March 18, 2009

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School 2009 Productions 

Toi Whakaari is the National Drama School of New Zealand.  It is the leading training ground for actors, set designers, costumiers, sound and lighting designers, performing arts managers and technicians.

This year we have a varied and enticing selection of opportunities for you to see our students working: theatre productions, films, workshop performances and showcase events. 

We are also hosting an exhibition of legendary NZ theatre designer Raymond Boyce’s work, an evening in conversation with UK Director Josette Bushell-Mingo and a master class with the multi-talented Jennifer Ward Lealand.

Come and see us in action.

Her Naked Skin by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Workshop Performance
Fri 27 & Sat 28 Mar
Set in London, 1913 at the height of the Suffragette Movement. Two women incarcerated for their fight to gain the vote, like thousands of their allies, find their lives spiral into an erotic but dangerous chaos.
WHERE: Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: 7pm
TICKETS: $5
BOOK: 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Manawa Pou
Thu 4 – Wed 10 Jun
Second year students collaborate on a site-specific work to explore what guardianship and history mean for them as young New Zealand practitioners.
WHERE: The Exchange Building, 24 Blair Street, Wellington
TIMES: Thu – Sat 7pm, Sat 8 Aug 2pm
MATINEE: TICKETS: $5
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Go Solo 
Mon 20 Jul – Sat 1 Aug
Watch 20 original short works in the solo form, presented in 5 different groups showcasing the abilities, passions and curiosities of our third year actors. Directed by Sophie Roberts.
WHERE: SEEyD Space, Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
TIMES: Mon – Sat  6.30pm & 8.30pm
TICKETS: $10/$5 per group $40 for all 5 groups
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Bedlam by Eli Kent and Company
Student-Lead Workshop Performance
Tue 1 – Sat 5 Sep
This darkly comic operetta takes its audience on a voyage through the twisted and tumultuous world of London’s notorious insane asylum.
WHERE:  Basement Theatre, Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: Tue – Sat 7pm
TICKETS:  $15/$12
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Fri 14 – Sat 22 Aug
We welcome one of the UK’s leading Afro-Caribbean theatre practitioners, actress and director Josette Bushell-Mingo (OBE) fresh from the RSC to direct Shakespeare’s tale of love, magic and perception.
WHERE: Te Whaea Theatre, Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
TIMES: Mon – Sat 7pm, Sat 22 Aug 2pm
TICKETS: $15/$10
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line) 

Classic Cuts
Thu 8 – Sat 10 Oct
This studio showing of scenes from Shakespeare and his contemporaries is the first public performance for Toi Whakaari’s first year actors.
WHERE: Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
TIMES: Thu – Sat 7pm
MATINEE: Sat 8 Aug 2pm
TICKETS: $5
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Toi Cabaret
Tue 13 – Sat 17 Oct
A sell-out every year, second year actors showcase an all-singing all-dancing spectacle of songs at Museum Hotel in chic cabaret costumes created by first year costumiers.
WHERE: Museum Hotel, 90 Cable Street
TIMES: Mon – Sat 7pm, late night shows Fri & Sat 10pm
TICKETS: $15 
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht
Thu 22 – Sat 31 Oct (no shows 25 & 26 Oct)
Christian Penny directs this year’s graduation show; Brecht’s epic drama is a moral road trip. A puzzle box of social dilemmas, the nature of justice and an insight into the glories and defects of human nature.
WHERE: Te Whaea Theatre, Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: Mon – Sat 7pm, Wed 28 Oct 2pm
TICKETS: $15/$10
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS
Design Event 09
Mon 12 Oct
An exciting range of work conceived and presented by graduating performance designers whose work has included film, animation, costume, installation, theatre and site-specific performance.
Look out for details of venue and times
TICKETS: FREE

Raymond Boyce: Sculpting the Empty Space:
an exhibition of set models 1967-1989
Sat 3 – Sat 9 May
NZ’s most influential and significant theatre designer, Raymond Boyce, has gifted Toi Whakaari some of his original set models. Graduate Brian King has curated a theatrical exhibition of these works.
WHERE:  Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: 2.30pm -5.30pm
TICKETS: FREE

In Conversation with Josette Bushell-Mingo
Wed 15 Jul
Artistic Director and founder of PUSH, an organisation that develops Black British Theatre, Laurence Olivier award nominee and recent Director at RSC, Josette Bushell-Mongo will be talking about her work and life.
WHERE:  Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: 6pm
TICKETS: $5
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Costume Showcase
Thu 17 Sept
See the spectacular costumes and accessories from our two years of costume construction students at an exhibition and theatrical showcase.
WHERE: Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: 6.30pm
TICKETS: $5 (includes light refreshments)
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or 04 381 9253 (automated line)

Master Class with Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Thu 17 Sept
NZ renowned actor, singer and director Jennifer Ward-Lealand will be working with second year actors on integrating their acting with their singing technique.  Come and watch the final recital.
WHERE:  Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre
TIMES: 1pm
TICKETS: $5
BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz 04 381 9253 (automated line)