March 27, 2009

Instructions to a Double – NZ Fringe event

Erin Hutching     posted 31 Jan 2009, 12:24 AM / edited 31 Jan 2009, 09:46 AM

Interesting, original theatre!

An intimate theatrical experience incorporating sensory stimulation and multimedia

Viscountess Kasmira Auchinleck invites you to her feast but she has a terrible secret. Sit at her table and watch her story unfold through a variety of media including filmed projections. Audience numbers restricted, be sure to book.

Instructions to a Double is brought to you by Unicorn Productions, a Melbourne based company. This production is funded by Creative New Zealand. We have seen a lot of really different, challenging theatre here as well as studying with some world-class performers so we want to bring something back home to New Zealand!

Instructions to a Double will be on in Wellington at Mighty Mighty, Level 1 104 Cuba Street, as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival, 25 February at 6pm and 26 and 28 February at 5.30 and 7.30pm

Also in Christchurch at Salamander Gallery in the Arts Centre, 4 March to 6 March at 7.30pm and 7 March at 5.30pm and 7.30pm

Check out website www.unicornproductions.com.au

Book by emailing bookings@unicornproductions.com.au

Unicorn Productions       posted 27 Mar 2009, 04:30 PM / edited 27 Mar 2009, 04:54 PM

Review – Canta Magazine

Instructions to a Double Held in the small confines of the Salamander Gallery, in the Christchurch Arts Centre, with a very limited audience, and staring Julia Campbell and Erin Hutching (with Jenine Kerr), Instructions To A Double is an experimental short play that uses live acting and multimedia to tell its story.

On arrival at the Salamander Gallery I wasn’t […]

by Jon Andrew // March 25 2009

Held in the small confines of the Salamander Gallery, in the Christchurch Arts Centre, with a very limited audience, and staring Julia Campbell and Erin Hutching (with Jenine Kerr), Instructions To A Double is an experimental short play that uses live acting and multimedia to tell its story.

On arrival at the Salamander Gallery I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of Instructions To A Double. Forewarned, as I was, that there were only twelve audience members and that the show was interactive, I was slightly apprehensive for no particular reason. It was probably just a feeling of something unknown.

As we were led into the makeshift theatre, Viscountess Kasmira Auchinleck (Erin Hutching), in full pre-revolution French dress, invited us to sit around her dinner table.

As we sat down, the Viscountess walked around us and the table, welcoming us to her 100th birthday. It was at this point I noticed a general dog’s body crawling round under the table. As the Viscountess continued to walk and talk to us, her guests, the dog’s body (whose name currently alludes me) stole shoes from the audience members (most notably shoes without laces as they were easier to take).

Erin Hutching, doing a bulk of the work as the Viscountess, easily held the attention of the “Party goers”, whilst Julia Campbell crawled round on all fours stealing shoes and making many breaks for the food just to the left of me.

The visual work was equally as impressive as the action. Never once did it strike me that it was out of place, being, as it was, perfectly integrated into the live action sections (except for one small hiccup during the performance where one of Jenine Kerr’s (Multi-media artist) friends popped up online on MSN messenger – no one noticed).

As the play progresses, we, the dinner party guests, eventually find out that the Viscountess has for a very long time been hiding a particularly damning secret. Which, for some reason, on her 100th birthday she tricks herself into revealing. I won’t spoil the twist for to do so would ruin the experience.

Both Erin Hutching and Julia Campbell are very gifted actors. Conceptually the play is well executed. I look forward to witnessing what next work they have to offer.