Silo 2013: An Atmosphere like Held Breath

Media Release – Monday 10th December
For immediate Release

Silo 2013: An Atmosphere like Held Breath

Armed with a mission to electrify audiences Silo Theatre announces its plans for 2013, boasting two new NZ works, a commission and the potential tour of one of its most successful shows to date.

With two premiere New Zealand works front and centre in 2013, Silo have created a season of performances that sit within a bold contemporary frame. All of the work in the 2013 season is of now and of this moment in time. Speaking with the currency of today, these works navigate the geography of freedom, exploring the idea of possibility. Staged in intimate spaces, Silo celebrates their trademark visceral, charged performative style, offering the audience impactful and meaningful storytelling.

2013 opens with the world premiere of Mitch Tawhi Thomas’ new work HUI, as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Focusing on whanau, secrets, lies, shame and the challenge of defying tikanga, Thomas has crafted muscular, urban poetry. He continues his long working relationship with visionary director and 2012 Arts Laureate Rachel House to create incendiary, brave and authentic New Zealand drama. This is work that commands complete engagement.

It’s a worldwide phenomenon that no-one is allowed to talk about; WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour is meta-theatre that unfolds itself not only to the audience, but to the actors. Written as a means for Nassim to travel around the world after having his passport revoked for refusing to take up national service, each performance is unrehearsed. An unsuspecting performer discovers the story in real time along with the audience, creating a never-the-same, shared experience. This is a bold theatrical experiment with a revolving cast of some of New Zealand’s finest performers including Oliver Driver, Rima Te Wiata, Paolo Rotondo, Jarod Rawiri, Alison Bruce and Mia Blake.

Commissioned by Silo and The Court Theatre, Victor Rodger’s PROTECTION exudes the trademark lacerating wit and savage beauty that has been associated with the writer’s previous work Sons and My Name is Gary Cooper. Questioning the boundaries of love and the nature of forgiveness, this is a gripping narrative about fathers and sons, the foundations of the modern family and the maelstrom of obsessive love and guilt. Shane Bosher directs this world premiere production which features David Fane and Sophie Henderson.

Think Bonnie and Clyde meets Conchords. MIDSUMMER by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre (of Scottish indie-band Ballboy fame) is a lo-fi musical of sorts about ordinary people f**king up their lives. Told directly to the audience, the two “heroes” of the work recreate and re-correct their tale of bad sex, stolen cash and thirtysomething malaise. Set to a live acoustic score, MIDSUMMER’s themes of romance versus realism, loneliness and belonging is surprisingly whimsical, joyous and, of course, devilishly funny. Madeleine Sami stars.

Standing alongside this is the potential tour of their 2012 hit BREL. Arts festivals across New Zealand have expressed strong interest in programming this highly acclaimed production, which will bring back together the original lineup of Jon Toogood, Julia Deans, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Tama Waipara. Watch this space.

Silo also continues their developmental focus, by building on their Open Dialogue sessions throughout 2013 and their Working Titles project, where new works are given live readings to test audiences in the early stages of development. 2012 Arts Foundation Award recipient Arthur Meek has also been commissioned to create a new work for a company of celebrated Silo talents.

For more information and bookings, visit silotheatre.co.nz

SILO in 2013
HUI : Q Theatre : 15-23 March
WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT : Q Theatre Loft : 1-13 July
PROTECTION : Herald Theatre : 15 August – 14 September
MIDSUMMER : Q Theatre Loft : 24 October – 22 November

ENDS

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