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23-24 Jan, 2021, The Bathhouse, Blackball
4 Feb, 2021, Concerthouse, Seven Oaks, Waltham A cross-coastal collaboration between Free Theatre & Kiwi/Possum Productions.
Written after WW2 when knowledge of the death camps overwhelmed conscience, when nuclear threat hovered, and when Western civilisation was experiencing a crisis of faith, Endgame was Beckett’s favourite work. As audiences of today we bring our own knowledge of despair and absurdity emanating from the climate crisis, species loss, populist politics and the frustration of late capitalism. We can empathise with these characters, with an apocalyptic world outside, simultaneously attempting and refusing relationship, locked in a game of life which resembles chess. Fresh from its rain soaked West Coast premiere in the Miners Bathhouse the work then travelled across the alps for a performance in Free Theatre's home Waldheim, Seven Oaks in Waltham. ReviewsBeckett’s writing is brimming with poignant philosophy and grim humour jostling each other throughout. The Free Theatre and Kiwi/Possum collaboration of his work showed great sensitivity to both these aspects, finding a moving balance 
Audience responseResponse from the Blackball season: "Just want to congratulate you all for doing a fantastic performance last night. On reflection this morning, I feel like I experienced a highly sophisticated yet surreal piece of theatre . The setting was a stroke of genius and the rain actually added a physical element to the sense of hopelessness and despair. It was grim, gritty, provocative, and brilliantly done. Thankyou I really do appreciate getting to see this piece of work" Endgame is the first time Maunder and Falkenberg have collaborated on a theatrical project.
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This evening results from the synchronous impulses of two different theatre companies. Prior to Kiwi/Possum, Paul Maunder founded the influential Amamus Theatre Group in the 70s and made several ground breaking films for the National Film Unit followed by the feature film, Sons for the Return Home (1979) based on Albert Wendt's novel.
After a decade of mounting community-based plays on the West Coast Kiwi/Possum had a desire to touch base with the classics of mainstream theatre - as an encounter, but also to share the encounter with people from other companies and backgrounds. This first encounter is with Samuel Beckett's Endgame. We also wanted to use the Blackball Miners Bathhouse as a venue so that there was an encounter with a piece of physical heritage. Finally we say - this piece is not finished - we have only had a week of rehearsal, but we hope there is sufficient depth for the encounter to be worthwhile. Peter Falkenberg has been Artistic Director of Free Theatre Christchurch for 41 years and was also the supervisor for Paul's PhD thesis on community-based theatre in New Zealand. Falkenberg first directed a Beckett play in 1999 with Krapp's Last Tape featuring Alan Brunton, founder of Red Mole Theatre just before his death.
Free Theatre visited Blackball post-lockdown for our Erewhon Project where an encounter with Beckett was proposed. We were pleased to accept, for collaborating with different artistic and local communities has been a focus for Free Theatre post-earthquake and especially post-lockdown. It keeps our work interesting and attracts a different mix of audiences. |
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