Hotel Europa

30 May 2016

Hotel Europa
15 – 22 June
“Hotel Europa is an outrageous work capturing our powerful drive for hope no matter how dire our circumstances.”
Anna Marbrook

Award-winning theatre director Anna Marbrook spotlights the Syrian refugee crisis in a new theatrical production of Hotel Europa with students from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School.

“It expresses our fight for humanity, love, humour and passion as the walls of cities crumble and the borders of frightened politicians tighten like nooses around our necks.“
In 2000, artists across Europe responded to the crisis in the Balkans and the migration that polarised Western Europe. Seven theatre directors came together to create Hotel Europa under the penship of Macedonian playwright Goran Stefanovski. It was performed at national festivals across five European cities and premiered at the Avignon Festival.
Now, sixteen years later, facing one of the largest displacements of people since World War II, it is not just Europe's problem, it has become our problem. Director Anna Marbrook and Designer Kasia Pol are working with the next generation of playmakers and creators at Toi Whakaari to bring this conversation to Wellington.
Anna Marbrook recently collected awards at the New York Film and Television Awards for television programmes The Pacific Voyagersand Real Pasifik that she made for TVNZ, Maori TV and Zoomslide. She has directed for Shortland Street, Auckland Theatre Company, NZ Opera and was the co-founder of Theatre At Large. She is currently developing new projects for Maori Television with Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and Kasia Pol.
Hotel Europa combines live action, music, multimedia and dance in a wild ride through countries and histories. Odysseus fights to escape Circe and go home, two newlyweds cope with PTSS in an abandoned building, a young woman seeks revenge for a war crime, a drifter dreams to become an angel, a criminal turned politician campaigns for the weak and poor, a young man fantasises about being a great warrior and a television crew chases a good story mercilessly through the streets.
Students from Toi Whakaari’s Acting, Management and Costume programmes are collaborating on the production.

HOTEL EUROPA

Written by Goran Stefanovski
Directed by Anna Marbrook
Designed by Kasia Pol

Wed 15 – Wed 22 June
Times: 7pm
Matinee Sat 18 June 2pm and Sun 19 June 2.30pm
Taught matinee for schools Wed 22 June 1pm (No show Mon 20 June)
Tickets: $25 full, $15 concessions (season ticket to both Dying For It and Hotel Europa: $35 full, $20 concession)
Venue: Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School - Te Whaea Theatre
Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington

TO BOOK: toiwhakaari.ac.nz

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