The Basement Shows Off Auckland's Newest Talent

Media release;
For immediate release
DISCOVERING TOMORROW'S THEATRE MAKERS:
THE BASEMENT SHOWS OFF AUCKLAND'S NEWEST TALENT
The Basement presents
In association with Young and Hungry Arts Trust and Lion Foundation
YOUNG AND HUNGRY FESTIVAL OF NEW THEATRE 2013

After auditioning and interviewing over 150 aspiring actors, stage managers, designers and technicians aged between 15 and 25, The Basement is proud to give Auckland audiences the next generation of theatre-makers with the The Young & Hungry Festival Of New Theatre 2013 playing this September 27 – October 12 at The Basement.

Y&H gives up-and-coming young performers and production crews the chance to participate in a professionally-mentored season of exciting, new New Zealand plays.
Produced in association with the Young and Hungry Arts Trust, The Basement presents the fourth year of Auckland's Y&H festival, nurturing and celebrating our undiscovered talent.

Get Discovered - Get Excited - Get Going!

This year's plays, Dragonlore and Atlas/Mountains/Dead Butterflies have been written by Auckland's Nic Sampson (Bombs Away, Megachristmas) and Joseph Harper (Honey, Bikes I’ve Owned Versus Girls I’ve Fallen In Love With) respectively. Although vastly different in style and genre both explore the responsibility of being young - the pressure of having the time of your life and saving the world all at once.

Their works will be helmed by this year’s directing talents; Curtis Vowell (Fantail) and the team of Amelia Reid (Shortland St) and Shadon Meredith (Goodbye My Felini, Le Tonu).

Young and Hungry alumni include: Taika Waititi (Boy), Loren Horsley (Eagle vs Shark), Brett McKenzie (Flight of the Concords) and Michelle Ang (Outrageous Fortune).

Other Young and Hungry participants such as Arthur Meek (The Upside-down of the World), Jo Randerson (Cow), David Lawrence (The Bacchanals), Thomas Sainsbury (Supercity), Lauren Jackson (I’m Going to Mum’s), Jackie Van Beek (Go the Dogs), Eli Kent (Like There’s No Tomorrow) and Dave Armstrong (Niu Sila) are now leaders within the New Zealand arts industry.

Summaries of both plays read at the end of this release.

For more info head to facebook.com/youngandhungry or basementtheatre.co.nz

YOUNG AND HUNGRY plays
Friday 27 September - Saturday 12 October
The Basement, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland 1001
Time: 7pm & 8.30pm
Tickets: $20.00 (booking fees may apply)
Both shows - $25 (under 25s) or $30
Bookings: iTicket (09) 361 1000 www.iticket.co.nz

PLAY SUMMARIES:

DRAGONLORE by Nic Sampson
Directed by Curtis Vowell (Fantail)

A brief introduction to the world of LARPing (Live Action Role Playing);
Step 1: Go to the woods. Or your parent’s farm. Or somewhere with at least one tree. Step 2: Dress up as your favorite wizard, goblin, half-cat half-person. Step 3: Get into character….what does your half-cat half-person sound like? What are their dreams? Fears? Thoughts on local Government? Step 4: Fight each other with foam sticks. Step 5: Let your imagination run wild!

Dragonlore is a bitter-sweet comedy set in the (mostly) unknown and oft-scorned world of LARPing. But when you really think about it, cricket is a weird game too.

“You certainly don't have to be a LARPing enthusiast or know anything about it to enjoy this vibrant, action packed journey into another world.” – Theatreview (Wellington Y&H)

ATLAS/MOUNTAINS/DEAD BUTTERFLIES by Joseph Harper
Directed by Amelia Reid and Shadon Meredith (Goodbye My Felini)

Rhys and Phoebe live together at 10 Stencil Terrace, where their tap is dripping. Rhys wants to do something. Phoebe doesn’t. Together and apart, they’re shaken into action/inaction as Atlas buckles under the weight of the world. Activists, statues, plumbers, and hundreds of millions of dead butterflies fall into their lives as they wait for it to snow, and the taps go drip, drip, drip.

“Atlas/Mountains/Dead Butterflies articulates an internal battle that is going on in a lot of young people's minds as they come to terms with how they can save and care for a world that sometimes doesn't seem to want to care for them.” – Theatreview (Wellington Y&H)

© Scoop Media