Photos by Amber McWilliams
It’s got a slightly strange name but we think it will have you talking so here’s the low down on that name plus a few other things to add to your conversations about August: Osage County by Tracy Letts.
Our production is the New Zealand premier of August: Osage County and previews tomorrow night (Thursday 2 September) at Maidment Theatre. It runs until 25 September.
On Monday we published Jess, David and Hanna's pre-show answers to some questions about Romeo and Juliet. We asked them to answer similar questions after seeing the show so as promised in the last episode; here are Jess and David's responses.
Sum up ATC’s production of Romeo and Juliet in 140 characters:
Jess: Modern, intriguing, entertaining and relevant, the ATC production of Romeo & Juliet was awesome!
David: Tonal tenacity transforms tragedy to titillating triumph. I loved the way voice (and gestures) were used to alter the meaning of phrases.
Hannah: Modern, slightly cheeky, slightly dirty adaptation of classic love story turned tragedy - with a bit of pop culture thrown in the mix Having seen a professional production of Shakespeare live on stage how does it differ to experiencing the story via other mediums like film?
Jess: You are so much more involved in every aspect of the story and the characters. Watching the Romeo & Juliet film can often isolate and alienate the audience, making them feel much more of an "outsider" rather than there and part of the action.
David: I've seen quite a few Shakespeare reproductions (MacBeth on film and TV, The Taming of the Shrew) and what surprised me most about the stage version was the ability to be simultaneously loyal to the text and themes of the play but also to be creative in interpretation. The stage experience is an engaging one and, the usual interval, uninterrupted. With TV productions, advertisements interrupt continuity and film versions tend to make compromises to fit their medium. The stage version is a full experience, there is more tension between the actors seeing it live, not as the 24th (perhaps robotic) take on a film set.
Hannah: I have always thought that Shakespeare is an interesting one to see performed live - I normally find it hard to follow because unless I have the book in front of me, the words are often quite hard to understand. However... being a Shakespeare nut who loves to decipher the meanings in the words, and also having performed in a R&J adaptation before - I could easily follow this production. I thought it was particularly well done how the words had almost been manipulated to give a slightly different context and meaning to some of the fine detail, e.g characterisation. Brilliant!
Favourite moment in the production:
Jess: The nurse was hilarious, so was Mercutio. But definitely the party scene. It was brilliantly choreographed and definitely showed the darker sides of the story.
David: When the Nurse (Geraldine Brophy) stumbled amongst the rows of the Maidment right behind me and audience members had to get up to allow her through. On stage would, again, have to be Brophy's experience in connecting with her role and the audience.
Hannah: Favourite moment? Probably the ball, friken funny!! Though especially enjoyed the entire first half and the modern references throughout – ha ha loved the twilight t-shirt - classic for a side kick!! So, Shakespeare – still relevant today?
Jess: Definitely still relevant, as the themes still resonate with audiences today. We can all still relate to that first intense love and lust, as well as the rush felt when you just want to spend every waking moment with them but for external reasons, you can't.
David: Without a doubt. From the most general theme (love) to the most specific occurrence (bad timing), Shakespeare's plays highlight cross-generational similarities. To live (and die) for a purpose, resolving conflict and innocent misrepresentation all constitute part of the human experience: regardless of where (or when) fore art thou.
Hannah: Always relevant. Always
Above: Kip Chapman (Mercutio); Brooke Williams (Juliet) and Geraldine Brophy (the Nurse)
Photos by Michael Smith
Romeo and Juliet is probably the Bard’s best known work so the challenge when reinterpreting it is to find the relevance in this day and age. There is no doubt the themes are universal and timeless, but we wanted to see what a few people who have seen multiple interpretations of it played out in everything from West Side Story to Twilight, thought of our version.
So we invited Jess, David and Hanna along to the opening night of Romeo and Juliet on Saturday night.They’re young (all in their early 20s), they’re hip and they know how to spell ‘totes’.* This play was written 395 years before they were born and they were about six when the Baz Luhrman film came out.
They came, they did a bit of celeb spotting (highlight: the Energy Spot guy and Sparky), they responsibly appreciated our provision of sponsor product (thanks Villa Maria) and based on some initial Twitter and Facebook feedback, they really enjoyed themselves.
Before attending we asked them to answer a few quick questions. They’ve also got a few to answer this week having seen the show so stay tuned…
Sum up Romeo and Juliet in 140 characters:
Jess: Two crazy kids who fall in love despite the many factors that prevent them from happily being together. Plans go wrong and it's all ends horribly!
David: Unrequited love.
Hanna: Tragic love story. Boy meets girl, relationship is doomed from the beginning, families ague. couple secretly elope which goes tragically wrong. boy dies for girl. love is eternal?
Seen a professional production of Shakespeare live on stage before?
Jess: Nope I have not! I've only been part of a reading for a class assignment and I’ve seen the Baz Lurhmann film
David: No
Hanna: No
Shakespeare – still relevant today?
Jess: Definitely. I think the themes of love, tragedy, friendship, all of those are universal themes still applicable to today's culture. It's a story that will be forever relatable for kids around the world, especially kids in their mid-late teens who go through that kind of "forbidden love".
David: Yes
Hanna: Shakespeare is totally relevant today. Situations can be modernised, such as Romeo and Juliet - which has been redone in a thousand different ways and is still just as loved and just as applicable now, as 500 years ago. Also, his work is what keeps many English majors going - hundreds of years later debates, as to the meanings behind his words, still rage. Besides, his writing and words are timeless and beautiful. And always will be.
Who are the Romeo and Juliet of 2010 (fictional or non fictional)?
Jess: Katy Perry & Russell Brand.** Yes, I did think about this answer for a while but their worlds are completely different, yet they're together. Quite nice.
David: Maori and their independence
Hanna: No idea, some loved up couple who ended up dying for one another. And had a family feud.
*Apparently by saying they are hip and not being able to spell ‘totes’, the post-er of this blog is most definitely NOT hip.
** If Russell Brand and Katy Perry end up starring in a new film version of Romeo and Juliet, Jess Cann had the idea first.
So we jazzed up the cast bios for Stepping Out. They’ve answered ten questions for us.
Here is a selection. Find out more by viewing the programme online or reading it when you get to the theatre!
SUZANNE PAUL (Vera)
Apart from acting?
I design clothes for ladies who are 5ft 4in and under (Short & Sweet). I also travel around the county giving motivational talks.
Favourite dance movie(s)?
GREASE and CHICAGO and DIRTY DANCING. I also love the old dance movies, like SINGING IN THE RAIN. Anything with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly in it.
Woman you most admire?
The Queen - Head of a Nation, wife, mother and is married to the same man. Good on Old Queenie.
If you were to take a class?
Pattern making, sewing, knitting and tapestry. I would save a fortune when making samples. I like to keep my hands busy.
What do you do in your free time?
Scour fashion magazines, Zumba, walk ‘Walnut The Wonder Dog’, read thrillers, scrap booking, compile SHORT & SWEET next season’s ‘look’ book.
Dancing takes the blues away?
Oh yes. I’m doing Zumba classes at the moment and that’s great fun. I love any kind of dancing.
What is stashed under your bed?
Nothing. I have a good clear out and get rid of anything I don’t need. Very therapeutic; it makes me feel in control.
'Morning' or 'Night' person?
Afternoon person. I take Walnut our for a walk in the mornings, I don’t think she’s got long left.
Zodiac sign?
I think I’m a typical Scorpio, all or nothing, passionate about life, sexy, sting in the tail and caring.
Tap dancing… is satisfyingly fun as you go about stamping your feet and making a lot of noise. Why run in the rain?
SANDRA RASMUSSEN (Mavis and Choreographer)
Apart from acting?
Immersing completely, foolishly in anything I am passionate about --directing, travelling, family, candles, my iphone, 800 thread count sheets...
Favourite dance movie?
American dance competitions on YouTube.
Woman you most admire?
My two daughters Alexandra and Georgina for being amazing, passionate, unique young women.
If you were to take a class?
Cooking, computer or how to fix a tyre.
You’ll recommend night classes?
Yes, to somebody tall, dark and usually inappropriate.
Is flirting cheating?
Had experience at both…not necessarily at the same time.
Can you change a car tire?
No -- which is why I should attend a class for this.
Are you into black cars?
I’ll get into any car if the destination is brilliant and the occupant suitably worthy.
Dance is…indispensable in my life as I also teach and choreograph. Thanks Mum & Dad for all the sacrifices paying for my lessons.
The perfect man for me would…arrive with a magnum of Cristal on a private jet and leave before he turns into a pumpkin.
OLIVIA TENNET (Lynne)
Apart from acting?
I enjoy playing Scattergories, riding my Pashley Sonnet bicycle, watching Q.I. and laughing with my chums. Bit of a nerd.
Favourite dance movie?
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN by far. I know that movie off by heart. THE RED SHOES is a close second.
Woman you most admire?
Judy Garland for her ridiculously amazing talent, and Agyness Deyn for her ridiculously awesome fashion sense.
If you were to take a class?
I’d learn how to sew.
How do you de-stress?
By reading my Eckhart Tolle book whilst eating an entire bag of R.J.’s black liquorice.
Enjoy exercising?
Love exercising. 45 minutes walk everyday, do a spot of pilates and have just started Zumba with my mum!
Ideal vacation?
At an art commune in Berlin or Matapouri Bay where I can speak English, which is a lot better than my German.
Best advice?
Never forget the people you meet on your way up in life, you might meet them again on the way down.
What cause do you support?
I like to support any charity whose aim is to help others in need, for example, Canteen and Starship.
Group dancing…is one of the happiest ways to spend time with people because no one can wipe the smile off their dial!
The perfect man for me would…enjoy group dancing.
JASON TE METE (Geoffrey)
Apart from acting?
I’m a vocal coach and at home I’m a wannabe chef.
Favourite dance movie?
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.
Woman you most admire?
Nigella Lawson.
If you were to take a class?
Thai cooking or making fancy cakes.
Best dance move?
Probably moving off the dance floor.
If you attend a dance class, you should?
Always have good shoes, a good smile and lots of courage (plus some Panadol and some ‘Deep Heat’ in your bag).
Any lucky charm?
I find that the harder I work, the more ‘luck’ I seem to have.
What can you do with a blanket?
Create a quirky Sunday character called Mr Couch Slob.
Wine is best with?
As a beer man the only place for (red) wine is in a hearty beef stew… mmm.
I enjoy dancing… because it’s social, musical and rhythmic, physical and challenging at the same time.
As we wrap up the season of Horseplay, we just had to share this feedback with you from a teacher and his students at Takapuna Grammar:
The students LOVED Horseplay. What they didn’t get they talked about later but the lovely thing is their response to genuinely engaging theatre where all the elements work to move us. We were moved to laughter and reflection, thrilled, puzzled and taken for a ride. We listened, they listened and even Baxter’s majestic verse got laughs. The kids are there from the first moment. The set “was built like the outside was turned inside. It looked like a mountain as well”. As Vance, Morrieson “looked dark, tall and dangerous, but he was small!” The “light sometimes just focused on one character or thing on the stage at one time like the photo on the piano”. “I really liked the cooking eggs and bacon because I have never seen that before.” My question of them was about how live theatre could engage us with a live experience – answer: “it was about an event that never happened, therefore, the actors would have to do a better job convincing us that this actually happened. In live theatre, they put more detail into acting and props.” There’s your pure response from a wowed kid audience. Theatre is just made for kids. Kindly emailed to us by Bruce deGrut
This site housed our blog in 2009 and 2010. In January 2011, we launched a new website. You can find our recent blog posts there at www.atc.co.nz
You can also keep in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter:
http://twitter.com/AkldTheatreCo
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This site housed our blog in 2009 and 2010. In January 2011, we launched a new website. You can find our recent blog posts there at www.atc.co.nz
You can also keep in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter:
http://twitter.com/AkldTheatreCo
http://www.facebook.com/TheATC
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