Behind the scenes exposed at BATS

Why just go to the movies when you can take in the theatre at the same time?

Bats theatre's latest STAB production, AAARRRGH! - The Live Movie,will give Wellington audiences a taste of the chaos behind the scenes of film production. It is a lesson to all movie goers - in the 'art' of the b-grade, and it gives a different perspective to watching theatre in 3-D.

In what promises to be a highly experimental and humourous (check out some of the costumes for a start) hour of "movie making" the AAARRRGH! crew will turn several short scripts into reality on a 8 foot screen behind the real action.

These will include a documentary on Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, an action quick-flic, a deep-sea love affair and a 70's kiwi cult epic including on-stage claymation.

In theory AAARRRGH! will take the mask off movie making. All the different film-making processes needed to create a short film will be done live on stage, including acting (obviously), stunts, foley, music, lighting, editing, and special effects.

While the original scripts were written by directors Jermaine Clement, Bret McKenzie and Duncan Sarkies, the cast put in a huge amount of work to see how things could fit in a live arena.

Clement has dabbed in live movies before - three years ago he co-produced a low budget show called Mr Licky. He said he was sure "it has been done before, but I haven't seen it done."

Curious theatre and cinema-philes should head to Bats, where AAARRRGH! opens this Friday (Nov 10) at 8pm, tickets $16/$12.

The show runs until 25 November. Tuesday - Thursday at 8 pm and Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and 10:30 pm.

Book at Bats (04) 802 4175.

by Emma Philpott

© Scoop Media