Conversations with Dead Relatives is a tale of family histories. Stories we've heard told, told and retold over breakfast tables, barbecues, campfires, and drunken dinner parties about ancestors who came from distant lands to make a new life in New Zealand. Epic and incredible stories passed down through generations that tell of mighty warriors, princesses, ratbags, preachers and visionaries.

Directed by Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Conversations with Dead Relatives, is a new, New Zealand play written and performed by Alex Ellis and Phil Ormsby and produced by Flaxworks theatre company that explores who they are and where they came from. Maybe.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand is well known for her work in theatre, film and television and she is joined by practitioners of equal calibre to bring the show to life including; John Parker (set), Elizabeth Whiting (costumes), Nik Janiurek (lighting) and Paul McLaney (sound).

In 2016 Phil Ormsby and Alex Ellis conceived the idea of telling the stories they had grown up with as a series of epic tales;

“It’s been fun trying to decide which story and which Ancestor makes the cut. Once you start thinking about it, it’s amazing just how many stories there are.”

Alex Ellis, performer and co-producer of Flaxworks says with the popularity of DNA testing and websites like Ancestry.com, discovering your family tree has become a big deal. It has really made people want to know more about where they come from;

“I grew up knowing a lot about my family history, we always talked about different ancestors and someone always had a tale about a Great Grandmother or Grandfather, so it just seemed a natural thing to turn it into a play. But there is definitely a question about how those stories influence your life.”

Conversations with Dead Relatives is about how these stories shape us, how they affect how we see our ancestors and, in turn, how we see ourselves. Like all good stories there are clashes of ideals, moral dilemmas and romantic tales of love and hope.

Together we unpick these family stories and discover they're not as simple as we've always believed. Stories are questioned, and beliefs challenged as we argue with, sympathise with, and are confused by each Ancestor in turn. But above all, these stories make us question who we are and what our obligations are as descendants of these people; to fulfil their aspirations? Or is it enough to just tell their stories?

Conversations with Dead Relatives will premiere at the Basement Theatre, Lower Grey’s Ave, Auckland from 3 – 7 April 2018 at 8pm Tuesday – Saturday. Tickets are $25 and $21 concession and available from (09) 361 1000 or www.basementtheatre.co.nz