Constellations: An elegant production of this fascinating play.

CONSTELLATIONS

One Relationship. Infinite Possibilities

In this universe you don’t have infinity to catch Constellations. We’re already in our final weeks of the show, and what a time we’re having.

Responses have been heartfelt, connected, emotive and energised, and there have been many fantastic conversations that have sprouted in the Circa Theatre foyer after the show.

CONSTELLATIONS offers us something special. It feels like no coincidence that our team has been brought together to tell this story and all the ideas it offers. Most of our team all studied together at Victoria University a good ten or more years ago, and this project has been a sort of ‘artistic reunion’ for us. Richard was given the script to read from a family friend who saw the original production of it in the UK. There they give the stageplays as programmes for the audience to take away, and well, luckily for us, it flew back to NZ and landed in Ricky’s hands.

Programmed originally for 2013 at Circa, we were delayed a year when the rights didn’t come through as Constellations hit the West End and they tightened up on international productions of the show. But finally, two years on, here we have Constellations on our Circa Two stage, and this is your chance to see it.

A show about the ‘what-ifs’ in life… Constellations offers us a chance to reflect on all the decisions we make daily. They’re not always big decisions like ‘should I quit my job’, and they’re not always clear ones such as ‘should I take the No1 bus’. But rather, the small decisions, the choices we make daily that we might not even realise absolutely affect our lives. It might be the simple way we say something – perhaps how we’ve entered a room, that influences how the rest of a situation might play out.

Erin Banks: "There are few plays that are as satisfying to perform as Constellations has been. The amazing dialogue, the lightning quick changes in tone and space, and it’s been such a joy discovering all the humour and pathos with a live audience. Several people have spoken to me about how the play has stayed with them for days, and we’ve both had instances of strangers approaching us to tell us what the show meant to them. It’s a wonderful feeling to be working with a group all at the top of their game and knowing that what you’ve created is accessible, moving, funny and truly connects with people."

Erin Banks and Richard Dey's "very fine performances move with lightening speed from light to dark with a deftness that is always startling and moving...in Rachel Lenart’s elegant production of this fascinating play." 

The Dominion Post

NZ Sign Language Interpreted Performance

There will be a New Zealand Sign Language interpreted performance of Constellations on Friday, 22 August at 7.30pm.

Circa Theatre is offering a discounted ticket price of $38 to members of Deaf Aotearoa and the Wellington Deaf Society (Inc).

To book for the NZSL interpreted performance, email circa@circa.co.nz. Please advise of your name, and that you would like seats in the designated area in view of the interpreters. Tickets can be paid for on the night, but must be paid by 7pm.

Make sure you see Constellations in this universe – book now 801 7992 / www.circa.co.nz

Constellations: buzzing towards opening night!

Constellations by Nick Payne is an award-winning play about free will and friendship, quantum multiverse theory, love and honey. The NZ Premiere opens at Circa Theatre in just one week on Saturday 26th July and runs until 23 August.

Actors Erin Banks and Richard Dey and Director Rachel Lenart share some insights on the production.

ACTOR ERIN BANKS

Constellations is one of those plays that is full of all sorts of allusions and metaphors: stars, bees, quantum physics, multiple universes. All this amazing material, while a fantastic springboard for making theatre, has also created a fertile breeding ground for puns.  So much so that we have established a 'Pun Jar' in our rehearsal room instead of the usual 'Swear Jar'.  So every time someone says they have 'friends in hive places' or that we should 'shoot for the stars in this scene' they can expect to be fined anywhere from 20 cents to a dollar (depending on how successful the pun is judged to be). 

ACTOR RICHARD DEY

It feels so satisfying to finally be putting the script of Constellations on its feet, as it has been close to two years since first discovering it and wanting to put it on. It is meditative, passionate, simple storytelling wrapped in an intelligent, complex structure. The likes of which I have never seen before. I have never been in a two-hander before and the challenge of being constantly present and engaged as an actor with my cast mate has been incredibly satisfying. I have also been given the privilege to learn about all things BEES. The great architects/scientists/dancers of our time. I have read my share of books (The Bees by Laline Paull is a must read!) and enjoyed the practical experience of inspecting a live hive, even managing to see the Queen. Gaining this knowledge has been a buzz (20c) and sharing the play will be a joy as it is universally (20c) accessible. Can't wait to see you there!

Richard Dey during his day as acting beekeeper.

DIRECTOR RACHEL LENART

There are so many things about this project that make me want to jump around in excitement. The script is the richest and most exciting I've come across in years  in its scope, its depth and even its very structure and exploring it has been a real privilege. Its a play where the everyday becomes profound in its simplicity and manages to find the very essence of what it is to be a human being. And this is only one of its many layers.

The collaboration with Richard, Erin and the designers has been a real treat. Everyone has come to the work with their own reading and ideas but consolidating this vision has been a surprisingly organic process. The work has a voice of its own that no one entirely controls, but everyone can hear, see on the edge of perception and our work together is pulling it into being. A fusion of elements (20 cents). The talents and perspectives brought by every single person on board is making the process so rewarding and full of pleasure.

As we head from the rehearsal room into the theatre next week, I am only a little daunted by the enormity of what waits for us in the cue lists, mostly I am bursting to see the final pieces of our puzzle fit together. Can't wait to open on Saturday with a big bang (20 cents).

BOOK NOW 801 7992 / www.circa.co.nz - CONSTELLATIONS, A MUST SEE IN THIS EXISTING UNIVERSE.     $25 DISCOUNT TICKETS FRIDAY 25TH & SUNDAY 27TH JULY