2014 Circa is innovative, entertaining and its shows always have an energy and excitement. It feels like a big city local theatre. – Karen Anstiss Myself and my friends love attending Circa. Why? We find it is the complete package when it comes to a night out. Everything happens at the one destination. The surroundings, the food, the entertainment. As well as the social gathering after the show on opening night. – Beris DeMuth Circa is a sophisticated extension of my own living room. It is so welcoming and inviting, but offers experiences not available anywhere else!!! – Pam Truscott We check the Circa brochure before planning a trip to Wellington to make sure we catch a Circa show. Always great seats; always entertaining theatre, and a sure-fire fun night out in the Big Smoke. – Mike and Angie Piper Great Venue – always warm and welcoming. The plays aren't bad either! – Peter Sisson What I love about Circa Theatre and keeps me coming back is the friendly atmosphere, the warmth of the people at the box office, the high quality of each performance, the $25 specials and the interesting range of plays showcased each year. As a Wellingtonian, I am always very proud to take visitors from other cities to our wonderful Circa Theatre. – Jan Brydges-Jones We attend most Circa productions and feel that you offer a completely positive package: professional theatre of a high standard; efficient and friendly front of house staff; lovely pre/post performance drinks, nibbles and meals and a warm and inviting environment. The complete entertainment package. – Cath Roberts Welcome to the Circa Theatre 2014 season It has become clear after 37 years of presenting exceptional Another polished performance. Chapman Tripp: theatre in Wellington, that we would not be able to do what sponsors of Circa Theatre. we do without the generosity and support of our invaluable sponsors. We are very proud of the high energy, high quality and innovative theatre that we have presented for nearly four decades for our audiences, and that accomplishment is Our team of Deloitte Private professionals are committed something we gratefully share with each of our sponsors. to working with home-grown Wellington businesses, and we are proud to support excellence in the arts and on The remarkable dedication of our sponsors has also ensured our local stage. that the artists – actors, directors, technicians, stage managers and designers – who produce such excellent ensemble theatre at Circa, achieve a viable income. The TACT trustees extend a heartfelt thank you to you all. Vodafone: The telecommunications company that connects Kiwis to the people and things they care about. Great sponsors support the arts. Artists support the health of the nation. Creative New Zealand, the national arts development agency – developing, investing in and advocating for the arts for the benefit of all New Zealanders. Circa Theatre Circa Theatre’s two distinct theatre spaces present a year-long programme of electrifying and thought-provoking theatre. Circa One is a transformative environment for celebratory, challenging and empowering live theatre, a stage upon which our artists, directors and designers produce the best of New Zealand and International work. Circa Two is a more intimate space, creating a closer connection between artists and audiences with the same high quality, engaging and exciting theatre. We are very proud of our 2014 programme and are thrilled to share it with you. We hope you enjoy the season of exceptional stories, wonderful characters and dynamic experiences as much as we did putting it together. Circa Theatre is administered by a working council comprising: Charlotte Bates, Neville Carson, Richard Chapman, Andrew Foster, Carolyn Henwood, Ray Henwood, Ross Jolly, Miranda Manasiadis, Lyndee-Jane Rutherford, Jane Waddell, Linda Wilson, Susan Wilson, Jason Whyte. THANK YOU As a registered charitable organisation, Circa Theatre and TACT gratefully accept the assistance of sponsors, donors and Friends to help with the general operation of the building and ensure the consistent quality of our productions. Circa Theatre would like to acknowledge the following people who have been wonderful philanthropists over the years: Peter and Mary Biggs, Brian Steele, Chris Finlayson, Vivien Hirschfeld, Christine and David Kernohan, Anne and Paddy Maloney, Henry Stubbs, Suzanne Snively, Pen Moore, Richard Stubbs, Diana Duff Staniland, Jack Hodder, Roger Hall, John and Jay Benton, Sam Perry, Chris Parkin and The Fame Trust. Special thank you goes to all of those generous individuals who have contributed to the purchase of seats in our Millionth Bum Campaign. CIRCA ONE 6 2 – 11 JANUARY 13 19 APRIL – 17 MAY CIRCA ONE MOTHER GOOSE – THE PANTOMIME OTHER DESERT CITIES BY MICHELE AMAS SONGS BY PAUL JENDEN AND GARETH FARR BY JON ROBIN BAITZ DIRECTED BY SUSAN WILSON DIRECTED BY ROSS JOLLY CIRCA TWO 7 18 JANUARY – 15 FEBRUARY CIRCA ONE 14 22 APRIL – 3 maY THE PIANIST KINGS OF THE GYM STARRING THOMAS MONCKTON A comedy by DAVE Armstrong DIRECTED BY THOMAS MONCKTON Directed by DANNY MULHERON & SANNA SILVENNOINEN CIRCA TWO 8 7 – 16 FEBRUARY 15 27 APRIL – 15 JUNE SUNDAYS A PLAY ABOUT FEAR THEATRESPORTS BY MY ACCOMPLICE DIRECTED BY UTHER DEAN THE IMPROVisors CIRCA two 9 21 FEBRUARy – 15 march CIRCA TWO 16 17 MAy – 1 JUNE Miss BRONTË 2B OR NT 2B / 4 BILLION LIKES! TWO PLAYS PERFORMED BY MEL DODGE WRITTEN AND DIRECTED DIRECTED BY LYNDEE-JANE RUTHERFORD BY SARAH DELAHUNTY CIRCA ONE 10 22 FEBRUARY – 29 MARCH 17 24 MAY – 21 JUNE CIRCA ONE PASEFIKA EQUIVOCATION BY STUART HOAR DIRECTED BY SUSAN WILSON BY BILL CAIN STARRING GEORGE HENARE DIRECTED BY PETER HAMBLETON 11 22 MARCH – 19 APRIL CIRCA two 18 GLORIA’S HANDBAG 23 JUNE – 5 JULY CIRCA two BY HELEN MOULDER AND SUE RIDER MATARIKI DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL DIRECTED BY SUE RIDER tawata PRODUCTIONS STARRING HELEN MOULDER CIRCA ONE 12 2 – 12 APRIL 19 28 JUNE – 12 JULY CIRCA ONE RITA AND DOUGLAS H¯IKOI BASED ON THE LETTERS OF RITA ANGUS ¯ ADAPTED FOR STAGE BY DAVE ARMSTRONG TE KAKANO SEASON: MATARIKI 2014 DIRECTED BY CONRAD NEWPORT WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY NANCY BRUNNING 4 CIRCA Two 20 8 – 19 JULY 15 29 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER CIRCA Two THE ROAD THAT WASn’t THERE IMPROVISORS FOR KIDS BY RALPH MCCUBBIN HOWELL THE IMPROVisors DIRECTED BY HANNAH SMITH CIRCA ONE 21 19 JULY – 23 AUGUST CIRCA ONE 25 4 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER THE PITMEN PAINTERS A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE BY LEE HALL BY ARTHUR MILLER INSPIRED BY A BOOK BY WILLIAM FEAVER DIRECTED BY SUSAN WILSON DIRECTED BY ROSS JOLLY CIRCA two 22 26 JULY – 23 AUGUST CIRCA TWO 26 18 OCTOBER – 15 NOVEMBER ISAAC’S EYE CONSTELLATIONS BY LUCAS HNATH BY NICK PAYNE DIRECTED BY PAUL MCLAUGHLIN DIRECTED BY RACHEL LENART ART DIRECTION BY TOM SCOTT WITH MUSIC BY RHIAN SHEEHAN 15 27 15 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER CIRCA ONE 10 AUGUST – 28 SEPTEMBER SUNDAYS RED RIDING HOOD – THE PANTOMIME THE IMPROVISORS GO TO THE MOVIES by ROGER HALL THE IMPROVisors SONGS BY PAUL JENDEN & MICHAEL NICHOLAS WILLIAMS DIRECTED BY SUSAN WILSON 23 30 AUGUST – 27 SEPTEMBER CIRCA ONE 28 A PUBLIC READING OF AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY ABOUT THE 22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER CIRCA two DEATH OF WALT DISNEY DEAD TRAGIC BY LUCAS HNATH BY MICHAEL NICHOLAS WILLIAMS DIRECTED BY DANNY MULHERON 24 6 SEPTEMBER – 4 OctobeR CIRCA two DESTINATION BEEHIVE BY PINKY AGNEW & LORAE PARRY DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED BY JAN BOLWELL FIND US ONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION MUSICAL DIRECTION BY MICHAEL NICHOLAS WILLIAMS CIRCA SIX TICKets FOR THE JOIN THE CIRCA THEATRE MEETUP GROUP SIX PRICES OF FIVE! A great night out! Attend scheduled events and make PACK Ask at the Circa Box Office new friends. Find out more at www.meetup.com/CircaTheatre 5 2 – 11 JANUARY FAMILY CIRCA ONE Mother Goose THE PANTOMIME BY MICHELE AMAS SONGS BY PAUL JENDEN AND GARETH FARR DIRECTED BY SUSAN WILSON FESTIVE FUN FOR EVERYONE! A Golden Egg of a show – Mother Goose is well worth a gander! These holidays join Mother Goose and her friends on a flight of fantasy in an unmissable pantomime adventure. Mother Goose hits the jackpot when Lucy the goose starts laying golden eggs. But it’s not enough for her to just feather her own nest – she wants youth, beauty and a total makeover as well. With an abundance of fun, comedy, costume and songs, Mother Goose is a must-see crackin’ eggs-trava-gander of a Panto! Starring: Gavin Rutherford, Kathleen Burns, Jude Gibson, Lyndee-Jane Rutherford, Simon Leary, Richard Osborne, John Wraight. PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH 6 18 JANUARy – 15 FEBRUARY COMEDY CIRCA ONE SON RETURN SEA Kings of DUE TO DEMAND! the Gym A COMEDY BY DAVE ARMSTRONG DIRECTED BY DANNY MULHERON PC VS. PE! At your request, we are thrilled to announce the return of the highly successful sell-out comedy Kings of the Gym. Starring the original brilliant cast – Ginette McDonald, Paul McLaughlin, Richard Dey and Acushla-Tara Sutton – in the roles they so successfully created in 2013. Delightfully romantic and wickedly entertaining, Kings of the Gym is a warm-hearted comedy set in a school gymnasium about the really important things in life – ambition, evolution, destiny… and PE teaching. “...a terrifically funny play…a great night’s entertainment…fabulous fun…stand out acting…” — David Farrar, Kiwiblog “Kings of the Gym is a decile-10 play that should be seen by everyone who has ever questioned what it is to be a Kiwi” — Elspeth Sandys, New Zealand Listener “The cast of four are terrific with impeccable comic timing…the perfect start to the theatrical year”— Lynn Freeman, Capital Times PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH 7 7 – 16 FEBRUARY FRINGE CIRCA TwO WORLD PREMIERE A Play About Fear BY MY ACCOMPLICE DIRECTED BY UTHER DEAN EVERY SCARY MOVIE YOU LOVE AS You’vE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE! The acclaimed theatre company that brought you the sell-out sensations Joseph K and A Play About Space – Best Theatre (Dunedin Fringe), Best Design (Wellington Fringe) – is bringing the Fringe to Circa in this thrilling roller- coaster ride through fear.