Nip in quick for one of those rare Downstage-Wellingtonista specials. The 10th Anniversary season of Toa Fraser's Bare is in Wellington for a very short time and Wellingtonista readers can go tonight for a discount somewhere between 100% and 25% (depending on how quick off the mark you are).

As time is short, it's a phone offer: The first two callers to (04) 801 6946 are eligible for a free double-pass to tonight's performance, the next two callers can get two-for-the-price-of-one and the next two callers can get a fourth ticket free if they buy three.

Bare stars Curtis Vowell and Morgana O'Reilly and this production was first performed at Auckland's Silo Theatre last year. The original production of Bare in 1998, launched the careers of Toa Fraser and Madeline Sami and won the Best New Play and Best New Playwright Awards at the Chapman Tripps.

More information can be found here.

Kia Ora Tatou, I'm Richard Meros and I have a Dream.

Our proud nation has laboured too long under a barely discernible pendulum wobble from Labour to National, National to Labour, so on ad nauseum. Yet we yearn for, and deserve, something greater. Through meticulous research I have drawn an inescapable conclusion: that only my personal engagement with the electoral process - and with our noble Prime Minister - can herald the glorious future of our South Pacific Utopia.

My acclaimed pamphlet of romantic political philosophy, On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover, provoked howls of acclaim when published in 2007, and I have committed to share the "powerpoint" version of my book the length and breadth of New Zealand before Election Night 2008. Why? Because I care.

This life-changing lecture has toured across Aotearoa; enlightenment comes now to Wellington.

Opening tomorrow night at the Film Archive - Wellington multi-media artist Sarah Jane Parton presents her wacky take on the future...

Well known for her beguiling video and installation work (and love of lycra leotards) Parton has assembled a cast and crew of Wellington's finest to create a sci-fi musical odyssey starring Toi Whakaari graduates Antonia Bale, Anja Tate-Manning (Chapman-Tripp award winner), and Jade Daniels, alongside theatre veteran Rose Beauchamp, dancer Sam Lahood and a bevy of young and talented children.

With music performed by a live band featuring the members of Cassette under the musical direction of Parton’s partner Luke Buda (Phoenix Foundation), fronted by the perpetually hilarious Jo Randerson, the show contains a reasonable degree of cynicism, offset by moments of absurdity and humour.

In this cross-genre work, ideological meltdown is imminent, the revolution is doomed long before it begins and audience members are advised to bring a blanket.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Thursday 28, Friday 29 February and Saturday 1 March at 7pm
at The Film Archive, cnr Taranaki and Ghuznee Streets

Tickets:
Full Price - $15,
Concession - $13,
Fringe Addict - $12

Read Brannavan Gnanlingam's great interview about the show
here

Just a quick note to recommend Dean Parker’s theatrical adaptation of The Hollow Men, which is on now at BATS. My position in the theatre industry prevents me from doing a proper review which means I can't tell you how funny and pointed it is, nor how expertly directed it is (by Jonathan Hendry) or how good many of the performances are (particularly Stephen Papps as Brash).

Several reviews are online at John Smythe’s excellent Theatreview resource so you can get the full down-low from there.

The Hollow Men plays at BATS until Thursday 11 October and then travels to Centrepoint in Palmerston North for a season.

The genius minds behind Heavenly Burlesque are back again for the Fringe and this time it's free. Gravity and other Myths is a spectacular outdoor new circus showcase inspired by the stars!

Vist Queen's Wharf at night this week and you see some of the country's best new circus, performing on a purpose-built outdoor circus rig, combined with pyrotechnics, spectacular lighting, sound and AV design.

I've been promised acts will use fire, trapeze, bungy, hula hoops, dance and object animation, all to the locally grown music of Rhian Sheehan, Module and more. This is proper circus people, not with evil clowns.

Plus here is your chance to run away with the circus in your lunchtime - Wellington Circus Trust are running introductory circus workshops at lunchtimes (12.30 – 1.30) on the days of the show performances.

Gravity and other Myths
Queen's Wharf, (under the sails)
Wellington Waterfront @ 8.00pm
Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th & Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th
March, 2007.
Entry by donation / Koha
and bring a cushion

2006 NZ Comedy Quest champion and 2007 Billy T nominee Alex Hawley invites you to a late night tea party at the Paramount. An enormous selection of scones and teas – both exotic and domestic – will be served. Warning: Content not suitable for children under 3 weeks.

What: Zandy's Tea Party
Where: The Paramount, Courtenay Place
When: 10:30pm; Friday 16th & Saturday 17th February
How Much: $15 normal people; $12 concession and $10 fringe addict card holders and groups (10+)

Starring: Alex Hawley (2007 Billy T Nominee); Matiaha Paku (Best Newcomer 2005 NZ Comedy Festival) and Matt Saville (Regional Winner of Quest for the Fest 2001).

Perilous - A Summer Circus Festival - Free workshops in flying trapeze, unicycling and juggling. Enjoy live music and performances on the big rig and stage from artists Magenta Diamond, the Twisty Twins, Empress Stilt Dance and the Wellington Busking Festival!

[click for a larger, more readable, picture]

Magenta Diamond is the freakin’ amazing hula-hoop artist who (tastefully) rounded out last year’s Heavenly Burlesque and, if that's your bag, you HAVE to see this!

There will also be an arts and crafty crafts market brought to you by the Craftwerk girls. And it will also be the last day of the Sam Taylor-Wood exhibition at the City Gallery which is also heartily recommended (but not during the hula-hooping).

A new production of HAMLET, directed by DAVID LAWRENCE and starring SIMON VINCENT, opens next week.

We're putting it on as a FREE community event and taking it to a different venue each night! How arty! Also if you don't like it they'll give you a full refund (you see it dosn't cost anything so a full refund would...never mind)

It's so no frills that there are no no frills, but it'll should be as thrilling and exciting as they can make it!

The fabulous cast also includes ERIN BANKS as Ophelia, JEAN COPLAND as the Queen, ALEX GREIG as Laertes, PHIL GRIEVE as the Player King, SALESI LE'OTA as Fortinbras, JACK O'DONNELL as Osric, PHIL PELETON as the King, JONNY POTTS as Marcellus, GINNY SPACKMAN as Francisco, JAMES STEWART as Horatio and Wellington theatre critic JOHN SMYTHE as Polonius (now that alone is worth seeing it for!). The directors also make the odd cameo.

Read more

You are invited to Wheeler's Luck fundraising gala.

Come along and support the boys as they take on The Edinburgh Festival.

Two nights only, July 25th and 26th at 9pm Bats Theatre.

For bookings phone 802 4175, or email: book@bats.co.nz

The reviewers say:

"Hugely entertaining and quirkily Kiwi ...two brilliantly talented comic actors create not only an entire community with over 400 locals, but also a dance routine, pub brawl, shipwreck and, dizzyingly, a bareback horse race... Energising, hilarious and perceptive, this beautifully honed show is pure theatrical magic" New Zealand Listener, 2006

"The whole story is told in 80 extraordinary minutes through 55 characters and a pet rock, all created with minimalist wit, great ingenuity and monumental talent by Toby Leach and Nigel Collins.... there is no one you don't know, or know of, in this community." National Business Review, 2005

"...gloriously performed ...rivalling Ben Hur for excitement but much funnier ...a sure fire hit." Dominion Post, 2005

The Young and Hungry 2006 season is about to get under way, with three plays produced and performed by 'yoof' starting their two week run down at Bats from this Friday night.

This year we've got How to Live in a World Full of Terrorists, Generator, and, winner of best title award, Butt Ugly, which also sounds like it has the most entertaining (if familiar) plot: "What happens when all the odd-ball freaks band together and set out for revenge?"

The Y&H plays are always good fun, and have spawned many a renowned thespian over the years - be sure to pop along and spot new theatre talent in the making. Book at Bats.