The Literatti in “Why Don’t We...?

Fresh from two sold-out shows and the huge success at Auckland Fringe Festival 2011:
Printable Reality Presents...

The Literatti in “Why Don’t We...?”

*** The BEST off !
note - due to the venue restrictions, The Litterati will adapt the play to the space, and time ... so NO frills and props, just super-highlights of this highly successful show ***

Where: Pah Homestead, TSB Wallace Arts Centre
When: Thursday, 31st March 5.30-7pm, doors open 4.30pm
Cost: Tickets $10 on the door

WARNING - THIS IS NOT A POETRY READING!!

Do not expect earnest poets hogging the stage with a microphone. Do not expect anyone to stare at you if you make a noise. Expect poets to shout, laugh and dance – and expect to shout, laugh and dance with them.

“Why Don’t We...?” is not poetry as you might know and fear (inaccessible, dry and wordy! ).

“Why Don’t We...?” is poetic theatre – inspired by the searing real-life-story Def Jam poets, and taking performance poetry into a whole dramatic production.

It’s set in a bar around town, your town, in the town of Anywhere. It’s a show about your life, this life, night life, in a place near you, in a soon-to-come future, full of characters you already seem to know. And if you’re in the audience, you’re in the show, asking the Big Questions:

We hurt, hate, love, escape, fail, flounder, seek, seduce, lead and blindly follow. In this world of so many answers, one question weighs us down: “Why do we..?” But a weight can be changed into a stepping stone, a foundation to build from, a firm standing point on a stone in space, just by a slight change in the way we question life; a more urgent: “Why Don’t We...?”

“The show makes life out of poetry and poetry out of modern life,” says director Christian Jensen. “We’re inspired by live music, bands, theatre, Def Jam, rap, the Beat poets, poetry slam, and we’re fusing them into something new. So the poets interact with the musicians, the musicians respond to the poetic voice and come up with blues, jazz or rock, depending on the atmosphere of the scene and the voice.“It’s poetry in motion, in that the show doesn’t only use music and voice, but fully explores the effect of movement, props and costumes in developing the art of poetic theatre and how words perform.”
The Litterati

The Literatti are seasoned performers with five years of poetic innovation alongside some strong new voices in the Auckland poetry scene. The poets are : Miriam Barr, Daniel Larsen, Shane Hollands, Jai MacDonald, Zanni Anderson, Christian Jensen and Gus Simonovic.

Musicians: Lawrence Brock, Paul Williams and John McNab.
Dance/movement: AUT Dance Company and "The White Wall".
Moving images by Christoph Kirchner and Deborah Lawler-Dormer from MIC.

Under the creative direction of poet-performer Christian Jensen and supported by spoken word producers Printable Reality, the collective of poets brings their own voices and writing, with music and dance specially devised for the dramatic story, “Why Don’t We...?”

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The TSB Wallace Arts Centre 2011 "In VOICE and Music" performance series is organised and presented by Printable Reality - spoken word stage specialists. Printable Reality is committed to raising the profile of poetry and bringing it to the widest possible audience.

Printable Reality aims to become a portal for all people interested in poetry and spoken word/performance poetry, and a resource centre and database for poets and artists from all disciplines who have strong poetry connections.

Printable Reality specialises in producing high quality spoken word performances accompanied by music, dance and visuals, including:

* Solo poetry/music performance
* Poetry/music/dance duos and trios
* Poetic theatre
* Poetic multimedia extravaganza shows

and everything in-between.

Printable Reality has performed on streets and squares, festivals and celebrations, poetry readings and music concerts, weddings and birthday parties, gallery openings and fashion shows, fundraisers and corporate events, gardens and carnivals, from one performer 10 minute shows to ensemble two hour performances.

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