April 20, 2007

Provocative New Plays Ready for Tasting   

The Court Theatre is pleased to offer Christchurch theatre enthusiasts a dynamic series of Sunday afternoon rehearsed play readings as part of The Forge’s inaugural 2007 season. 

 

With a commitment to things new and innovative The Forge is ideally placed to present "works in progress" and to invite public discussion following performances, acknowledging the valuable contribution feedback can make to ongoing script development.

The first of these works, The Cape by Vivienne Plumb will be presented on Sunday 29 April at 3.00pm. In the style of a road movie, four unique young men make a hazardous and unpredictable car journey to Cape Reinga. Initially they appear typically obnoxious, loudmouthed youths that many people would rather avoid, and yet by the end of the play we love them. Set to a soundscape of 90s music this work is by turns hilarious and extremely poignant. Featuring four of Christchurch’s hot young talents and directed by Elizabeth O’Connor.

On May 13 at 3.00pm Peter Low’s Voltaire at Large draws parallels between two seemingly unrelated episodes. In 1764 Voltaire is fighting one of his last great crusades for justice and reason. Meanwhile, in present day New Zealand, a young Kiwi couple shelter a Muslim refugee on the run from the police. Just what do these two worlds have in common?

Having already been produced in Wellington and overseas to great acclaim, Baghdad Baby by Dean Parker concludes the season on 20 May at 3.00pm. Set in Iraq amongst the current "US operation" a CNN reporter and a US soldier duke it out in an ideological battle over the rationale of the war whilst Baghdad explodes, crumbles and decays around them with surprising humour and humanity.

Add to the mix Operate’s ‘Playhouse on Sunday’ presentation of Simon Cuncliffe’s highly topical newsroom drama The Truth Game at 4pm Sunday May 6th and you have a four week sneak peek at the very latest in New Zealand script development, courtesy of The Forge at The Court.

Tickets $6.00. Book at The Court Theatre, 20 Worcester Boulevard, by phone 963 0870 or online at www.courttheatre.org.nz