See Strike on Wotzon.Tv

Watch this AMAZING SHOW

Don't miss our current show STRIKE: ELEMENTAL, described as "amazing show" by Simon Sweetman. Founded in 1993 as a classically trained percussion ensemble, Strike has evolved into a high-energy drumming group combining movement and theatre-based performance. "Filled with movement, shadow, space, light, darkness, mime and - most gloriously - loud, clattering drums, Strike's ELEMENTAL is the best show I have seen from the talented quartet. And it's well-priced for a theatre show too." says Simon Sweetman.

Strike’s follow-up to their award-winning stage show In The Cube (Winner Wellington Fringe Best Music Award 2007) features four of the country’s top percussionists harnessing the sonic power of the elements; fire, water, earth and the airwaves. The hour and a half non-stop show takes the audience on a breathtaking rhythmical journey and includes all new compositions, including two from top New Zealand composer Gareth Farr. "It's a total workout for performers and audience, and has something for everyone." (Simon Sweetman)

Don't miss this great show, and book your tickets now at 801 6946 or here

Watch the pictures for Strike: Elemental on FLICKR

See Ginette on Wotzon.comTV

Downstage dares to be different. And we appreciate your input!

Opening its doors twice a year to proposals from NZ theatre-makers, independent producers and arts and cultural organisations, Downstage will encourage producing partnerships between a variety of artists and cultures and encourage new collaborations across artform practice, as well as source new season scripts and productions from NZ and overseas, and call for fresh interpretations of extant works.

The intention is to showcase the very best and latest in New Zealand theatre-making.

Downstage is not proposing to reinvent the wheel but to enrich what already exists. The company’s evolution, therefore, becomes a process of looking at the familiar in new ways. It builds on strengths and motivates others to contribute to that realisation.

Therefore Downstage Theatre invites you to a presentation of the new company vision.

Where: Downstage Auditorium

When: Saturday 21 June

Time: 11am-1pm

Our bar will be open for drinks and further discussion and networking from 1pm.

This is your chance to find out the

• why?
• how?
• who?
• when? and
• what is next?

for New Zealand’s longest running professional company.

Welcome back! Ginette McDonald is starring in My Brilliant Divorce @ Downstage from tonight on

Downstage is delighted to welcome Ginette McDonald back to the theatre starring in My Brilliant Divorce from 30 May.

"When I was growing up in Wellington in the 60's, Downstage Theatre was quite simply the funkiest place to be. It seemed to be bursting with creative energy, passion and commitment. It was love at first sight. While still a 4th former, I apprenticed myself to the theatre, doing set building, prop making, prompting and waitressing, eventually graduating to acting roles. Downstage provided me with the opportunity to explore my potential – It is part of my DNA.”

MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE is a hilarious one-woman tour de force. Wittily observant, achingly funny and heart-wrenchingly real, this comedy explores what life is like for Angela, recently dumped by her accountant husband for a younger model. Emotionally bereft and with self-confidence at an all time low, Angela slowly and at times painfully rebuilds her life. She finds herself adrift in a sea of weird sexual encounters, sneaky solicitors, phone-in counsellors, a bad case of hypochondria and the spectre of poverty. Should she fight to keep her husband? Or should she sign the final papers and move on?

Book your tickets now here

Pick of the Fringe plays wow Downstage audiences

"A great show by a talented group of youngsters. It worked on lots of levels. Although knowledge of the plays the characters came from was helpful you could still get lots out of it without that."

"Perfect"

"Very cute and fun."

"Well written and acted. A solid hour of entertainment."

"SENSIBLE SUSAN WAS GREAT! Engaging, funny and all actors seemed to have an individual personality that they brought to the production well! Use of props and stage area was creative and all the friends I brought along throughly enjoyed themselves. Thank you!"

"Sensible Susan was just incredible! Funny as while still spot on... props!"

"I thought the show was entertaining and it was great that it was signed for the deaf community. I'd not seen that before."

My Brilliant Divorce Production Diary - Sound Design

Sound Designer, Gil Craig, recorded the voice overs on Wednesday morning and supplied a small set-up with the help of House Technician, Marc Edwards. This allowed us to test the recordings on a basic level in the rehearsals. From here Ginette and Geraldine discovered it didn't quite fit the picture they are trying to create.

This is a technique often used by Sound Designers to test out their ideas and ensure they are on the same page as the Director. Gil also composed a small 30 second piece of music. From this started point Gil and Geraldine were able to discuss adaptations of the music to correspond with the feeling of the piece ie. adding a cello.

Sound is a very subtle and subliminal aspect of design, so it is vital to communicate the same through line (the story's arc) as the acting and other technical elements. It is a matter of composing an emotive masterpiece that combines all elements into one fluid insight into this character's world.

My Brilliant Divorce Production Diary - My Brilliant Divorce Begins

With the first few days of rehearsal over, Ginette McDonald and Geraldine Brophy are getting into the swing of things. We now have a vague blocking of almost the entire show and Ginette is quickly memorising her lines, allowing her to truly dive into the rehearsals. A big task for a one woman show.

On Monday morning Ginette started the rehearsal process on a positive foot with a blessing from Father John and chased through 17 pages in the script the following day!

Things have been moving steadily and comfortably. The of rehearsing in the venue has allowed the crew and Ginette to get a feel of the play within it's surroundings.

Downstage picks best Fringe shows

BOOM! After the biggest Fringe Festival in its 19-year history three highly successful shows return for a very limited season from 6 - 10 May to Downstage: Best Of The Fringe 2008 Winner March of the Meeklings: An Apocalyptic Romp by Three Spoon Theatre and the two sell-out shows Sensible Susan and the Queen's Merkin by Theatre Militia and 2b or nt 2b? by 1st Gear Productions, written by Sarah Delahunty.

Hurry up and get your tickets now, all shows sold out at the Fringe! Tickets for the shows can be purchased for $20 each at Downstage’s box office, online at www.downstage.co.nz or by phone at 04 801 6946. A pass for all three shows costs only $50, and the performances can be watched on different dates.

March of The Meeklings: An Apocalyptic Romp, Winner of the BEST OF THE FRINGE AWARD 2008, offers a fresh and irreverent take on that most ambitious of topics: the end of the universe and life as we know it. With outlandish bravado, six actors will step up to play a global assortment of unsuspecting meeklings, who are unwittingly handed the fate of humanity. The unique nature of this devised show comes from character–based comedy, live musical commentary and the sheer audacity of taking on the apocalypse. The show will be playing from 6.30-7.30 pm in the main auditorium.

With Sensible Susan and the Queen's Merkin Theatre Militia are back with an entertaining sell-out Fringe morality play that revolves around a wardrobe, a mission and a Queen's pubic wig. Following A Bright Room Called Day comes a hilarious, satirical tale of the perils of materialism and mediocrity. Sensible Susan (who chose nylons over Narnia) is put through the proverbial wringer as she discovers the secrets of the Queen's Merkin. Puppetry, mask, song and rhyming couplets - a world of fantasy spills, literally, out of the closet. The show will be playing from 8.00 – 9.00 pm in the main auditorium.

2b or nt 2b? is an affirming and witty sell-out Fringe play about teenagers as they contemplate jumping off the Bridge to Nowhere in Lower Hutt. The show takes characters from the classics – Hamlet, Helena, Irina, Marsha, Antigone and Hedda – and makes them teenagers in the twenty-first century. Sarah Delahunty’s script combines contemporary language with poetic and lyrical language from the original plays: Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chekhov’s Three Sisters and The Seagull, Sophocles’ Antigone and Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. The show will be playing from 9.30 – 10.30 pm in the theatre bar.

Welcome to Downstage's Updated Forum!

Like to leave your opinion about Downstage Theatre? Or a particular show? Have a look at our discussion forum at http://downstage.freeforums.org/ We would like to encourage you to leave us your opinion. Register today to take part in the discussion! We are happy about all useful comments that help us to improve our theatre and present you shows and a place you enjoy.