How do you love BATS? Let me count the ways...

How do you love BATS? Let me count the ways...

There are four good reasons to come on down to BATS this week.

REASON #1: Opening this Wednesday:

'Fat Man Fox Livingstone - Return of the King'

Written and performed by Felicity McDonnell Directed by Gabe McDonnell

Felicity McDonnell is Fox Livingstone, rockstar extraordinaire. Battling with prescription drug addiction and the ghosts of past glories, Fox Livingstone emerges from his hallucinatory hell to perform world famous covers of rock's greatest hits... LIVE at BATS.

'I wish he wrote the damn thing himself - he did it far more justice than I ever did.' - Blondie on Fox's cover of 'Heart of Glass'.

He hasn't been seen for a while. He hasn't recorded anything for a while - thirty years to be exact. He's gained a few pounds. He doesn't go out. Ever.

The music press now speak of him in the past tense; say he's washed up, drugged up, over. Ladies and gentlemen, he's not over. Far from it.

Fox Livingstone, live and direct from BATS Theatre, Wellington, for ten shows only.

8.30pm, Wednesday 21- Saturday 31 July ( no show Sunday/Monday) Tickets: $15 full price / $12 concession

REASON #2: Opening this Thursday:

Theatre Pataphysical proudly presents

'Action' by Sam Shepard

Four characters, a Christmas tree and a total lack of conversation equals 'Action' - a surreal comedy by Pulitzer prize winner Sam Shepard.

Theatre Pataphysical is proud to bring the premiere of this unpredictable play to New Zealand. Come in from the cold to this dark dreamscape of Americana. Join the Christmas 'festivities' and see what happens... expect a visceral show with something for all the senses!

'Things don't work. And then I smash something. I punch something. I scream. Later I find my throat is torn. I've torn something loose. I'm trembling. My breath is short. My heart's thumping. I don't recognise myself.'

'Action' is Theatre Pataphysical's second production, following the award-winning Fringe NZ 2004 production of 'After Kafka'. Of this production, Lynn Freeman wrote in the Capital Times: '...leaves you dizzy and breathless... totally committed and physically demanding performance...'

Directed by Ryan Hartigan, the cast of four are committed to restoring a sense of danger to live theatre and producing work that experiments without excluding the audience.

7pm, Thursday 22 - Saturday 31 July (no shows Sunday / Monday) Tickets: $15 waged / $12 concession

TO BOOK for either of these shows, simply hit reply to this email with your name, number of tickets you want to book, the show you want to book for, and the date you want to attend. We will reply to confirm your booking and you can pay when you come to the show.

REASON #3: After two weeks of renovations, BATS is looking rather fine. Come along and enjoy the warmly welcoming colours of our new look foyer, bathrooms and box office. You may not notice as quickly, but the lighting grid and theatre auditorium have also been taken apart and put back together in spruced up fashion.

REASON #4: The Pit is open again!

>From Wednesday night onwards, Rich Neame declares The Pit bar at BATS 'wide open and ready for action.' A hot new bartender awaits your orders for pre- and post-show drinks.

... And once you've attended both these BATS shows, you'll be on such a theatre high that you'll want to continue by attending the clinic's touring production 'The Peculiar Case of Clara Parsons', on at Shed 11 till July 31, bookings through Ticketek (04) 384 3840

Love BATS

xxx

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