The Court Theatre’s first production since the February earthquake is the perfect antidote to trying times.

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress which has been described as a “tremendously funny” comedy, is written by Alan Ball, the Academy Award-winning writer of American Beauty and creator of hit TV shows Six Feet Under and True Blood.

Featuring Christchurch-based actress, Claire Dougan, Five Women Wearing The Same Dress was originally to be staged at The Court Theatre in the Arts Centre before commencing a season at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. However, the February 22 earthquake disrupted these plans and with both The Fortune and The Court recognising the need for the show to go on, the season began at Fortune in Dunedin.

The original cast and production crew travelled south where Five Women Wearing The Same Dress opened to glowing reviews, hailing it a “tremendously funny... great night out, and not just for women” (Otago Daily Times) as well as “the most perfect antidote for the earthquake jitters” and “a charming, highly polished collaboration that is sure to delight the audience it is most intended for.” (Theatreview).

Director Lara Macgregor describes Five Women Wearing The Same Dress as “a play about friendship and dysfunctional families served with huge doses of fun”.

“There couldn't have been a better play on which to collaborate with The Court Theatre, with the deep friendships seen on-stage mirroring those off,” she says.

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress follows the hilarious story of five bridesmaids hiding in a bedroom above an extravagant wedding reception. As these five very different women share their stories and secrets, they discover they may have more in common with each other than they realise.

Opening at the Aurora Centre on July 13, Five Women Wearing The Same Dress will run for a strictly limited season, until 23 July.

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Five Women Wearing The Same Dress by Alan Ball
Cast: Kathleen Burns. Serena Cotton, Claire Dougan, Kate Prior, Lizzie Tollemache and Jonathan Martin.
Performances: 14-23 July 2011 at the Aurora Centre, cnr Greers Rd and Memorial Ave.
Show Times: 14 July 8pm, 15 July 7:30pm, 18-23 July 7:30pm (no shows 16/17 July)
Tickets: Adults $46, Senior (65+) $39, Supporter $37, Groups (20+) $37, Tertiary Student $27, School Child $17
Bookings: (03) 963 0870 or www.courttheatre.org.nz