Sweet Sixteen & Still Going Strong!

Media Release for Immediate Use: June 2010

Young & Hungry Arts Trust

Festival of New Theatre 2010

Sweet Sixteen & Still Going Strong!

The Young & Hungry Festival of New Theatre began at BATS Theatre in 1994. Since then we have produced over 50 new New Zealand plays for the BATS stage and launched 100s of careers in the Theatre.

The aim of the festival is to provide young people, 15-25 years old, with an opportunity to work in a professional theatre environment with quality scripts written for them!

Under the mentorship of leading theatre practitioners, these young people have a chance to develop their skills in all facets of the Festival’s production, including: acting, lighting, sound, costumes, set, and stage management.

Young & Hungry is proud to present the fresh and funky 2010 season – including exciting new plays from Eli Kent (Thinning), Sarah Delahunty (Song of Four) and new playwrighting duo Antonina Bale and Ban Abdul (Sick!).

Thanks to the generous support of Creative New Zealand, BATS Theatre, Wellington City Council and Pub Charity, the Festival of New Theatre continues to pave the way for young people in the performing arts industry.

2010 marks the 2nd year in partnership with Auckland Theatre Company; with simultaneous festival seasons taking place in Auckland and Wellington Young & Hungry is quickly becoming a national movement!

SONG OF FOUR, SICK! & THINNING
Premiering at BATS Theatre, 8-24 July 2010
04 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz
Cost: $16 Adult, $13 Student / Season Pass: (all 3 shows) $38 Adult, $28 Student

SONG OF FOUR (6:30pm Showings)
Written & Directed by Sarah Delahunty (Medea Songs, 2b or nt 2b)

You’ve only got nine months to save the world! New Zealand has become the last hope breeding ground for the Human Race. Humanity has been left infertile following the worldwide introduction of a highly addictive chemical food additive.The search is on for anyone isolated and unaffected enough to participate in a breeding programme to re-populate the planet…whether they want to or not From renowned youth focused playwright Sarah Delahunty, SONG FOR FOUR is a savvy social commentary on individual human value versus a grasping world driven by profit.

SICK! (8:00pm Showings)
Written by Antonia Bale and Ban Abdul
Directed by Paul McLaughlin (SALON, The Blackening)

Bullies are a bitch and there’s a pack in every school. Nalini Rakeesh is desperate to get in with the cool clique and with help from the new girl at school, it seems like she might get her chance. But with the much anticipated Halloween party on the horizon, who’ll get tricked and who’ll get treats? SICK is an edgy comedy that explores the fickle dynamics of female friendships and school bullying by co-writers Antonia Bale and Ban Abdul.

THINNING (9:30pm Showings)
Written by Eli Kent (Rubber Turkey, The Intricate Art of Actually Caring)
Directed by Rachel Lenart (A Bright Room Called Day, Sensible Susan and the Queens Merkin)

A dreamer, a joker, a rebel, a slacker, a soldier and a wallflower… people you love people you hate and people just like you. Six high school graduates’ lives are about to change course forever following a summer spent apple thinning in Nelson. There’ll be break-ups, hook-ups, new loves, drunken nights… and, of course, lots and lots of apples. THINNING is an exciting new work about growth and gravity by Eli Kent (Chapman Tripp Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year 2008)

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