Pushkin's The Little Tragedies dir. Slava Stepnov

Slava Stepnov

Theatre of Glorious Abandon (NZ) and STEPS Theatre (New York) presents . . .

The Copthorne Hotel Season of...
The Little Tragedies
By Alexander Pushkin
Directed by Slava Stepnov

23 Sept – 4 Oct, 9.30pm
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce
Bookings: 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz Cost: $18/12

Human Obsession, Rivalry and Death . . . by the Master!

The New Zealand premiere of The Little Tragedies, a modern poetic interpretation of Alexander Pushkin’s nineteenth-century Russian masterpiece about free will, fate, and the human obsessions that continues to haunt us two hundred years after the four “little tragedies” were first penned.

Encompassing themes of vice and virtue, money and rivalry, love and death, Pushkin’s poetry has long been considered particularly difficult to approach in translation. This production is designed to bring Pushkin’s genius to a non-Russian speaking audience and uses the acclaimed English translation by Nancy Anderson.

We are very proud and honoured to welcome premiere Russian theatre director Slava Stepnov to New Zealand. Stepnov has worked in theatres throughout Russia, Georgia, Peru, United States and in 1997 Stepnov moved to New York City and founded the STEPS Theatre Production Company.

American critics have called Stepnov's style "movie-esque" and one of his productions a "unique directorial gem". Russian critics referred to him as a "genuine artistic whose choices in a process of searching for forms and expressions are always surprising", and concluded that Stepnov “might find himself in the company of such masters as Barishnikov, Nuriev and Brodsky”.

Theatre of Glorious Abandon and STEPS Theatre offer their own version of Pushkin’s lyrical drama, exploring it by means of live music, drama, and dance. This production marks the New Zealand premiere of The Little Tragedies and offers a rare chance to experience the depth and peculiarity of classic Russian poetry.

Starring: Gene Alexander, Antonia Bale, Matt Clayton, Phil Darkins, Sarah Lineham, Phil Peleton and Paul Stephanus.

ENDS

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