Rehearsals are underway for the upcoming world premiere of The Hollow Men, an adaption by Dean Parker of Nicky Hager's controversial book. Described as "documentary theatre" - a genre that's gaining in popularity overseas - this new NZ work examines the months of Don Brash's leadership of the National Party prior to the 2005 election. Says director Jonathon Hendry, "At times of change and uncertainty it seems we desire to see and reflect on stories about real events."Rehearsals are underway for the upcoming world premiere of The Hollow Men, an adaption by Dean Parker of Nicky Hager's controversial book. Described as "documentary theatre" - a genre that's gaining in popularity overseas - this new NZ work examines the months of Don Brash's leadership of the National Party prior to the 2005 election. Says director Jonathon Hendry, "At times of change and uncertainty it seems we desire to see and reflect on stories about real events.""Internationally over recent years a new form of documentary theatre is selling out, from Broadway and Britain's National Theatre to smaller fringe venues everywhere. Renowned British playwright David Hare (whose play Stuff Happens dramatised events leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003) says that 'theatre using real people has become a fabulously rich and varied strand which , for many years, has been pumping red cells into the dramatic bloodstream.'

"We're excited to be sharing this genre with New Zealanders in Dean's highly entertaining adaptation."

The Hollow Men features Stephen Papps as Don Brash, along with Michael Keir Morrissey, Lyndee-Jane Rutherford, Will Harris, Sam Snedden and Arthur Meek. This talented cast play a variety of political movers and shakers, many of whom still walk the corridors of parliament and have influence behind the scenes today.

Dean Parker writes " - to have it in front of you in black-and-white, as Nicky Hager presented it to us last year, detail by detail, 50 pages of footnotes - it takes your breath away. 'Politics,' wrote Albert Camus, 'is man's direct address to other men.' If this is to be true, we must look to ourselves and not to parliamentary processes. Nicky Hager did a superb job with The Hollow Men. It's an honour to do the adaptation - a gleeful honour."

Wellington
When: 26 September - 11 October 2007
Where: BATS Theatre
Bookings: 04 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz

Palmerston North
When: 13-27 October 2007
Where: Centrepoint Theatre
Bookings: 06 354 5740 or www.centrepoint.co.nz

20/9/07