Eco friendly message in a bottle from The Rime of the Modern Mariner

The Playground Collective is proud to announce a partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, in connection to their new eco conscious production The Rime of the Modern Mariner. This partnership will see audiences of the event connected with community beach clean ups, and will help raise awareness about the very real danger single-use plastics are creating in our oceans.

Director Robin Kerr says – “The Rime of the Modern Mariner tells the thrilling tale of one man’s awakening to the impact of our wasteful consumer culture is having on the environment. It’s an exciting partnership connecting our audience with Sustainable Coastlines so that we can bring about real world change as a result of this event.”

The Rime of the Modern Mariner is the 2016 BATS Theatre STAB commission. It is a stage adaptation of a beautiful graphic novel by British author illustrator Nick Hayes, based around the epic 18th Century poem of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.

In this production the Mariner sets out to sea to catch the ultimate prize, but when he carelessly fells an albatross a curse befalls his ship. Stranded in the north Pacific Gyre - a swirling vortex of trash - the Mariner comes face to face with the overwhelming consequences of our unthinking consumption.

Afloat and alone in a forgotten mass of plastic he is stalked by the endangered creatures of the deep, haunted by ghostly apparitions, and faced with an encroaching storm. If he hopes to survive he must bare the weight of his actions and atone for his mistakes.

Taking aim at environmental destruction, and brought to life with puppets made from actual plastics collected from the coasts, this has the burning of issue of our generation dead in its sights.

"I'm really excited by this year's partnership with The Playground Collective,” says Oliver Vetter, Environmental Science Programmes Manager at Sustainable Coastlines.

“The Rime of the Modern Mariner, brings a new dimension to this year's education and beach cleanup programme 'Love Your Coast, Wellington' that teaches about the harmful effects that over consumption and single-use plastics have on the environment. Hearing these messages through the arts is a great way to raise awareness and expand our reach, but more importantly it provides an enjoyable experience that therefore inspires real change."

LOVE YOUR COAST Public Beach Clean Ups – ALL WELCOME!

Saturday 19th November: 10am – 2pm – Meet at the Sustainable Coastlines Education Container, near the boathouse, Wellington Waterfront.

This is part of the annual Wellington Harbour Spring Clean 2016. If you’re interested in SCUBA diving, contact your local dive club, otherwise walkers and kayakers welcome.

Saturday 10th December: 10am - 4pm – At Makara Beach. If you have access to a 4WD vehicle bring it along.

What to bring:

• Sturdy shoes: this area has some challenging coastal terrain. You’ll need closed-toe, sturdy shoes (such as sneakers, sports shoes or tramping boots).

• Warm and waterproof clothes: NZ weather is unpredictable. Bring at least one warm top layer and a rain jacket.

• Sun hat and sun cream.

• Reusable water bottle (filled-up and ready to go).

• Packed lunch and snacks.

• Camera (optional) – this is a unique and beautiful location and we’d love to see your photos. Use #loveyourcoast on social media or email to camden@sustainablecoastlines.org

You will be briefed in health and safety considerations on the day, and will need to sign a health and safety form.

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STAB 2016 Commissioned by BATS Theatre

The Rime of the Modern Mariner

By Nick Hayes / Adapted by The PlayGround Collective

11-26 November 2016
The Heyday Dome, BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington

TICKETS:

Full Price: $25.00

Concession: $20.00

Groups 6+: $18.00

Thursday 10 November Public Preview: $15.00

BOOKINGS: book@bats.co.nz / www.bats.co.nz / 04 802 4175

THE PLAYGROUND COLLECTIVE BIO:

The PlayGround Collective is a New Zealand theatre company who develop innovative and imaginative theatre based on good storytelling, founded by Eleanor Bishop, Eli Kent and Robin Kerr.

Since forming in 2007, they have produced 9 shows, toured nationally and internationally, including to New York and London, and have won 14 awards. These include The People’s Choice Most Original Production and the Judge’s Award for Excellence for ‘All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever’ at the 2015 Auckland Theatre Awards.

Their previous works include THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK (BATS, 2007), RUBBER TURKEY by Eli Kent (BATS and Auckland’s The Basement 2008), A BRIEF HISTORY OF HELEN OF TROY by Mark Schultz (BATS 2009), THE INTRICATE ART OF ACTUALLY CARING by Eli Kent (NZ Fringe 2009 and National Tour), BEDLAM (Toi Whakaari 2009), KATYDID by Lucy O’Brien (BATS 2010) TINDERBOX (STAB Commission 2011) LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW (Auckland Theatre Company 2013 and Festival of Colour 2014), ALL YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS FULFILLED FOREVER (BATS 2013, La Mama New York and Q Theatre Auckland 2014, and Vault Festival London 2015).

STAB INFO: https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/media-releases/210929-bats-is-celebrating-21-years-of-stab

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