The Next Stage

Plays on the journey to full production

THE NEXT STAGE is a vital part of Auckland Theatre Company's mission to bring utterly original, fervently New Zealand stories to the stage. Previous seasons have taken the audience by surprise, showcasing new plays from remarkable talents that are entertaining, challenging and enthralling.

THE NEXT STAGE will be held over one weekend at Auckland Theatre Company's administration and rehearsal space.

After each performance we welcome comments from the audience in a discussion with the author and director.

By sharing your thoughts with us after the performances - in person, in writing, or by email - you'll contribute to the development of new work as it embarks on the journey to full production.

PLAY 1
PANIORA!  by Briar Grace-Smith

Te Mamaenui Martinez is the oldest living descendent of Papa Carlisto Martinez. When she dies, so too will the unique culture of the Paniora, the Māori-Spaniards of Taiawa on the East Coast. In order to reignite the fire that burned in the belly of his forebears, Jimmy Hotai hires a debonair matador from Spain and arranges a bullfight. But when his old love, Maria Rameka returns to the village with her husband of fifteen years, an old woman's powerful spell is unleashed, and this time with devastating consequences

The Playwright
Briar Grace-Smith is of Ngā Puhi descent and is an award-winning writer of theatre, screen and short fiction. Her plays have travelled nationally and internationally and include NGĀ POU WĀHINE,  PURAPURAWHETŪ, WHEN SUN AND MOON COLLIDE, and HARURU MAI.  Two of these have been produced as part of ATAMIRA, Māori Television's theatre series (2012). The film of Briar's first screenplay THE STRENGTH OF WATER (2009) premiered in Rotterdam and Berlin and FRESH MEAT - a comedy horror film - will be released in New Zealand later this year. Briar was an inaugural recipient of the Arts Foundation Laureate Award (2000). In 2003 she was the Writer in Residence at Victoria University.  She lives in Paekakariki on the Kapiti Coast with her children, her husband, one dog and two cats.

Directed by Colin McColl.
Cast includes: Miriama McDowell, Calvin Tuteao, Jarod Rawiri, Nancy Brunning, Hannelle Harris, Hera Dunleavy and Barnie Duncan.

Performances
Friday  16-Nov 7.30pm
Saturday 17-Nov 4.30pm

PLAY 2
THE TREES BENEATH THE LAKE by Arthur Meek

Golden boy William Campbell was making his first forays into politics when the recession hit, and his finance company got caught in the landslide. In the aftermath, William's business practices have been brought into question, and charges have been levelled at him. In a last ditch effort to save his reputation, his personal fortune and his political ambitions, William returns to his mother Nieve's house in Central Otago. It seems a lifetime ago that Nieve lost her battle to save the family orchard from being drowned beneath the waters of the Clyde Dam, though she takes heart that the fires of that battle forged the character of her beloved son. But as Nieve convenes the family to fight for their future, she accidentally shines a devastating new light on their past.

The Playwright
Arthur writes for stage and screen and is the current recipient of the prestigious Bruce Mason Playwright's Award.  In 2011 ATC premiered his play ON THE UPSIDE-DOWN OF THE WORLD, which continues to tour throughout New Zealand. Other work for theatre includes RICHARD MEROS SALUTES THE SOUTHERN MAN, CHARLES DARWIN: COLLAPSING CREATION, SHEEP, and ON THE CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF HELEN CLARK TAKING ME AS HER YOUNG LOVER.

Directed by Simon Bennett 
Cast includes: Michael Hurst, Rueben Bowen, Bruce Phillips, Theresa Healey, Jodie Hillock and Catherine Wilkin.

Performances
Saturday 17-Nov 1.00pm
Sunday  18-Nov 3.30pm

PLAY 3
NATIVE AFFAIRS by Alice Miller

Wellington, 1881. Newspaper proprietor and man-about-town Bryce Forster is poised to become the next Premier - but he's stymied by his estranged wife, his stubbornness and a new temptation who saunters into his life. Pretty, ambitious and with an eye for facts, Eliza also catches the eye of Forster's adopted son Will, who is convinced that his father's push for another military campaign against Maori will jeopardise his political career.

The Playwright
Alice Miller is a poet, essayist and fiction writer. Since 2008 she has received the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Premier Award for short fiction, the Landfall essay prize, and the Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize. She has an MA from the International Institute of Modern Letters and an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was a Glenn Schaeffer Fellow. Alice works part-time as a historian and writer for the Waitangi Tribunal in Wellington. NATIVE AFFAIRS is her first play.

Directed by Andrew Foster 
Cast includes: Stephen Lovatt,Tandi Wright, Damien Avery, Laurel Devenie, James Collyer and Kevin Keys.

Performances
Saturday 17-Nov 7.30pm
Sunday  18-Nov 1.00pm

Seats are strictly limited.
Tickets can be purchased from Auckland Theatre Company on 09 309 3395.

$20 per ticket or buy all three plays for $45.