NZ theatre centre stage in city

The curtain has gone up on New Zealand Theatre Month.

The inaugural festival focuses on home-grown theatre throughout September, with several special events being held in Christchurch.

With the support of the Christchurch City Council and ASB, the Isaac Theatre Royal has put together a full programme of events, as well as highlighting the many shows being held in the city.

The Isaac Theatre Royal is hosting several events for NZ Theatre Month.

The programme includes playwriting workshops for adults and young people, masked performance, physical theatre and developing Maori and Pasifika theatre from personal stories and perspectives.

Celebrated playwright Roger Hall will host a “Playwriting Bootcamp” on Sunday, 23 September at the theatre, elaborating on stagecraft techniques.

A panel discussion centred on contemporary New Zealand theatre will also feature Hall, along with several leading directors and playwrights, on Monday 24 September.

“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to encourage discussion around making theatre in New Zealand,” the Artistic Programming Consultant to the Isaac Theatre Royal, Andy Brigden, says.

“We hope that hearing from the various perspectives of our guests – whether traditional playwriting, working with youth and emerging artists through devised methods or writing in Te Reo Maori – the Christchurch community may be inspired to keep New Zealand theatre alive, either as a maker or supporter,” she says.

Working with Showbiz Christchurch, the theatre will also feature a display celebrating the many thousands of Cantabrians who have dedicated their time to bringing musical theatre to life in the city over the past 80 years.

A special Isaac Theatre Royal open day on Saturday 22 September will celebrate the history of the theatre and showcase the display.

The NZ Theatre Month brochure is available from the Isaac Theatre Royal, the Court Theatre, Orange Studios, Christchurch City Libraries, I-Sites and cafes around the city.