Welcome Back to 2013!

Welcome back to Christchurch Theatre for 2013, let's look forward to another fantastic year for theatre in Christchurch - already there are plenty of shows and opportunities coming up...

Upcoming Auditions: Elmwood Players' Cosi

On the 23 and 24 February, Elmwood Players are holding auditions for their upcoming drama Cosi. Cosi is Lousie Nowra' semi-autobiographical play set in a Melbourne mental institution in 1971:

 The venue is a theatre that smells of "burnt wood and mould", the cast are patients with very diverse needs, and the play is Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte”. Through working with the patients, [director] Lewis eventually discovers a new side of himself which allows him to become emotionally involved and to value love, while anti-Vietnam war protests erupt in the streets outside.

The play will be directed by Garry Thomas and will be on stage in April of this year.  For more information about the play and roles available, or to book an audition time, see the Elmwood Players' website or contact Gaz on 021 453 138.


Upcoming Show: The Near-Sighted Knight and the Far-Sighted Dragon

A fun, action-filled fairy tale for the whole family, Eleanor and Ray Harder's story of kings, princesses, knights and dragons comes to the stage this summer just in time to stave off the post-Christmas blues.

“This is a wonderful tale suitable for the whole family, and ideal holiday entertainment”, say the directors. "With a talented and creative cast plus live music, singing and dancing, this is bound to be a fun time for all involved’"

Performances are Thurs - Sun from 17 - 27 January: 6.30 pm Thurs/Fri and 11.00/2.00 Sat/Sun at Elmwood Auditorium.  .
Tickets $7 for all. Tickets can be booked online via the Elmwood Players' website or by calling (03) 355 8874. 
Directed by Susan Cameron and Garry Thomas.

Theatre Goings-On 24-AUG-12

There are quite a few theatrical happenings coming up in the next few weeks, from the spectacular to gritty drama...

Tonight and tomorrow, A Little Box At The Top Of The Stairs Productions presents adult drama "Extremities" by William Mastrosimone, directed by Garry Thomas.  Performances in the Elmwood Auditorium, show starts at 7.30.
Tickets are $18/$14: call 021 453138 to book.  Have a look-see at their group on Facebook to learn about this new theatre company.

Also this weekend, Musoc presents an 80s showcase of song and dance, in the UC Undercroft. Tickets are just $5 on the door, no need to book, and it'd be a fun and uplifting start to a night out, so bring your friends!

Dramasoc would like to remind the writers of Christchurch that there are only a few days to go to submit entries for this year's 3some, for more information or to register your interest, email canterburydramasoc@gmail.com

And that's all from the theatre world for now - although a lot of companies are now getting geared up for their summer musicals and holiday shows so there's plenty of excitement to be had in the very near future!
If you have a play you'd like to let the world know about, or would like to request a review or critique of your show, just send me an email: aimeerhiannon@gmail.com

Show Announcements 26-JULY-12

This week, Elmwood Players presents its Winter Season of short plays, Triple Treat.

“The Imaginary Friend” By Neil Troost; Directed by Alexandra Le Cocq

A comedy about the dysfunctional relationship between Karen and Roger.  Karen is struggling to cope with Roger’s increasingly erratic mental illness, while Roger’s imaginary friend Bob is reeking havoc with his attempts at a normal life.

“No Clues at Tudor Close” By Tim Barcode; Directed by Sam Fisher

Imagine waking up in an English country house after a murder has been committed with no memory of who you are, who they were or even of the house or people around you.

Colonel Mustard has exactly this experience one autumn day as he tries to piece together how he got to Tudor Close ….

Performances are Wed-Sat, July 26th to August 4th.  Shows start at 7.30pm at the Elmwood Auditorium.  All tickets $12. To book tickets call 03 355 8874 or use the online booking form


This August, the Rangiora Players' are bringing us the NZ premiere of Louise Roche's musical play Girls' Night.

"A Girls Night this is, for sure. Louise Roche's emotive and witty script cuts straight to the hearts of all those who spent their teens dancing around their handbags.
Sharon, a feisty disco gal who died in a moped accident and now returns, years later, as an angel to oversee the antics of her ageing friends.
And what a bunch of misfits they are; all recognisable caricatures of femininity. Amongst them is Anita, a Prozac dependent nutcase, there is boring Kate, who is tolerated because she does the driving and Lisa who tries to conceal her problems behind one big party.
It soon becomes evident that there is much more to these ladies than first impressions. Amidst the laughs and songs, some profound observations are made about all kinds of issues.
In Girls' Night, the girls replay their lives in flashbacks, in-between giving stirring renditions of seventies favourites."
Extracted from a review of the UK 2006 tour by Mike Martin in The Stage Reviews link to original review.

Performances are Wed-Sat, August 15-25.  Shows start at 7.30pm at the Rangiora Little Theatre.  All tickets $20. To book tickets, see the Rangiora Players' website. Note that this show is selling extremely quickly, with the final Thursday and Friday performances already sold out, so don't delay in booking tickets!

Elmwood Players' presents HABEUS CORPUS

This June, Elmwood Players presents Alan Bennett's hilarious farce Habeus Corpus.

Habeus Corpus concerns the aging Dr. Arthur Wicksteed and his pursuit of a nubile patient, Felicity Rumpers. Wicksteed's wife, Muriel, is, in turn, lusting after the charming head of the BMA, Sir Percy Shorter, who, as well as being Wicksteed's old rival, turns out to be Felicity's father - the result of an under-the-table liaison during an air-raid with Lady Rumpers, her mother.
Felicity herself is pregnant and finds a way to cover it up in the hypochondriac son of Dr. Wicksteed, Dennis.
Meanwhile, Wicksteed's spinster sister Connie, ashamed of her flat-chestedness, has schemes of her own. The 'chorus' is provided by the lower-class, housekeeper Mrs Swabb.





Performances are Wed-Sat, June 13th to 20th.  Shows start at 7.30pm, with a 2pm matinee Sat 16th.  Tickets are $17/$13 (matinee price: $12). To book tickets call 03 355 8874 or use the online booking form.  Directed by Brian Sullivan.

Elmwood Players presents Katydid

Elmwood Players are excited to present the South Island premiere of the award winning New Zealand drama Katydid. Directed by Garry Thomas, the play finally reaches Christchurch after a sell-out season at BATS Theatre in Wellington in 2010.

Nineteen-year-old Kate is daddy's little girl. He feeds her, bathes her, and keeps her safe from the obstacle course of 'normal' life. But, when daddy gets sick, and a handsome boy arrives to pick up the slack, Kate sees an opportunity to flee the tower. Like any other young woman her age, Kate clashes with her parents and longs to make her mark on the world. But Kate has cerebral palsy. With her father clinging to his little girl for comfort, and her mother clinging to her Southern Comfort, no one could blame Kate for seeking solace in an unwitting young man who has been brought in to help.

What follows is a searing examination of a family unraveled by the strains of living with disability, and living with each other.

Katydid runs from 11-21 April (performances Wednesday through Saturday) at the Elmwood Auditorium.  Performances start at 7.30pm and ticket prices are $17/$13.  To book phone 03 355 8874 or go to the Elmwood Players' website.

Elmwood Players' AGM and the 6th Annual Woodies Awards

The Elmwood Players' Annual General Meeting will take place on the 26th February at 4pm in the Elmwood Auditorium.

If you haven't voted yet for their annual Woodies' awards, there's still time - see their website for the voting form (you don't have to be a member to vote!).

Reminder: AUDITIONS

This is a reminder post about auditions for Elmwood Players' Children Theatre this summer (details follow):

Middle Age Spread with Elmwood Players

Elmwood Players presents its spring season of Roger Hall's classic kiwi comedy, Middle Age Spread: