Auckland Theatre Company Announces Impressive 2024 Season

Auckland Theatre Company have announced eight plays in their 2024 Season, presenting a line-up of shows across the whole year that feature star-studded creatives and high flying collabs, alongside striking international works.

After welcoming over 50,000 people through their doors this year, the 2024 programme, the 31^st, represents the breadth and depth of the company’s ambition. In 2024 the curtain will go up on five works by New Zealand playwrights (four of which are world premieres), alongside West End hits, a climate change epic and a big-scale retelling of one of the most popular children’s stories of all time.

The works on offer also reflects the Company’s continued commitment to collaborating with organisations across the motu, including Te Pou Theatre, Nightsong, Silo Theatre, I Ken So Productions, Auckland Arts Festival and Agaram Productions.

Artistic Director & CEO Jonathan Bielski says, “After a great year for our 30^th anniversary in 2023, we are excited to offer Aucklanders a 2024 season of outstanding theatre filled with stars, local heroes and extraordinary storytellers.”

Auckland Theatre Company’s accessibility programme continues as a commitment to inclusive access. Each production in 2024 will have a dedicated New Zealand Sign Language-interpretated and audio-described performance and touch tour. A Sensory Relaxed Performance will be introduced for the first time in the Company’s history to welcome people who would benefit from a more laid-back theatre atmosphere including people who are neurodivergent, and folks with sensory and communication needs.

Subscription packages for the new season are on sale now. To subscribe or book visit www.atc.co.nz or phone 0800 ATC TIX.

The Plays

Hyperspace by Albert Belz 7 – 24 Feb

In Albert Belz’ award-winning play Hyperspace, the audience is taken back to 1990, the heyday of Pump Up the Jam, Miami Wine Cooler, Timotei shampoo and Gloss. Entries are open for the NZ Aerobics Competition and small-town Natalie ends up having to team up with haka queen Tāwhai for the mixed doubles. This world premiere season is for all the lovers of dance movies and ‘90’s time capsule nostalgia. Co-produced with Te Pou Theatre, directed by Tainui Tukiwaho (Astroman) and choreographed by New Zealand dance icon (and former aerobics champion) Jack Gray. This season of Hyperspace is proudly presented with the support of MiNDFOOD.

 

O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala’ai | The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward by Natano Keni and Sarita So 5 – 23 Mar

The second show of the year is a family drama in the vein of August: Osage County, set in Sāmoa’s not-so-distant past, in collaboration with Auckland Arts Festival and I Ken So Productions. Proud chief Pili Sā Tauilevā has devoted his life to his village, but when he falls ill and refuses to name a successor, his daughter and son become rivals to the title. Power, politics and tradition collide in this darkly comic piece by Natano Keni and Sarita So, starring Semu Filipo (Things That Matter, Young Rock).

 

 

The Effect by Lucy Prebble 16 Apr – 11 May

Straight off a critically acclaimed season at London’s National Theatre, The Effect, directed by Benjamin Kilby-Henson (King Lear), brings four stars to the ASB Waterfront Theatre. In this chemistry-laden medical drama from Succession writer Lucy Prebble, two participants of a clinical trial struggle to figure out whether their attraction to each other is real or just the medication. Jayden Daniels (Head High, Celebrity Treasure Island) and Zoë Robins (Amazon’s The Wheel of Time) make their Auckland Theatre company debuts, Jarod Rawiri (Long Day’s Journey into Night) returns and New Zealand screen legend Sara Wiseman (Under the Vines, Creamerie) makes her return to the company after 20 years.

Red, White and Brass adapted by Leki Jackson-Bourke 18 Jun – 6 Jul

Adapted by award-winning playwright Leki Jackson-Bourke (Inky Pinky Ponky), the beloved hit movie Red, White and Brass makes its theatrical world premiere. Reprising his star-making film role, John-Paul Foliaki is a Tongan superfan who will do whatever he can to score tickets to see his team play in the Rugby World Cup. Directors Anapela Polata’ivao (Things That Matter) and Kila Kokonut Krew royalty, Vela Manusaute will create a family-friendly feel-good entertainment where everyone gets to experience just how cool it is to be Tongan.

 

 

Scenes from the Climate Era by David Finnigan 2 – 24 Aug

Scenes from the Climate Era confronts the current and future effects of climate change. This scorching work from Australian playwright David Finnigan is a genre-bending, wide-ranging look at the climate crisis, the biggest story in human history. This show, directed by Keagan Carr Fransch (seven methods of killing kylie jenner) is the first collaboration between Auckland Theatre Company and Silo Theatre, fitting for a collective call to action of the greatest urgency.

 

 

Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly 10 – 28 Sep

Girls & Boys brings the West End and Broadway sensation to the ASB Waterfront Theatre stage. A play made famous by Hollywood star Carey Mulligan, this shattering solo drama by Tony-Award winning Dennis Kelly stars Beatriz Romilly (the West End’s 2:22 A Ghost Story, King Lear) as a funny, gutsy, messy woman who falls head over heels for a charismatic man who imports European antiques. This show, directed by Eleanor Bishop, explores the dark shadow on the far side of love – and asks how far we’ll go for it.

 

 

Peter Pan by Carl Bland 8 – 28 Oct

The boy who never grows up comes flying through the stage in Peter Pan, a collaboration with the magical team at Nightsong (Te Pō, The Worm) and written by Carl Bland adapted from the novel by J. M. Barrie. This fresh twist on the classic story will have all your favourites – Captain Hook, Tinker Bell, and the Lost Children – with the visually spellbinding storytelling that directors Ben Crowder and Carl Bland have captivated the country with. With the season’s first week on during the October school holidays this is a show that’s not just for children (aged seven plus), it’s a show for the child in everybody.

 

a mixtape for maladies by Ahi Karunaharan 19 Nov – 7 Dec

The year’s programme closes out with a mixtape for maladies, a collaboration with Agaram Productions, a new work from Arts Laureate Ahi Karunaharan (Tea, The Mourning After and director of Basmati Bitch) that sweeps from 1950s Sri Lanka to modern-day Aotearoa. Directed by Jane Yonge (Scenes from a Yellow Peril) this is both a love letter to Sri Lanka and a lament, the story plays out over 17 songs – ranging from Dusty Springfield to La Bamba to the hit single from a Tamil rom-com.