Latest news with #ASBWaterfrontTheatre
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Auckland Theatre Company Presents MARY: The Birth Of Frankenstein
Press Release – Elephant Publicity From the minds of award-winning playwright Jess Sayer and director Oliver Driver, comes MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein – a blood-drenched phantasmagoria that reimagines the infamous stormy evening when Mary Shelley, the mother of gothic horror, conceived Theatre Company proudly presents this world premiere, playing at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 19 August – 7 September. You'd kill to get a ticket. In the summer of 1816, a real-life gathering took place at the Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. The sun had vanished. In its place: lightning, laudanum, lust, and something darker still. It was here that literary history was made, and monsters were born. Before the night ends, some creatures will emerge. Some made. And one that will haunt the world for generations. ' Can you not feel it? The power of possibility coursing through your veins? What if tonight we are not men, or women… but gods? ' Forget polite conversations from the drawing room. MARY is visceral horror with its teeth bared – part psychological thriller, part hallucinatory fever dream. Think Black Swan wielding words like weapons, stitched with the ferocity of Tarantino, and the spiralling intellect of Stoppard in a blackout. This is not a historical literary tribute. It is an unrelenting plunge into the creative abyss. The notorious gathering of artistic rockstars is reimagined at their most wicked, burning bright and burning out. Director Oliver Driver adds, 'I want audiences to leave Googling these lunatics. I want them disturbed, exhilarated, and weirdly inspired.' At the centre is 18-year-old Mary (Olivia Tennet), consumed with conflict, her invincible perseverance overcomes all obstacles as she prepares to unleash something terrifying and claim it as her own. Surrounding her are the dangerous poet Lord Byron (Tom Clarke), wild and charming Percy Shelley (Dominic Ona-Ariki), volatile and jealous stepsister Claire (Timmie Cameron), and neurotic physician John Polidori (Arlo Green). When Byron dares them to write a ghost story, what follows is a descent into seduction, rivalry, and madness. Mary walks out with a legend, but at what cost? Helmed by the same visionary director that brought audiences to the sell-out season of Amadeus in 2017, the production is packed with the theatrical firepower of Lighting Designer Jo Kilgour, Composer & Sound Designer Leon Radojkovic, and Movement Coach Ross McCormack. Adding to that power are spectacular costumes by acclaimed film designer Sarah Voon, making her thrilling theatrical debut, and Set Design by John Verryt. A fiendishly clever script by Jess Sayer brings a modern flavour to historical icons so audiences can 'engage with how cuttingly contemporary these artists were in their time.' Every element is meticulously crafted to conjure a stage alive with illusion, atmosphere, and the thrill of pure stagecraft. MARY is a warning wrapped in spectacle. In an age where genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and unchecked ambition dominate headlines, this story feels more urgent than ever. It explores the fierce demands of creation – the sacrifices, the fury, and the power it takes to bring something new into the world. It's a tale of rebellion, of breaking societal constraints, of ambition and the need to be seen, and of the terrifying clarity that sometimes comes when you're pushed beyond your limits. With the highly anticipated 2025 release of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein on Netflix, now is the time to return to where it all began.
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Auckland Theatre Company Presents MARY: The Birth Of Frankenstein
From the minds of award-winning playwright Jess Sayer and director Oliver Driver, comes MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein - a blood-drenched phantasmagoria that reimagines the infamous stormy evening when Mary Shelley, the mother of gothic horror, conceived Frankenstein. Auckland Theatre Company proudly presents this world premiere, playing at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 19 August – 7 September. You'd kill to get a ticket. In the summer of 1816, a real-life gathering took place at the Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. The sun had vanished. In its place: lightning, laudanum, lust, and something darker still. It was here that literary history was made, and monsters were born. Before the night ends, some creatures will emerge. Some made. And one that will haunt the world for generations. " Can you not feel it? The power of possibility coursing through your veins? What if tonight we are not men, or women… but gods?" Forget polite conversations from the drawing room. MARY is visceral horror with its teeth bared - part psychological thriller, part hallucinatory fever dream. Think Black Swan wielding words like weapons, stitched with the ferocity of Tarantino, and the spiralling intellect of Stoppard in a blackout. This is not a historical literary tribute. It is an unrelenting plunge into the creative abyss. The notorious gathering of artistic rockstars is reimagined at their most wicked, burning bright and burning out. Director Oliver Driver adds, 'I want audiences to leave Googling these lunatics. I want them disturbed, exhilarated, and weirdly inspired.' At the centre is 18-year-old Mary (Olivia Tennet), consumed with conflict, her invincible perseverance overcomes all obstacles as she prepares to unleash something terrifying and claim it as her own. Surrounding her are the dangerous poet Lord Byron (Tom Clarke), wild and charming Percy Shelley (Dominic Ona-Ariki), volatile and jealous stepsister Claire (Timmie Cameron), and neurotic physician John Polidori (Arlo Green). When Byron dares them to write a ghost story, what follows is a descent into seduction, rivalry, and madness. Mary walks out with a legend, but at what cost? Helmed by the same visionary director that brought audiences to the sell-out season of Amadeus in 2017, the production is packed with the theatrical firepower of Lighting Designer Jo Kilgour, Composer & Sound Designer Leon Radojkovic, and Movement Coach Ross McCormack. Adding to that power are spectacular costumes by acclaimed film designer Sarah Voon, making her thrilling theatrical debut, and Set Design by John Verryt. A fiendishly clever script by Jess Sayer brings a modern flavour to historical icons so audiences can 'engage with how cuttingly contemporary these artists were in their time.' Every element is meticulously crafted to conjure a stage alive with illusion, atmosphere, and the thrill of pure stagecraft. MARY is a warning wrapped in spectacle. In an age where genetic engineering, artificial intelligence and unchecked ambition dominate headlines, this story feels more urgent than ever. It explores the fierce demands of creation - the sacrifices, the fury, and the power it takes to bring something new into the world. It's a tale of rebellion, of breaking societal constraints, of ambition and the need to be seen, and of the terrifying clarity that sometimes comes when you're pushed beyond your limits. With the highly anticipated 2025 release of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein on Netflix, now is the time to return to where it all began.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Full Cast Announced For William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet By Auckland Theatre Company
The greatest love story of all time, William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, presented as a fast-paced thriller, comes to the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 15 July – 9 August. Reimagined in the 1960s, a decade of love, and a period defined by romance, this timeless masterpiece speaks to the rebellion of youth and female liberation and brims with passion, unravelling at breathtaking speed while Death lurks in every corner. Making their Auckland Theatre Company debut, Theo Dāvid (Shortland Street) and Phoebe McKellar (One Lane Bridge) will star as the ill-fated lovers, Romeo and Juliet. 'Phoebe has a fragility coupled with a fire and Theo has an enchanting warmth, coupled with a devilish twinkle in the eye,' says Director Benjamin Kilby-Henson (The Effect, King Lear). 'The text describes their relationship as flint and gunpowder, when they come together - KABOOM. They are the perfect combo for Shakespeare's most head-strong, vibrant and zealous young couple.' Joining Dāvid and McKellar is Ryan Carter as Mercutio, Liam Coleman as Benvolio, Jesme Fa'auuga as Tybalt, Courtney Eggleton as Nurse, Miriama McDowell as Friar Lawrence, Beatriz Romilly as Lady Capulet, Meramanji Odedra as Montague, Jordan Mooney as Paris, Isla Mayo as Sampson and Amanda Tito as Death/Prince/Petra/Apothecary. 'This is Shakespeare's ode to love of all kinds', says Kilby-Henson, 'Romantic love, sexual love, the love between friends and family, love through faith.' With an original cinematic score by Composer Robin Kelly and a Milan-inspired '60's fashion aesthetic by Daniel Williams and Daniella Salazar, this must-see production ignites one of literature's most enduring stories with intensity and style. This July, Romeo & Juliet warns 'these violent delights have violent ends'. With a brilliant cast and visionary creative team this star-crossed tragedy celebrates the triumph of love over hate – but at what cost? For tickets and further information, visit 15 July - 9 August 2025 ASB Waterfront Theatre Direction: Benjamin Kilby-Henson Production Design, Set & Costume: Daniel Williams Production Design, Lighting: Filament Eleven 11 Rachel Marlow & Bradley Gledhill Production Design, Costume: Daniella Salazar Composition & Sound Design: Robin Kelly Vocal Direction: Cherie Moore Movement Direction & Engine Room Assistant Director: Katrina George Duration: 2 hours, including interval
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Sold-Out Hit Returns: Murder On The Orient Express Back On Stage Feb 2026
Press Release – Elephant Publicity With just a handful of single tickets left for its current season, Auckland Theatre Company's Murder on the Orient Express has officially become the biggest box office hit in the company's history. Now, due to overwhelming demand, audiences will have a second chance to climb aboard the world's most infamous train. The return season of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, will play at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 7 – 15 February 2026. Tickets are on sale now. All aboard – again! Directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Shane Bosher, this spectacular production plunges audiences into the glamorous and dangerous world of 1930s Europe. With its full-throttle mix of intrigue, danger, rich period detail and sharp humour, the show has struck a chord with Auckland theatregoers and critics. 'Murder on the Orient Express is a delightful piece of entertainment, two hours of pure escapism produced to the highest quality, and the exact type of blockbuster-esque theatre it would be great to see more of.' – NZ Herald 'With a set that dazzles, a cast that delights, and direction that keeps things snappy — providing everything right there on the stage.' – Blackguard Media Reviews 'This Murder on the Orient Express manages to get the balance of the story just right, paying homage to the brilliance of Agatha Christie while expertly using comedy and a light-hearted irreverence to create a crackingly good whodunnit.' – Andrew Whiteside '…pure, unadulterated entertainment.' – NZ Arts Review 'A madcap romp of a whodunnit full of red herrings, high drama and hijinks; escalating to a very Agatha Christie climax.' – Red Raven The production features a killer cast led by the iconic Cameron Rhodes as Hercule Poirot, joined by an ensemble of Aotearoa's finest: Rima Te Wiata, Jennifer Ludlam, Mirabai Pease, Sophie Henderson, and Bronwyn Ensor, with Mayen Mehta, Ryan O'Kane, Jordan Selwyn and Edwin Wright rounding out the lineup of suspects. Agatha Christie's masterpiece remains one of the greatest whodunnits ever written – a locked-room mystery packed with unforgettable characters, jaw-dropping twists, and exquisite suspense. And in this sumptuous production, every detail – from the train carriages to the costuming – is a ticket to another era. This return season invites both first-time sleuths and returning fans to experience the theatrical event everyone's talking about. Whether you've solved the mystery or not, you'll want to be part of the conspiracy. DON'T MISS THE RETURN OF A SELL-OUT SMASH AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Sold-Out Hit Returns: Murder On The Orient Express Back On Stage Feb 2026
With just a handful of single tickets left for its current season, Auckland Theatre Company's Murder on the Orient Express has officially become the biggest box office hit in the company's history. Now, due to overwhelming demand, audiences will have a second chance to climb aboard the world's most infamous train. The return season of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, will play at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 7 – 15 February 2026. Tickets are on sale now. All aboard – again! Directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Shane Bosher, this spectacular production plunges audiences into the glamorous and dangerous world of 1930s Europe. With its full-throttle mix of intrigue, danger, rich period detail and sharp humour, the show has struck a chord with Auckland theatregoers and critics. 'Murder on the Orient Express is a delightful piece of entertainment, two hours of pure escapism produced to the highest quality, and the exact type of blockbuster-esque theatre it would be great to see more of.' – NZ Herald 'With a set that dazzles, a cast that delights, and direction that keeps things snappy — providing everything right there on the stage." - Blackguard Media Reviews "This Murder on the Orient Express manages to get the balance of the story just right, paying homage to the brilliance of Agatha Christie while expertly using comedy and a light-hearted irreverence to create a crackingly good whodunnit." - Andrew Whiteside "…pure, unadulterated entertainment." - NZ Arts Review "A madcap romp of a whodunnit full of red herrings, high drama and hijinks; escalating to a very Agatha Christie climax." - Red Raven The production features a killer cast led by the iconic Cameron Rhodes as Hercule Poirot, joined by an ensemble of Aotearoa's finest: Rima Te Wiata, Jennifer Ludlam, Mirabai Pease, Sophie Henderson, and Bronwyn Ensor, with Mayen Mehta, Ryan O'Kane, Jordan Selwyn and Edwin Wright rounding out the lineup of suspects. Agatha Christie's masterpiece remains one of the greatest whodunnits ever written – a locked-room mystery packed with unforgettable characters, jaw-dropping twists, and exquisite suspense. And in this sumptuous production, every detail – from the train carriages to the costuming – is a ticket to another era. This return season invites both first-time sleuths and returning fans to experience the theatrical event everyone's talking about. Whether you've solved the mystery or not, you'll want to be part of the conspiracy. DON'T MISS THE RETURN OF A SELL-OUT SMASH AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
