Kia ora BATS Friends, - Tue, 10 Aug 2004

Tue, 10 Aug 2004

Kia ora BATS Friends,

Two cutting-edge, new New Zealand shows open at BATS this week.

You may have seen the bare bottoms of two well-known Wellington actors on the posters around town for one, and the other comes with a content warning of nudity. I guess it's reflective of the long winter we've had in Wellington - you get a couple of days of sun and everyone starts flinging their clothes off! Come bare your cash at BATS for rewarding theatrical experiences at bargain prices...

Opening Wednesday:

'WORD VIRUS'

Radical theatre inspired by the Beat Poets, presented by Theatre Militia, directed by Rachel Lenart. 9pm, Wednesday 11 - Saturday 14 August, and Wednesday 18 - Saturday 21 August, Tickets : $15 full / $12 concession. (Recommended as unsuitable for those under 18.)

and opening Friday:

'WHEELER'S LUCK'

A good kiwi yarn about small town NZ, land ownership and love, featuring Toby Leach and Nigel Collins, directed by Damon Andrews. 7.30pm, Friday 13 - Saturday 28 August (no shows Sundays & Mondays), Tickets: $16 full / $12 concession.

To book for either of these shows, simply hit reply to this email, and give us details of the show, the night, the number of tickets you want, and your name and a contact phone number. Easy as that you'll have a date with BATS!

Keep reading for further information on this week's shows:

WORDVIRUS

"THE ONLY WAR THAT MATTERS IS THE WAR AGAINST THE IMAGINATIONŠ"

The Beats go on.

The poetry of Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Diane Di Prima and others comes to Wellington this August. Wordvirus is an exploration of art, sexuality, love and American society through the words of the Beat Poets. Five performers act, sing, dance, fight and f**k their way through fifty minutes of dazzling words.

"I SAW THE BEST MINDS OF MY GENERATION DESTROYED BY MADNESS, STARVING HYSTERICAL NAKED."

Wordvirus explores the New York of the Beats - a nightmare maze of dark tenements, curling alleyways and cold-water flats. Tucked away in their tiny lofts and apartments they seek salvation in sex, in drugs, in jazz and in Zen, in politics and in poetry.

"ARE YOU GOING TO LET YOUR EMOTIONAL LIFE BE RUN BY TIME MAGAZINE?"

Fifties America belonged to figures such as Senator Joe McCarthy and FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. The Beats' revolutionary ideas met huge cultural resistance. Through the lives and works of the poets, Wordvirus explores the relationship of the artist with society and the place of the outsider critic.

Wordvirus came into existence last year as the end product of a final-year collaborative theatre paper at Victoria University. Theatre Head of Department John Downie calls it "a highly stimulating piece of theatreŠ I highly recommend this production." It will be one of the first shows performed in the newly-refurbished BATS.

Wordvirus is the first production by new company Theatre Militia directed by Rachel Lenart. The script was woven together by Felix Preval, who also performs along with James Schmidt and Leah Brumer. Local musical innovators sstimuluss provide both the sound and the original music score.

Warning: Wordvirus contains nudity, sex scenes, drug use and strong language. It is not suitable for younger viewers.

Wordvirus will be performed at BATS Theatre between 11-21 of August (no shows on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday). The start time is 9.00pm and it runs for just under an hour.

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White Knuckle Productions Proudly PresentsŠ The World Premiere of

WHEELER'S LUCK

A good kiwi yarn, straight from the horse's mouth!

Wheeler's Luck is a new New Zealand play that explores who we are as a nation. A bit tongue in cheek, it's about small town New Zealand, land ownership, folklore, karma, what we value and how we are progressing as a nation. Oh . . . and it's a love story.

The play, set in early 2004, begins with reclusive landowner and spinster Nora Cox dying without leaving a will. Developers are knocking on the door, and the future of Cox Point and its historic festival are placed into jeopardy.

Will the community stand up and claim the piece of land that has been close to its heart for over a century? Or will they choose a new course for the town? Stripped Bare or Bare Back? The town must decide.

Wheeler's Luck is a first time collaboration by New Zealand Drama School graduates, actors Toby Leach and Nigel Collins under the direction of Damon Andrews. The trio boasts an impressive list of credentials. Toby (Chapman Tripp best supporting actor 2002 "Trick of the Light", "Have car will travel", "Duggan", "Hamatsa" ­ La Mamma, New York City) Nigel ("DNA", "Let's Go, "The boxer") and Damon ("Niu Sila", "Split", "Angelo's Song"). These qualified professionals of small town New Zealand play an entire town to tell a tale that speaks of their own experience, and love of our country.

"When the moneymen come around with the chequebook, what price do we place on our values?"

13-28 August 2004, 7.30pm @ BATS Theatre, $16/12 (no shows Sundays/Mondays)

Love the BATS crew xxx

ENDS

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