THE EVENTS: Bold Play Explores the Consequences of a Mass Shooting

By: Oct. 10, 2016
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Voted The Best Theatre of 2013 by The Guardian, David Greig's The Events explores the aftermath of a mass shooting. In the wake of unthinkable violence, minister and community choir director Claire (Alison Bruce - Dirty Laundry, Almighty Johnsons, Top of the Lake andHillary) begins a search for answers. Her increasingly obsessive quest to find a reason behind the tragedy will either heal her or lead her to destruction.

As she seeks answers Claire interacts with many people associated with, and affected by, the Event and the boy who carried it out. A wide range of characters are played by Arlo Gibson (Step Dave, Shortland Street) in his first role for The Court Theatre.

The boy is the voice of the alienated, an enemy within, a lost generation. The many roles Arlo plays all ask the same question: how do we live together knowing life can come apart in a moment?

The Events, the hit of the 2013 Edinburgh Festival and the New York Times Critic's pick in February 2015, was written by Scottish playwright David Greig, who was compelled to write the play following the massacre of 77 people on the island of Utøya in Norway in 2011.

Director Dan Pengelly says "The Events is a story that could happen anywhere. It provokes questions about why this is happening in the world right now. Horrifyingly, the contents of The Events plays out week-after-week in the news."

"This play is a deeply humanist work: its subject is the good and evil inside all of us. The Events is an emotional powerhouse that questions what it means to be human in 2016," Pengelly says.

A different local Christchurch choir will perform in each performance of this bold new work, going into the show just as unprepared for what will happen as the audience. Pengelly says "we want the reaction from the choirs to be authentic ­- blending the line between audience and performer."

The choirs include NASDA, Jubilate Singers, Jazzamatazz, Global Voices, Villa Maria College Choir, A Capellago, Canterbury Plainsmen, Pops Choir, Christchurch City Chorus Sweet Adelines, Cantabile Choir, Christchurch Lawyers Choir, and Atlas Voices.

The Events runs at The Forge from 29 October - 12 November. Contains mature language and themes.

Bookings: phone 03 963 0870 or visit www.courttheatre.org.nz



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