03 Jun 2011
ATC YOUNG AND HUNGRY FESTIVAL OF NEW THEATRE 2011
Produced in association with the Young and Hungry Arts Trust, the third ATC Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre is a mighty all-nighter of absurd, passionate and apocalyptic adventures featuring annoying Americans, psycho flat-mates and a super city overrun by zombies, playing at The Basement from July 23 to August 6.
Three plays run every night over the two week festival; Jo Randerson's quirky and surreal rural comedy COW, outrageous thriller with bite TIGERPLAY by Auckland based Gary Henderson (SKIN TIGHT), and the hormone laden zombie gore fest that makes DISORDER by Tom Sainsbury (SUPERCITY) the perfect alternative to SPOOKERS for horror obsessed teens...
As usual everyone working on the festival is under 25 (but old enough to drive) and they are mentored by the cream of Auckland's theatre professionals; Elizabeth Whiting (costume), Simon Coleman (set), Brad Gledhill (lighting) and Fern Christie (stage management). Mentors work closely with their teams to ensure each play looks and sounds like a bought one!
Nearly 200 young actors auditioned for sought after roles in this year's season. The cast of 31 are a mix of high school drama geeks, current UNITEC and University of Auckland students, drama school graduates and die-hard young and hungry regulars including 2011 Billy T award nominated comedian Joseph Harper in the lead role in TIGERPLAY.
The directors are a mix of seasoned professionals and exciting beginners. Ben Crowder (WELL HUNG, BADJELLY THE WITCH, SIT ON IT) wreaks comic havoc with DISORDER whilst Jackie Van Beek whose short film GO THE DOGS was selected for this year's BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL, directs TIGERPLAY - a play she saw as a teenager at the first ever Young and Hungry Festival in Wellington in 1994.
"The play just blew me away", says Jackie. "When I heard ATC was producing Young & Hungry in Auckland I suggested it for programming. I'm so excited to be directing it and its great to have Gary in town to work with met..."
COW is directed by new director Abigail Greenwood who makes the transition from actor to director and who brings a highly visual approach influenced by her experience in art department on film. Last year Abigail directed Morgana O'Reilly's hugely successful solo play THE HEIGHT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER, which travelled to the NEW YORK FRINGE FESTIVAL.
ATC Creative Development Manager Lynne Cardy says this third Young & Hungry season is a killer; "You get all the ingredients for a great night out - laughs, sex, frights and a date with a zombie...what more could you need?"
Tickets to Young and Hungry are available from Auckland Theatre Company, 308 3395.
Share this
