The Edge Presents: Flintock Musket

STAMP at THE EDGE® presents

FLINTLOCK MUSKET

Written by Kirk Torrance. Directed by Rachel House. Starring Nancy Brunning, Jason Whyte, Maaka Pohatu,Te Kohe Tuhaka and Taane Mete.

STAMP and THE EDGE® are excited to present the premiere season of Chappman Tripp Theatre award winner Kirk Torrance’s second play, Flintlock Musket, from November 17th.

Flintlock Musket marks Outrageous Fortune’s star Torrance’s return to the stage as a playwright after the success of his debut Strata, which scooped the “Most Original Production”, “Outstanding New Playwright” and “Most Promising New Director” at the 2003 Chappman Tripp Theatre Awards. Coupled with the talent of award winning director Rachel House (Best Director, NZ Listener 2002 and Director of the Year Chappman Tripp Awards), this premiere production is certain to capture the attention of NZ audiences.

Set during the infamous “Musket Wars” in the early 1800s, the epic tale sees Scotsman Mason, having fled to New Zealand, looking for land he can make his own. Receiving refuge from the ariki (chief) Aoraki comes at a price – Mason is now considered a mokai (pet) amongst Aoraki’s tribe.

Hine, a woman Aoraki gives Mason as a wife, has lived a life of servitude and is desperate to escape. She sees in her new husband the ambition he continually denies. Seeing her chance, she finally ignites Mason’s drive, which she hopes will set her free. But not without perilous consequences.

Inspired by the works of Shakespeare, Torrance’s approach to his new play was to craft a story within an era that has long captured his interest ‘'I have always been interested in the period of NZ history of the early 1800's - the dynamics of the initial first contact between Maori and Pakeha. I wrote Flintlock Musket inspired also by Shakespeare's Macbeth - I always saw it as a tribal story which would fit in well in the NZ landscape, and the tribal construct of early society here’ says Torrance.

Flintlock Musket brings together a creative team of NZ’s finest theatre practitioners including design by John Verryt, Rona Ngahuia Osbourne and Jeremy Fern, movement by Jack Gray and music by Tama Waipara and Sean Lynch.

Taking to the stage is a cast as mighty as those behind the scenes; Nancy Brunning (The Strength of Water, What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted) takes to task the role of Hine; Te Kohe Tuhaka (Shortland Street’s “Kingi”) as Toki, and award winning actor Jason Whyte (Apollo 13) who will be playing Mason. The gifted Maaka Pohatu (Strange Resting Places) will be playing Aoraki and the multi-talented Taane Mete (Tama Ma) will be bringing his gifts as the Tohunga. They are joined by a talented ensemble of actors and dancers including, Scott Cotter, Tamihana Paurini, Jarod Rawiri, Maria Walker and Nancy Wijohn.

Flintlock Musket plays

17 – 28 November 2009

Lower NZI Room, Aotea Centre

Tickets: $20 - $45 (plus applicable booking fees)

Book now through THE EDGE® - www.the-edge.co.nz

ENDS

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