Court Theatre Presnets MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW, 2/19-3/19

The Court Theatre presents the world première of Dean Parker's new play MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW, a drama that follows a group of New Zealanders working in the NZ Embassy in Moscow in 1947, who must question their loyalty to self, loyalty to friends and loyalty to country when suspicion arises that someone is leaking classified information.

Director Ross Gumbley considers MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW as "one of the classiest New Zealand scripts to appear in a long time. Parker's play tells the story of New Zealand's role in the Soviet Union's acquisition of secrets that led to the construction of Russia's first nuclear bomb. Add to that an inspired portrait of Boris Pasternak, author of 'Doctor Zhivago' and you have a thoroughly engaging and complete play."

Parker drew on several works researching his play, including James McNeish's biography of Paddy Costello, The Sixth Man.  It was claimed that Costello - an outstanding New Zealand diplomat and best friend of writer Dan Davin - was a Soviet spy. Parker noted among his own friends "it was only the blokes who carried on about whether or not he was a spy. Women had a much more honest and personal view of what constituted treachery."

Several real individuals are referenced: Pasternak appears in the play (played by Stephen Papps) and the character of June Temm, head of the New Zealand Ligation, is inspired by Jean McKenzie, the first woman to head a New Zealand diplomatic mission. Renowned actress Darien Takle returns to The Court after two decades to play the role of Temm.

While MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW is a provocative look at New Zealand's role during a key time in international politics, Parker stresses that it is "an imagined piece set in an actual time" and at its core is an examination of the proposal, "If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country."

Dean Parker wrote BAGHDAD, BABY! (set in occupied Iraq) and THE PERFUMED GARDEN (examining five failed invasions of Afghanistan through history) and has a
penchant for blending political themes with crackling dialogue and believable characters.
Darien Takle has enjoyed an international career on stage, film and screen, and is probably best known internationally for her role as Xena's mother Cyrene in the popular 1990s fantasy series XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS. She won a New Zealand Film Award for her role in the 2007 feature film CHRISTMAS.

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