Circa: Season of Play Readings 2012

1 June 2012

Season of Play Readings 2012

Circa Theatre and Playmarket are pleased to present a fantastic array of engaging and thought-provoking play readings. New works by New Zealand playwrights Ken Duncum, Elspeth Sandys, Joe Musaphia, Phil Braithwaite, Kathryn Burnett and Nick Ward will be presented in rehearsed readings, along with Jerusalem by international award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth (subject to rights). The readings will take place at Circa once a month from June to November. Each reading will be helmed by a well-known local theatre director and performed by a cast of professional actors.

“This collaboration allows the public to experience a showcase of terrific new plays while they are fresh in development and to make better use of the resources of both organisations,” says Playmarket director Murray Lynch.

The schedule for the Circa Theatre and Playmarket Season of Play Readings 2012 is:

9th June: The Train Set by Joe Musaphia
4th August: Honest to God by Phil Braithwaite
25th August: Rogues and Vagabonds by Elspeth Sandys
29th September: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth (subject to rights)
27th October: Janet & John by Ken Duncum
17th November: Mike & Virginia by Nick Ward and Kathryn Burnett

“We think a season of play readings is a marvelous opportunity on so many levels, for playwrights, the Wellington theatre industry and, of course, our patrons,” said Ray Henwood, Circa Council Co-ordinator. “It is a rewarding and exciting addition to our regular programme and we are pleased to be working together with Playmarket to make it a reality.”

Susan Wilson will direct the first reading: The Train Set by Joe Musaphia, starring Christopher Brougham, Nikki MacDonnell and Gavin Rutherford. It is set in Berlin, Germany, 1939. A Jewish couple, Herschel and Vera Stern, are selling up to start a new life in New Zealand. Among their chattels is a Marklin train set. Herschel is impatient to leave Hitler’s ‘anti-Semitic hellhole.’ Vera still dreams of ‘my Germany.’ Their young son and daughter are away while they prepare the apartment for the impending sale. An SS officer knocks on their front door…and demands to see and play with the train set … a very powerful and grimly entertaining drama ensues.

The reading will take place at 2pm on Saturday, 9 June in Circa Two. Tickets are just $5, and can be purchased at the Circa Box Office by calling 801-7992 or online at www.circa.co.nz.

For the detailed information about all of the plays in the 2012 Circa Theatre/Playmarket Season of Play Readings, please visit http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Circa-Theatre-Playmarket-Play-Readings-2012.

Circa Theatre – 1 Taranaki St, Wellington Waterfront.
Bookings: phone 04 801 7992, email circa@circa.co.nz or visit www.circa.co.nz

ENDS

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