Circa Theatre 2012 Season

Circa Theatre 

2012 Season

Brief Synopsis of Productions

Circa One

Roger Hall’s Aladdin, the Pantomime

Songs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas Williams

Directed by Susan Wilson

3-14 January

Back by popular demand for the first two weeks in January, those of you who missed out on seeing this spectacular treat before Christmas can hiss, boo, and aww along with Aladdin, Widow Twankey and the gang!

The Motor Camp

A comedy by Dave Armstrong

Based on a story by Danny Mulheron

Directed by Danny Mulheron

21 January – 18 February

After the panto we have another return season by popular demand: The Motor Camp! Director Danny Mulheron once again helms this cracker Kiwi camping comedy by NZ playwright Dave Armstrong, bringing together the talented cast from the sell out 2011 season. Tickets are available now – get yours early to avoid disappointment!

Peninsula

By Gary Henderson

Directed by Jane Waddell

25 February – 31 March

Up next is Circa’s contribution to the New Zealand International Arts Festival, Peninsula, by the award-winning team who scooped the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards in 2007 with Home Land.  A touching, bitter-sweet look at life in the 60s, Peninsula provides a richly emotional journey amid childhood games and adventures and adult issues and events.

Roger Hall’s A Shortcut to Happiness

Directed by Ross Jolly

14 April – 28 May

A fabulous new comedy about the lives, loves and misadventures of a folk-dancing class, A Shortcut to Happiness has all of the usual Hall trademarks: shrewd observations, much mocking of Kiwis’ curious customs and of course, plenty of laughs.

All My Sons

By Arthur Miller

Directed by Susan Wilson

2 June – 7 July

The director who brought us the epic dramas August: Osage County and When the Rain Stops Falling in 2011, takes on this powerful Miller classic for 2012. A brilliant and compelling family drama of love, guilt and the corrupting power of greed, All My Sons was the first great success of Arthur Miller’s supremely influential career.

Spector

With the BeatGirls

Devised, written and choreographed by Andrea Sanders

14-28 July

A musical tribute to one of pop’s legendary producers, Spector showcases the best work from Phil’s career and recounts the stories around the music. Starring the always entertaining BeatGirls (performing for the first time in Circa One!) and featuring hit songs such as ‘Be My Baby’, ‘Da Do Ron Ron’, ‘Unchained Melody’ and ‘River Deep Mountain High’.

West End Girls

Adapted for the stage by Ken Duncum

From the bestselling book by Barbara Tate

Directed by David O’Donnell

4 August – 1 September

West End Girls is a world premiere adaptation of Barbara Tate’s autobiographical bestseller, brought to you by the writer/director team behind the 2010 Circa hit, The Great Gatsby. An eye-opening, hilarious and moving story of love, life, laughter and sex.

Clybourne Park

By Bruce Norris

Directed by Ross Jolly

8 September – 6 October

Director Ross Jolly presents the NZ premiere of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play. A very sharp, clever and wickedly funny study of modern manners, Clybourne Park probes the contemporary fault line between property and prejudice. It is startling, unsettling and outrageously entertaining!

The Truth Game

By Simon Cunliffe

Directed by Danny Mulheron

Produced by Howard Taylor

13 October – 10 November

Sex, lies and the semicolon. The Truth Game is a fast-moving contemporary drama about journalism and the very “soul” of the news, which freeze-frames the crises of the age, while traversing universal themes of ambition, loyalty, love and betrayal.

Roger Hall’s Cinderella, the Pantomime

Songs by Paul Jenden and Michael Nicholas Williams

Directed by Susan Wilson

17 November – 22 December

There he is! Oh no he isn’t. Oh yes he is! The team that brought you Aladdin, Robin Hood, Dick Whittington and his Cat, Jack and the Beanstalk and Red Riding Hood returns to the beginning to bring you the pantomime that started it all, Roger Hall’s Cinderella. A glittering fairytale with dazzling costumes and lots of fun and laughter – the perfect Christmas treat.

Circa Two

Esencia del Flamenco

With special guests from Barcelona Christina Lopez and Paul Bosauder

31 January – 5 February

First up in the 2012, Desde Sevilla Flamenco Dance Company returns to Circa Two with Esencia del Flamenco, which captures the essence of flamenco: haunting song, intense emotions and mesmeric rhythms.

Meeting Karpovsky

With Helen Moulder and Sir Jon Trimmer

Directed by Sue Rider

10-25 February

Originally produced to rapturous response in 2002, Meeting Karpovsky toured New Zealand in 2003/4 and won Listener Best New Play and Chapman Tripp Actress of the Year. By popular demand, it returns in 2012 for a strictly limited season.

Floral Notes

Written by Geraldine Brophy

Song book adapted by Jane Keller

4 -28 April

A blooming micro musical about friendship, life and love, starring all-time theatre favourites, Geraldine Brophy and Jane Keller. Floral Notes is a glorious evening of super songs and first-rate entertainment.

Chekhov in Hell

By Dan Rebellato

Directed by Eleanor Bishop

12 May – 9 June

Director Eleanor Bishop brings us a bitterly comic new play that drops nineteenth century playwright, author and pitiless observer of Russian society Anton Chekhov in twenty-first century London. This New Zealand premiere asks where have we come from, how did we get here and what do we do now?

Sunset Road

Written and directed by Miria George

20 June – 7 July

Brought to us by Tawata Productions, the award-winning team behind 2011 favourites I, George Nepia and He Reo Aroha, Sunset Road is a beautiful story of family, personal history and coming of age. World premiere.

The Year of Magical Thinking

By Joan Didion

Directed by Susan Wilson

11 August – 8 September

Starring Catherine Downes

A NZ premiere, this dramatic adaptation of Joan Didion’s award-winning best-selling memoir transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and only daughter into a stunning and powerful one woman play.

Manawa

Written and directed by Jamie McCaskill

15 September – 13 October

This world premiere play by playwright Jamie McCaskill (He Reo Aroha) examines the New Zealand justice system and the idea of community.

The Mourning After

By Ahi Karunaharan

Directed by Miria George

16-27 October

Another contribution to the 2012 Circa Two programme from Tawata Productions, The Mourning After is a story of loss, love and family that travels from the shores of New Zealand to a village in Sri Lanka.

The Tigers of Wrath

By Dean Parker

Directed by Jane Waddell

3 November – 1 December

A world premiere, The Tigers of Wrath is an intriguing play about the strange twists of life, about hopes and reams, about a developing and then disintegrating relationship. In the background run two astonishing political trajectories: The People’s Republic of China and The New Zealand Labour Party.

And threaded throughout the Circa Two programme, The Improvisors continue their 22-year tradition of providing hilarious improv comedy for Circa audiences. We have Theatresports (29 April – 1 July), History Never Repeats (1-6 May), Improv Cage Match (19 August – 7 October) and three school holiday improvised shows just for kids (10-21 April, 2-14 July, 1-13 October). Don’t miss them!

Visit Circa to pick up your copy of the 2012 brochure today!