The Vagina Monologues

The Vagina Monologues

Royale Productions presents

The Vagina Monologues
a play at The Basement Theatre

They want to talk to you.

It was a theatrical phenomenon around the globe; now The Vagina Monologues returns to Auckland from August 26th. A revolving cast of 20 of Auckland's finest actresses, including Antonia Prebble, Jodie Rimmer, Sara Wiseman and Anna Jullienne, plus special guests, will bring Eve Ensler's seminal work to the new generation of theatre-goers.

Searingly funny, sometimes shocking, moving and unashamedly honest, The Vagina Monologues moves beyond embarrassment and fear and examines how “down there” is a means of female empowerment and the ultimate embodiment of individuality. These potent stories from a range of ages, ethnicities and sexualities will make for a jubilant night at the theatre.

Producer and actress Sara Wiseman (most recently seen in The Cult) is excited about bringing The Vagina Monologues to Auckland again in her debut role as a producer. “It's been eight years since the last professional production of the show in Auckland, which means there is a large audience who won't have seen this fantastic piece.”

Eight years is enough time to do some growing up, and Wiseman wants to give several actresses who have recently had children an opportunity to get back on the stage. “Usually a professional theatre production, with a full-time rehearsal schedule followed by weeks of performing in the evening, simply isn't possible for new mums. But our revolving casts make it an achievable commitment for those actresses. We all benefit from keeping these women connected and vital in our industry.”

The Vagina Monologues will be presented in conjunction with the launch of The Silver Ribbon Foundation's Awareness Month in September, New Zealand's fledgling gynecological cancers foundation.

There’s a plethora of stunning talent!

Beth Allen (Shortland Street), Hannah Banks (The Jacqui Brown Diaries), Alison Bruce (Holding the Man, Mercy Peak), Lisa Chappell (The Importance of Being Earnest, The Cult, McLeod’s Daughters), Chelsie Preston-Crayford (The Cult, Home by Christmas), Jacque Drew (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Some Girls), Michele Hine (Go Girls), Gabrielle Henderson, Rachel House (Whale Rider, Boy), Anna Jullienne (Shortland Street), Natalie Medlock (Blinkers and Spurs, The Giant Face), Rachel Nash (The Cult), Toni Potter (Shortland Street, Horse Play), Antonia Prebble (Outrageous Fortune), Sylvia Rands, Jodie Rimmer (In My Father’s Den, Separation City), Sophie Roberts (Broken China, Wolf’s Lair), Fleur Saville (Shortland Street, The Giant Face) Fern Sutherland and Sara Wiseman (The Cult).

Direction: Caroline Bell-Booth, Rachel House, Sylvia Rands and Sam Shore.

Designer: Simon Coleman

"Spellbinding, funny, and almost unbearably moving. . . . Written with a bluntness that is nevertheless intensely lyrical, it is both a work of art and an incisive piece of cultural history, a poem and a polemic, a performance and a balm and a benediction." - Variety

The Vagina Monologues plays

August 25th -September 11th 2010, 8pm

5pm shows on Sunday

Matinee: Saturday 4th September, 2pm

The Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD

Adults: $28, Concessions: $24, Actors Equity/ Students: $20

Bookings through iticket – www.iticket.co.nz, or 09 361 1000

Door sales available on the night

ENDS