MEDIA RELEASE | FORTUNE THEATRE 2014

40^th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

WORLD PREMIÈRE

BOOK ENDS

Written by ROGER HALL

Directed by Lara Macgregor

Featuring: Dougal Stevenson, Peter Hayden, Geoffrey Heath, Richard Huber, Phil Grieve, Barry de Lore and Julie Edwards

Celebrating 40 years with a new New Zealand comedy that’s just write…

Fortune Theatre celebrates its 40^th Anniversary Season in style with Roger Hall’s World Première of Book Ends.

Every Tuesday morning the Cabin Fever Club meet for coffee at The Sour Dough Café. All gold-card holders, they are literary types: one former editor, one freelance writer, an actor, a novelist, a playwright and a formerly famous poet.

“I can hardly remember what it was like to have a regular income. For years, I’ve been subsidising newspapers by providing articles at a rate of pay a Peruvian coal miner would despise.”

They are cantankerous, opinionated, envious, erudite, insecure and often amusing. What binds them together is their mutual love of books. But how long are books going to last?

“I don’t mind buying a book and I don’t mind reading it. But doing both is asking too much.”

Each scene takes place a year apart. But over those four years, technology is changing their lives in a way that none of them could foresee back in 2010.

Says director Lara Macgregor: “Combined with his recognisable humour, this play is inspired by true events and has a beautiful reflective quality that connects us to the life of the man who is Roger Hall himself. Doubled with that, we have New Zealand icon, Dougal Stevenson, aptly starring in this production. What a way to celebrate our 40^th Anniversary year.”

“HARVEY: It’s a form of evolution. Those who can’t write, they get enough rejections and then finally disappear.

PHIL: Not these days: they self-publish.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CAST

Dougal Stevenson

Peter Hayden

Geoffrey Heath

Richard Huber

Phil Grieve

Barry de Lore

Julie Edwards

CREW

Writer Roger Hall

Director Lara Macgregor

Set Designer Peter King

Set Build Rob Macgregor

Lighting Designer Stephen Kilroy

Sound Designer Stephen Kilroy

Costume Designer Maryanne Wright-Smyth

Stage Manager Monique Webster

Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Master George Wallace

Technical Co-ordinator Lindsay Gordon

KEY EVENTS / DATES 

Lunchtime Bites / Thursday 30 January, 2014 - meet at 12.15pm in the Dunedin Public Library, ground floor. The cast will perform an excerpt from Book Ends with an opportunity to win tickets. Reading will commence at 12.30pm followed by afternoon tea. This is a FREE event.

Opening Night / Saturday, 8 February, 2014 7.30pm, Fortune Theatre.

Members’ Briefing / Sunday, 9 February, 2014 - meet at the Fortune bar at 3.00pm and join Fortune Theatre Artistic Director Lara Macgregor for a lively informal chat about Book Ends.

Forum / Tuesday, 11 February, 2014 - join the cast and crew for an open question and answer session following the 6.00pm show.

Fortune Sociable Club / Wednesday, 12 February, 2014- meet in the bar at 6.30pm, with like-minded individuals and get connected.

Audio Describe Performance / Sunday, 23 March - a special 4.00pm signed performance for sight- impaired and blind patrons. Presented by Experience Access. Bookings essential.

BOOK ENDS

Written by | Roger Hall

Production Dates | 8 February – 8 March

Running Time | Approx. 2 hours 15 minutes (including interval)                          

Venue | Fortune Theatre Mainstage, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Directed by | Lara Macgregor

Cast | Dougal Stevenson, Peter Hayden, Geoffrey Heath, Richard Huber, Phil Grieve, Barry de Lore and Julie Edwards

Performances | Tuesday, 6.00pm, Wednesday - Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 4.00pm (no show Monday)

Tickets | Gala (first 5 shows) $34, Adults $42, Senior Citizens $34, Members $32, Tertiary Students $20, High School Students $15, Group discount (10 +) $34

Bookings | Fortune Theatre, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Box Office 03 477 8323 or visit www.fortunetheatre.co.nz