500 Letters, Pauline Grogan's inspiring tale of her life, kicks off its North Island tour on September 13.

Taking to the stage at 60, this natural born storyteller captures the unique experiences that enriched and shaped her life - from her secluded life in a convent through to her friendship with James Lynch who lay bed bound and motionless for 44 years in the Tauranga hospital.500 Letters, Pauline Grogan's inspiring tale of her life, kicks off its North Island tour on September 13.

Taking to the stage at 60, this natural born storyteller captures the unique experiences that enriched and shaped her life - from her secluded life in a convent through to her friendship with James Lynch who lay bed bound and motionless for 44 years in the Tauranga hospital.These are stories that have left audiences stunned and inspired- in the same vein as Pauline's best selling books: "Beyond The Veil" and "A View From Within" now crafted into an intimate theatrical experience by director Mary-Margaret Hollins.

Premiering in October 2005 at the Herald Theatre in Auckland, the show has gone on to garner both strong audience feedback and critical acclaim. The 2006 tour around the North Island cemented Pauline's media presence and her role as a charismatic performer.

Weaving together truth, memory, imagination and reality on stage, "500 Letters" masterfully crafts puppetry and projection and with no formal training or theatrical background, Pauline Grogan proves how compelling and natural she is as a performer and how spellbinding her life story is.

Simply put, "500 Letters" is a story of an ordinary woman opening up her extraordinary life to audiences around New Zealand.

"While Grogan's experiences alone (Irish catholic upbringing, nun for 12 years, abuse from a priest, marriage and four children, 10 year old daughter's stroke, meeting the severely disabled James Lynch), give much food for thought; the enduring message of 500 Letters is, quite simply, how much we undervalue the power of listening and being listened to." - Theatreview, 2006

"Grogan is a charismatic performer who connects easily with the audience from her first step on to the stage.' - Shannon Huse, NZ Herald

"it will go any where - any life story is worth listening to and she's got one that's tremendously fascinating - she's a very engaging storyteller and that's where the charm of the show is" - Natasha Hay, National Radio

500 LETTERS - North Island Tour 2008

September

13th - Hawkins Theatre, Papakura
16th & 17th - Playhouse Theatre, Hastings
19th & 20th - Lawson Field Theatre, Gisbourne
23rd - 25th - The Globe, Palmerston North
27th - The Little Theatre, Matamata

October and November
3rd & 4th - 16th Avenue Theatre, Tauranga
10th - 12th - Centrestage Theatre, Orewa
18th - The Centre, Kerikeri
31st - 1st - Playhouse Theatre, Glen Eden
18th - 23rd - Herald Theatre, Auckland

Starring Pauline Grogan, directed and adapted by Margaret-Mary Hollins.

ADULT $35.00, SENIOR 65+ years 28.00, CHILD 15 years and under 20.00, STUDENT Student ID required $20.00

For ticketing information and details on other projects Pauline Grogan in involved in, visit www.paulinegrogan.co.nz

31/08/08