Fringe @ The Gryphon

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Letteracy

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Sacred or Profane

MEDIA RELEASE 19 JANUARY 2007

Fringe @ The Gryphon
Baggage Co-op celebrates 10 years of Fringe.

Thur 15-Sun 18 Feb 2007, Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St, Book Michelle 385-4974

Multi fringe award winners Baggage Co-op celebrates a 10 year association with the Fringe by taking over the Gryphon Theatre for its biggest ever Fringe production. Two main shows, an art exhibit, one off poetry and storytelling events, plus special children’s matinees featuring Maori legends of the Wellington area, will be jam-packed into four days of Fringe magic and mayhem.

“This show is our way of celebrating that we are still here creating new work,” says Baggage co-founder Tony Hopkins. “It also reflects our interest in the different ways people chose to tell stories.”

The highlight of the 4 day season is the premiering of the two main shows, Sacred Streets from Wellington and Letteracy from Auckland ($15/12/10 or 2 shows for 1 $20}.

Sacred Streets, by Baggage Co-op founders Moira Wairama and Tony Hopkins, looks at the connection between the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and the life experiences of a black hustler on the streets of San Francisco.

”Ironically this show touches on themes from our first Fringe play, Baggage, which we wrote for the 1996 Fringe,” says Moira. “It’s been fascinating looking at how both our work and we ourselves have changed in that time” (8pm Thur 15th—Sun 18th).

Letteracy, marks the fringe debut of Waiheke based storyteller, writer and frockoholic, Tanya Batt and was created around family letters kept in an old trunk. “It’s an idea I’ve been thinking about for some time,” says Tanya. “And the Fringe is the perfect place to try it out. It’s well worth the long drive down!” (6.30pm Thur 15th—Sun 18th).

Other events and performances featured in Fringe @ The Gryphon are:

Artists: Sacred or Profane? art exhibit in the Gryphon Theatre foyer daily. “We have a range of artists exhibiting and plan to have individual artists and musicians working in the space between 1-4pm daily,” says curator Brett Whincup. “Some of the artists have also created ‘baggage art’ which we plan to place around the central city.”

Poets: Sacred or Profane? features spoken word adepts Craig Ireson, Lewis Scott, Dra McKay, and Tony Chad along with Fringe newbies Kahu Hotere and Simon and Joseph Hirini and musicians: Eli Wairama and Rawiri Hirini (9.30pm Friday 16th $5 entry).

Stories of the Ancestors features actor/storyteller Ralph Johnson, with well known Kapiti-ites Pamela Meekings-Stewart and musician Rhada, telling legends which include Beowulf, The Mothers and the Maori creation myth (11am Sun 18th $10/8/6).

Legends of Te Whanganui a Tara is a telling of local Maori legends, suitable for school and family groups. (11am Thur-Sat $5. Thurs-Fri tickets must be pre-booked. Special school group rates).

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Fringe @ The Gryphon:
Baggage Co-op celebrates 10 years of Fringe.

Thur 15-Sun 18 Feb 2007, Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St, Book Michelle 385-4974

Sacred Streets [8pm 15-18th Feb]
Moira Wairama Lower Hutt
Tony Hopkins Wellington

Letteracy [6.30pm 15-18th Feb]

Artists; Sacred or Profane exhibition

Brett Whincup (curator/image designer ) Petone
Austin Whincup Petone
Johanna Mechen Petone
Saul Wairama Lower Hutt
Dra McKay Wairarapa
Trish Stevenson
Rhada Kapiti Coast

Poets : Sacred or Profane? [9.30pm Fri 16th Feb]

Craig Ireson Wellington
Lewis Scott Wellington
Dra McKay Wellington
Kahu Hotere Porirua
Simon Hirini Lower Hutt
Joseph Hirini Lower Hutt
Tony Chad Upper Hutt
Rawiri Hirini (musician) Lower Hutt
Eli Wairama (musician) Lower Hutt

Stories of the Ancestors [11am Sun 18th Feb]

Pamela Meeking-Stewart Kapiti Coast
Ralph Johnson Kapiti Coast
Rhada (Musician) Kapiti Coast

Legends of Te Whanganui a Tara. [11am Thur-Sat prebook Thurs-Fri ]

ENDS

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