Launche of 10th anniversary schools programme

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Songs of the Sea

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Into the REM Zone

Media release: November 2006

Capital E National Theatre for Children launches 10th anniversary schools programme

The Company is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2007 with an incredible programme and an increasingly international flavour to its work.

The Company kicks the year off by cementing its international reputation with the world premiere of Spinning Mountain, collaboration with acclaimed Balinese puppet artist Kadek… and composers Gareth Farr and I Wayan Gde Yudane. Children will enter a world where dragons fly, giant turtles carry mountains on their backs and beautiful goddesses rise from the sea. School performances, 20-22 March, are part of the programme for the Capital E National Arts Festival.

“It’s rewarding to see that in just 10 years, the Company is not only attracting artists of the highest international calibre, but our programmes are more diverse and more accessible than ever,” says NTFC General Manager Stephen Blackburn, “Into the REM-Zone further demonstrates our commitment to pioneering innovative performing arts collaborations. Songs of the Sea will perform in 14 centres nationwide and, hot on the heels of the acclaimed Hinepau, will also open on east coast of Australia. We are also delighted to be working with pre-eminent scriptwriter Gary Henderson and acclaimed director Murray Lynch
on the development of Stealing Games.”

Into the REM-Zone explores the magical world of dreams through a fusion of dance and theatre. It’s intense, energetic, surreal but always fun! Here is a rare opportunity to witness a powerful collaboration between two of New Zealand’s leading performing arts companies, Capital E National Theatre for Children and Footnote Dance. A South Island tour will visit Christchurch, Invercargill and Dunedin, 5-12 November.

The mythical marine adventure Songs of the Sea will tour nationally from April to October. In a kaleidoscope of Te Reo and English song, dance and puppetry, the show unfolds the mysteries and myths of where the first fish came from. It’s a delightful, magical tale that will enchant. The show will visit Australia at the culmination of its New Zealand tour.

An exciting new work is Stealing Games. Still in the development phase, playwright Gary Henderson’s draft script deals with the privatisation of “playing”; its themes particularly relevant to the Year 4-8 age group. In 2007, the National Theatre for Children will continue the development of Stealing Games by performing the work in selected Auckland and Wellington schools.

FOR SCHOOL BOOKINGS CONTACT: Capital E, ph 04 913 742, gabrielle.lawton[at]capitale.org.nz, www.capitale.org.nz

ENDS

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