Circa Theatre/Playmarket Play Readings 2012: Rogues and Vagabonds

• Written by: Various
• Directed by: Local Directors
• Circa One

• 25 August − 25 August

Circa Theatre and Playmarket are pleased to present a fantastic array of engaging and thought-provoking play readings. New works by New Zealand playwrights Ken Duncum, Elspeth Sandys, Joe Musaphia, Phil Braithwaite, Kathryn Burnett and Nick Ward will be presented in rehearsed readings, along with Jerusalem by international award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth (subject to rights). The readings will take place at Circa once a month from June to November. Each reading will be helmed by a well-known local theatre director and performed by a cast of professional actors. Tickets are just $5.

The schedule for the remainder of the Circa Theatre and Playmarket Season of Play Readings 2012 is:

25th August 2012

Rogues and Vagabonds
By Elspeth Sandys

Set at the close of the nineteenth century, Rogues and Vagabonds tells the story of three out of work music hall actors who conspire to carry out a daring scam. The Boer War is raging, arousing patriotic fervour for the Empire and rumblings of discontent, in almost equal measure. The long depression of the 90s has hit the poor hard. As the new century approaches there is talk of Armageddon and the Second Coming.

Against this background Maud Peach, Male Impersonator, Bridie O’Faolin, Queen of the Emerald Isle, and Little Tom Higginbottom, Juggler and Trick Cyclist, devise a scheme that will see them beat the poorhouse, and live in comfort for the rest of their lives.

29th September 2012

Jerusalem (subject to rights)
By Jez Butterworth

A COMIC, CONTEMPORARY VISION OF RURAL LIFE IN ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND…

Jerusalem: in part a lament about the erosion of English country life and in part a rebuff to the antiseptic modern world.

On St George’s Day, the morning of the local county fair, Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron is a wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants his dad to take him to the fair, a motley crew of mates want his ample supply of drugs and alcohol and Troy Whitworth wants to give him a kicking. How will Rooster handle it all?

“Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem is a hymn to the wild at heart. Johnny “Rooster” Byron is one of the most sensational creations in English drama of the past twenty years.” - The New Yorker

Strong language and adult themes.

27th October 2012

Janet & John
By Ken Duncum

Late night and late-life, John Money receives a visit from Janet Frame. Together they play-act aspects of their interconnected and iconic lives, impersonating a wide array of characters in order to amuse and divert themselves but seeking also to challenge each other to confront deeper truths. John Money is besieged by the fall-out from revelations that his famous 'John/Joan' case of reassigned gender was not the success he represented to the world. His standing as pioneering and preeminent sexologist, his life's work and his philosophies are under attack but he steadfastly refuses to admit any fault.

As these two powerful and sharply intelligent personalities fence with each other as well as play, can Janet help or goad John towards self-realisation, and bring their complex relationship to some sort of resolution?

17th November 2012

Mike & Virginia
By Nick Ward and Kathryn Burnett

A romantic comedy... about romantic comedy.

Mike and Virginia. Both single. Both competitive. Both lecturers in film studies: her specialty is romantic comedy, his is monster movies. She thinks he's an arrogant knuckle-dragger, he thinks she's a bitter cow. The very worst thing they could do is fall in love.

So begins this fast-moving romp of a play from two of New Zealand's busiest screenwriters. Kathryn Burnett and Nick Ward (Second Hand Wedding and Love Birds) have set out to explore and subvert every romantic comedy convention in the book resulting in a love story that is smart, funny and surprisingly tender.

For lovers and cynics alike.

http://www.playmarket.org.nz/news/playmarket-and-circa-season-play-readings