Gloria is a bored socialite with a rich father; Jimmy is a writer working as a waiter at her father’s birthday party. What Gloria wants, Gloria gets, and when she sets her sights on Jimmy in order to upset her father, she gets much more than she bargained for…

With a similar vein to the golden age of cinema, citing works such as The Philadelphia Story as an influence, Glorious sees playwright Richard Huber skilfully blend sophistication, slapstick and social commentary. Singing with sensuality and the whip-crack of 1940s screw-ball comedy, the show's nostalgic appearance has an instant appeal to an older generation of New Zealander's... but it's rapid, sharp dialogue also plays towards contemporary audiences (much like Gossip Girl or The West Wing).

Having premiered in Dunedin and most recently Wellington to critical and commercial acclaim, including a finalist for the Playmarket New Zealand Play award, it was pivotal to bring back its two stars who fully understood the comedic timing of the production; Anya Tate-Manning and Sam Bunkall. The new addition to the show is director Sam Shore (The Idea of America, The Vagina Monologues), he will bring his flair and directorial finesse to the Glorious set.

Toi Whakaari trained Tate-Manning most recently performed in August Osage County at Circa Theatre and at Bats Theatre for both McKenzie Country and the sell out political satire Public Service Announcements. Anya has been nominated for Best Female Newcomer (Ugly Customers, Circa) and for “Outstanding New Playwright of the Year” at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for her show Pirates vs Ninjas.

Bunkall, a fellow graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is no stranger to The Basement, having performed in Dog Sees God, written by Easy A creator Bert V Royal in 2010. Bunkall also found himself taking to the stage with the Auckland Theatre Company in their season of Romeo and Juliet, while finding the time to appear in movies such as Elaine Rides Again (chosen as part of the 2011 NZ International Film Festival), and the upcoming Broken Path.

“Anya Tate-Manning is dazzling and irresistible…Sam Bunkall feels like the perfect match for Anya with his languid elegance… …the two actors hold the stage for 90 plus minutes and leave you wanting more. Play it again!”                                                         

- Lynn Freeman – Capital Times

“Glorious is clever, stylish, well produced and crisply performed with wit and panache...a well-paced production that drives inexorably to its surprising conclusion.”

- John Smythe - Theatreview

GLORIOUS plays
1^st - 12^th November, 2011, 8pm (no show on Sunday 6 November)
The Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
Tickets: General $20 / Concessions $16 (booking fees may apply)
Bookings through iTICKET EXPRESS – www.iticketexpress.co.nz