Dying For It

Dying For It

15-22 June

World-renowned theatre director John Bolton comes to Wellington

World-renowned theatre director John Bolton comes to Wellington to direct a new show with students from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, that uses clowning to underpin more serious themes of social injustice.

Dying for It - An outrageous satire on the hypocrisy and illogic of Soviet life-

was a play that was banned by Stalin before a single performance and is now regarded as a 20th Century classic comedy. It is re-contextualized in this version, referencing the current global refugee crisis and the failings of 21st Century capitalism.

Originally written by Moira Buffini as an adaptation of Nikolai Erdman’s 1928 play The Suicide, it tells the story of Semyon, a man down on his luck and out of

options. When his last hope at turning his life around disappears he decides to commit suicide, only to find that a number of people would like him to die on their behalf.

John Bolton brings this play to life by using his training in the ’Jacques Lecoq style’ of clowning and bouffon. Students from Toi Whakaari’s Acting, Management and Costume programmes are collaborating on the production which promises to be a very funny but dark tale about man’s inhumanity.

Georgia Mae Pringle - a third year acting student who will graduate this year, is playing Masha. When asked about how the students connect to the setting of 1930’s Russia, Georgia said “This play is totally relevant to today and speaks to my generation on how people can so easily take advantage of others vulnerability”

John Bolton trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, Paris. A Fellow of the Australia Council, he has received numerous awards for directing and teaching including two Melbourne Green Room awards, the 2002 Kenneth Myer Medallion for services to Theatre in Victoria, and the 2005 Teaching Excellence Award at the Victorian College of the Arts. He ran his own school in Melbourne for 9 years and was Head of Acting at the Victorian College of the Arts between 2002 and 2006.

What: DYING FOR IT
By Moira Buffini

Directed by John Bolton

Production and Lighting Design by Brian King

Where: Basement Theatre, Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchinson Rd, Newtown, Wellington

When: Wed 15 – Wed 22 June 7.30 pm
Matinee Sat 18 June 2.30pm

Taught matinee for schools Wed 22 June 3pm

(no show Sun 19 June)

Price:
$25 Full, $15 Concessions, $5 School group student rate.
ends

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