Mark Hadlow's Critically Acclaimed Show Opens The Court's CAF Season

One of New Zealand's best known actors, Mark Hadlow, returns to The Court stage as the most polarising of species - a middle aged man in lycra, a MAMIL.

Bryan Cook is a property developer who has accumulated a small fortune building leaking homes. He's a stressed out, self-medicating, self-loathing middle aged man, killing himself to increase his bank balance while decreasing his golf score. When his business and life fall apart thanks to the global financial crisis, he joins a men's cycling group to relieve stress and get healthy. Ultimately faced with his own mortality, he makes a few startling discoveries.

Although penned by Gregory Cooper (The Complete History of New Zealand - Abridged, Heroic Faun No. One), the idea of MAMIL came from Mark Hadlow after he joined a small peloton of bike riders in 2011 whilst filming The Hobbit in Wellington. Hadlow was surprised to find the conversations were not male orientated (sex and sports), but rather emotional topics such as relationships and health problems, business and the odd chat about rugby (we're only human after all). The conversations taking place through the glorious outdoor scenery were something Hadlow found incredibly uplifting - and an idea which Cooper expanded into the first draft of MAMIL months later.

Playing a multitude of characters, complete with Hadlow's trademark high energy and enthusiasm, once again proves that now in middle age, Hadlow has no intention of slowing down. With an extensive body of film and television work under his belt, combined with tireless theatrical work, Hadlow has rightfully earned his position as one of New Zealand's most treasured performers.

Cooper and Hadlow present a poignant and sharply comical look at the Middle Aged Man in Lycra.

"After commissioning the original production of MAMIL in 2014 I knew straight away that this was a show that had to come to Christchurch," says Christchurch Arts Festival Director Craig Cooper. "Thanks to our friends at The Court Theatre we are able to present Mark's tour-de-force as part of this year's Festival."

"Very few performers have the talent, technique and raw energy to hold an audience the way that Mark Hadlow can. MAMIL is a star vehicle for one of our star performers," says The Court's Artistic Director Ross Gumbley.

The MAMIL season:
30 Aug - 12 Sept as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival
14 Sept - 3 Oct as part of The Court Theatre 2015/16 Meridian Energy Season
All performances will be at The Court Theatre.

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Cast: Mark Hadlow

Production Team:
Writer & Director: Gregory Cooper; Original Set Design: Ashley Holwell; Touring Set Design, Construction and Build: Brian King and Graham Jacobson; Lighting Design: Jane Hakaraia and Stephen Paul; Sound Design: Hamish Oliver; Producer: Sally Fisher; Stage Manager: Tim Bain; Production Manager: Mandy Perry; Operator: Sean Hawkins.

MAMIL was originally commissioned by Auckland Live.

Show Sponsor: Golden Healthcare

To Book phone 03 963 0870 or visit www.courttheatre.org.nz.
Tickets $57-$23

Show Times:

· Opening Night: 6:00pm Sunday 30 August

· 6.00pm, Sunday 30 August; Wednesday 2 - Sunday 6 September

· 8.30pm, Wednesday 9 - Friday 11 September

· 6.00pm, Saturday 12 September

· 6.30pm, Monday 14 September followed by Forum with Cast and Crew

For the remainder of the Season:

· 6.30pm, Monday & Thursday

· 7.30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

· 2pm Matinée, Saturday 3 October

Running time: 90 minutes, no interval

· For more information visit MAMIL on The Court Theatre Website

· For media releases and show images visit The Court Theatre Media Centre