Midwinter Readings

Come in from the cold, purchase a mulled wine and take part in The Court Theatre’s annual series of brand new theatrical works. All plays are presented as ‘Works in Progress’. Following each performance we gladly invite your feedback to assist the further development of these new plays.

Winston’s Birthday
By Paul Baker
Directed by Lara Macgregor
Sunday 1 June 2014

Love, Lies and Luncheon

The funny, fractious Churchill family exposed, by an exciting new NZ writer.

It's 1962 - the Beatles have their first hit, James Bond his first film - and Randolph Churchill is holding a luncheon party to celebrate the 88th birthday of his admired but estranged father. Sir Winston is a fading force and there is unfinished business in his loving buy dysfunctional family.

Meanwhile, the socially inept Dr Jenkins, a newly appointed research assistant to Randolph, is pursuing his own agenda and forms a surprising bond with the wily Winston.

Secrets are revealed, resentments released and new understandings formed, in this fresh and funny perspective on an iconic and larger-than-life family.

MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra)
By Gregory Cooper
Directed by Ross Gumbley
Featuring Mark Hadlow
Sunday 8 June 2014

Ten characters. One bike. All lycra.

It’s 2007, months before the GFC makes everyone go WTF. Bryan Cook, property developer and Tom Jones obsessive is busy building a small fortune building leaky homes. When his life falls apart he joins a men’s cycling group to put it back together and finds himself on the road in lycra, sweating out fear and failure one hill-climb at a time.

MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) is a new one man show performed by one of New Zealand’s finest actors Mark Hadlow. It’s a hilarious tour-de-force of Tour de France proportions.

WARNING: Contains Mature Themes

Mule
By Pip Hall
Directed by Elsie Edgerton-Till
Sunday 15 June 2014

Mule explores the lives of Anna and Danny, who meet via an internet dating site. On opposite sides of the world, one is the hunter and one is the hunted. She is vulnerable, looking for distraction. He’s in trouble, looking for drug trafficers. Mule is a contemporary drama about technology, disconnection and finding love in the most unlikely of places. Mule is commissioned by The Court Theatre.