What's On:

Breaking the 5th Wall Productions presents:
what’s in a man?
By Josh Samuels, Merrilee McCoy and Wiremu Tuhiwai

Season: 4-12 February (no shows Waitangi Weekend 6-8 Feb)
Time: 8.00pm
Where: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Tickets: $16 Full /$13 Concession & Groups /$12 Fringe Addict
Booking: book@bats.co.nz or 04 802 4175
www.bats.co.nz or www.fringe.org.nz

Wolverine, Colin 'Pinetree' Meads and Bob Saget are men.

But if we probed them deeper . . . past the adamantium skeleton, the black jersey and the Full House façade . . . what would we find?

what’s in a Man is NOT “The Penis Monologues”, but it is a fringe-tastic comedic, character-based romp through the real ‘man’ experience in all its nut-punching, swearing, macho, confused, silly glory!

Although initially terrified at the thought of looking at their own emotions and foibles to create this production, men: Josh Samuels and Woody Tuhiwai have embraced this manly challenge. “The crux of the show is that each man must confront his fear and his father – just like Luke Skywalker,” says writer and performer Josh Samuels.

So join us on this humorous two-person, rapid-fire sketchfest - deconstructing masculinity, stereotypes and asking the question: what’s in a man?

The Moving Theatre Company presents:
SUNDAY ROAST
By Thomas Sainsbury
Directed by Dena Kennedy

1-6 March, 7.00pm
SEEyD Space, Te Whaea, 11 Hutchison St, Newtown
Bookings via Downstage Theatre 04 801 6946
Tickets: General: $ 16 / Concession: $ 13 / Fringe Addict: $ 10

2 Actors. 11 Characters. The Giles family is inviting you for dinner.

The beast is fattened and ready for the slaughter. Father’s on carving duty. Mother is on vegetables. Adversary daughters Courtney and Diane have dessert covered. Son-in-law Francois is in charge of looking good while the prodigal son, Anthony, just wants to be left alone. Granddaughter Tamsin wants her desires satisfied. Now.

And adopted son, Rupert? Well, he just wants everyone to have a good time…

From the writer of Luv, The Mall and Loser and the producers of Mr Marmalade (Chapman Tripp Production of the Year 2008), comes a family tale of love, sibling rivalry and very sharp knives.

Sunday Roast features Martyn Wood (Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Angels in America) and Renee Lyons (Life is a Dream, Backstory).

“…a playwright with something to say, and saying it with a theatrical flair that is refreshing and stimulating." – THE DOMINION POST

"Thomas Sainsbury is a remarkable talent … I can see him fast becoming a classic playwright of his generation.” – THEATREVIEW

The Improvisors Present:
GARRY TROTTER and the PHILOSOPHER’S WHATCHAMACALLIT!

2 - 6 March at 7:30pm.
Circa Two, Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki St
Book: 04 801 7992 Tickets: $18/15/12
www.fringe.org.nz

What the Harry Potter books don't tell you but The Improvisors will is that New Zealand has its very own school for wizardry and witchcraft. But like everything else in this country it doesn't get the good press it deserves.

That's about to change.

Join Garry Trotter and his chums from Sheepforts School of Wizardry, Wichcraft and Agricultural Technology to solve magical mysteries, meet mythical beasts and bring the cows in for evening milking.

You'd be a muggle to miss it!

Garry Trotter and the Philosopher’s Whatchamacallit is the first of five anniversary productions planned in 2010 for the celebration of The Improvisors 20th Anniversary Season. Starting 1990 at Circa Theatre, in 20 years The Improvisors have achieved over 40 shows, covering everything from musicals to multimedia, Shakespeare to Soap Opera and of course Theatresports and were awarded BEST COMEDY at the 2009 Fringe Festival.

Rush Hour Productions Presents:
Haimona
Featuring the poetry of Simon Williamson
Arranged and performed by Mike Eager

3-7 March, 8.00pm
Katipo Café, 76 Willis St, Wellington
Bookings: 021 064 5893  (text or call) Cost: $15/12/11
www.fringe.org.nz

"Every poet is a bit like Maui; part myth, part reality"

So begins Haimona, a fringe festival show of rich language and imagery performed by Mike Eager telling the story of his friend Simon Williamson using Simon's own poetry.
 
Simon died in 1999 at the age of thirty-one. He was well known in the New Zealand underground poetry scene and was regularly published in publications such as Takahe and Jaam, but greater recognition has come posthumously with two published books displaying the range of his poetic vision (Storyteller and Twenty-five Cars).
 
Mike has arranged and linked a sequence of Simon’s moving poems to form a narrative - taking the audience on a journey from Simon's childhood in the Waikato into the tumultuous experience of mental illness, which included a short stay in Purehurehu, a locked ward at Porirua Hospital. From there a road trip to the serenity of the Hokianga and a return to Wellington's Lyall Bay resulting in a recovery of self and belief in his artistic mission.

A copy of Simon Williamson's book Twenty-five Cars - which includes the poetic sequence Haimona as well as Miss you, bro, a powerful sequence against suicide - will be a bonus with each ticket that is purchased.