Get Out of My Letter Box – The ultimate mother-daughter tale

0

Get Out of My Letter Box reunites a Mother and daughter separated by adoption. Summer at Q and Auckland Fringe 2020 combine to present this funny, heart-breaking tale from Beth Kayes and Katie Burson. Playing at Q Theatre’s Vault from 19th February to 22nd February.

Alexia knows Hope is her biological Mother but instead of meeting her through formal channels Alexia moves in next door. Hope is one organic banana away from saving the world and Alexia is one question short of an origin story. With a nod to Trump’s infamous wall and global news of border disputes between neighbouring countries, we set Hope and Alexia as neighbours in urban Auckland. Hope and Alexia struggle to navigate the space between them and boundaries are negotiated and re-drawn. Walls tell secrets, letter boxes deliver memories, and an otherworldly invention meddles with the rules of engagement, in this explosive tale of human connection.

The duo, Katie Burson and Beth Kayes, have been working on Get Out of My Letter Box for the past year, improvising and writing material at Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland, where Katie Burson was awarded a 2019 residency. Inspired by their real-life experience of being neighbours and the generation gap between them (Beth is 55 and Katie is 32) they devised the premise for the show. It is a homage to the complex human need for family love and identity and, in its absence, the consequent grief and despair. Katie and Beth’s training and experience in clown and physical theatre adds comedy, movement, and absurdist elements to the play.

Beth Kayes, won ‘Judges Special Commendation for Performance’ at Auckland Fringe 2017 and more recently was nominated for ‘Best Performer’ at NZ Fringe 2019 for her solo show Once There Was A Woman. In 1986, she trained as an actor at Theatre Corporate Drama School and went on to train and work in circus and physical theatre in the U.K. and in Australia. In the 1990’s she worked with Sydney company Legs On The Wall touring award winning show All of Me internationally and performing aerial shows on the Opera House sail and other tall buildings for the millennium celebrations and for arts festivals. In the 2000’s Beth has been the artistic director of Co Theatre Physical and has collaborated with diverse artists to make A House Across Oceans, Oh Baby, Once There Was A Woman and numerous shows for young people, most recently, a show about bees, Royal Jelly. She is Mother to an 18year old and in March will be a step-grandmother.

Katie Burson, is currently touring Australia with children’s show Room on The Broom for CDP Productions. She is a core member of Co Theatre Physical making and touring shows for young people, most recently Royal Jelly. Katie trained as an actor at Unitec Performing and Screen Arts and worked for three years with LAB Theatre company, collaborating on multiple original works, including Alfonsina, which enjoyed successful seasons across NZ and at the Vertice Theatre Festival, Brazil 2010.  Katie has performed in numerous shows including Afakasi and Pool (no water) Basement Theatre, Plastic Orgasm with Julia Croft and Virginia Frankovich and Rushes with Malia Johnston, Movement of the Human. Katie was recently awarded ‘Best Director’ for Short & Sweet production Slow Dating which has completed further seasons in Sydney and Hollywood.

Set designer Ruby Read (The Wolves) has just finished her Master of Fine Arts. She is also prop maker at Auckland Theatre Company. Slathered in sunscreen she has been painting the letter boxes in the backyard at Beth’s house. Emi Pogoni (Burn Her, Jacinda, Orientation) who created the sound for Beth’s previous show Once There Was A Woman is creating compositions for Get Out of My Letter Box.  Award winning costume designer Elizabeth Whiting (NZ Opera, A.T.C, NZ Dance Company) is dressing the characters. Paul Bennett (Fabricate, Healr) resident technician at the Basement is designing the lights and Ruth Dudding, experienced clown doctor and director (Mockingbird) is our director.

Summer at Q and Auckland Fringe provide umbrella festivals which support and champion new contemporary NZ theatre. Get Out of My Letter Box will also tour to Dunedin Fringe 2020.

GET OUT OF MY LETTER BOX plays:
Auckland: Summer at Q and Auckland Fringe
Q Theatre, VAULT
Wednesday 19TH February to Saturday 22nd February at 6.45 pm
Book at qtheatre.co.nz
Suitable for ages 15 and over

Dunedin Fringe 2020
Clarkson Studio, Regent Theatre
Friday 27th March 7 pm
Saturday 28th March 4 pm and 7 pm
www.dunedinfringe.nz

The 13th Floor
Latest posts by The 13th Floor (see all)