November 10, 2009

RED LEAP OPEN DAY: THE ARRIVAL GETS SET TO DEPART

Following the success of their Auckland Festival 09 season Red Leap Theatre are now preparing for their production of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, to depart Kiwi shores. To celebrate, the company invite the public inside their rehearsal rooms for a rare glimpse into the workings of the movement and image based company. The Red Leap Open Day will be held at the NBR NZ Opera facility in Onehunga on Sunday 6 December.

When Red Leap Theatre’s production The Arrival premiered at The Civic in March 2009 critics called it "world class; one of the best examples of its kind you will ever see." They were right. The show has won international attention and last week seasons were launched in the Sydney Festival, the Hong Kong Arts Festival and the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

The Arrival’s 2010 summer tour will see 400 set, prop and costumes items and a tour party of sixteen on the road. "It has been a wonderfully large undertaking for us" says company co-director Kate Parker "We made The Arrival as a project based company and its success has generated an incredible momentum. We are now looking to generate and strengthen the infrastructure required to support our artistic objectives and business opportunities. It’s a very exciting time for all involved."

Red Leap’s Open Day is designed to raise funds and to build public awareness for the company and its process. "We are a devising company who work in a strong physical way."  says co-director Julie Nolan. "We create work collectively in an environment of play and instinct, then combine this with discipline and experience.  We enjoy being irreverent and we love a little bit of magic!."  

From 10am to 3pm on Sunday 6 December the public can view the company at work, explore the props workshop, join in a class, meet the creative team and bid on auction items including limited edition prints and original sketches by Shaun Tan. A programme for the day and full auction list will be available on www.redleaptheatre.co.nz from November 21.