THE BRAVE
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Devised by Massive Company Directed by Sam Scott and Carla Martell at Q, 305 Queen St, Auckland From 17 Apr 2012 to 22 Apr 2012 Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland From 24 Apr 2012 to 29 Apr 2012 Reviewed by: James Wenley (Theatre Scenes - Auckland Theatre Blog); Stephen Austin; Janet McAllister; |
21 YEARS BRO – IT'S MASSIVE
“Maybe I'll never be a man but just an older boy who knows more things. Hopefully I'll still wake up to watch cartoons when I am 40.”
Having spent 21 years working with actors across New Zealand, Massive Company mans up for its landmark year, bringing together a cast of old and new (in Massive years) as The Brave performs at both Q in the heart of Auckland City and the Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku from April 17th 2012.
In a devising room, 2 female directors asked 8 men to write letters to important people, who still are, once were or never were in their lives. From this, came a flood of stories and survival tactics.
Created from true confessions – baby teeth to mortgages – 8 men front up on a bare stage ready to risk it all, as they wage an honest battle against the Peter Pan syndrome, stripping away every facade to reveal The Brave.
Massive Company isn't your usual type of theatre. Massive is urban, street – it's raw and athletic. Massive Company's physical style combines the ensemble's own text, movement, story and song into one visceral package. Massive Company represents the authentic voice of Aotearoa.
The Company's collaboration with leading playwrights has been responsible for some of Aotearoa's most popular and indigenous works – Sons of Charlie Paora, Whero's New Net and Havoc in the Garden. Massive has also been responsible for making the likes of Madeleine Sami, Miriama McDowell and Wesley Dowdell into household names.
It's this do-or-die attitude which has led to Massive Company's 2012 Season credo: Work hard. Never Compromise. Push in all directions. Risk Everything!
Under the Artistic Direction of Sam Scott, the Company's hard work has seen them acknowledged by Creative New Zealand as arts leaders in presenting experimental and excellent work by young and emerging New Zealand theatre practitioners.
The Brave sees some of the old guard of Massive work alongside some new, yet familiar faces in the world of entertainment. Auckland theatre and film regulars Jonny Moffatt (The Chathams – we're f#!king sick of the silence), Todd Emerson (My Wedding & Other Secrets), Beulah Koale (Havoc in the Garden), Scott Cotter (TV3's Brown Bruthaz) and Dominic Ona-Ariki (Shortland Street) will work alongside newcomers Andy Sani, Leki Jackson Bourke and Neil Amituanai.
“… the freshest, liveliest show in town. The lads run through the gamut, from kapa haka, to krumping, to contemporary dance and a risqué lip synching Ladies' Night routine that had the entire teenie girls in hoodies squealing, brandishing their cell phones aloft like Bic lighters of an earlier age.” - Metro (Up Close Out Loud 2007)
The Brave plays:
Q Theatre, 17th – 22nd April 2012
Mangere Arts Centre, 24th – 29th April 2012
All Bookings – 09 309 9771/ www.qtheatre.co.nz/the-brave
Tickets $20-$45
CAST:
Neil Amituanai, Dominic Ona-Ariki, Leki Jackson Bourke, Scott Cotter, Todd Emerson, Beulah Koale, Jonny Moffatt & Andy Sani.
CREW:
Directors – Sam Scott & Carla Martell
Assistant Director - Kura Forrester
Lighting Designer - Jane Hakaraia
Tech Manager - Sean Lynch
Stylist - Sara Taylor
Produced by Massive Company