Haere mai ki te Basement Theatre i tēnei wiki mo te kanikani me te kata!
In the Theatre, experience the laughter, heartache, and unbreakable bond of sisterhood in Love; Mum. Sela Faletolu-Fasi has created a powerful and deeply personal story that lays bare the raw truths of motherhood, reminding us that love and forgiveness can carry us through even the hardest moments.
In the Studio, don’t miss Janaye Henry and Sean Rivera in My Clowns, My Circus, a wildly funny, self-aware sketch comedy that asks can two comedians rejected from drama school take themselves seriously, or will the chaos of their clownish ways win out? Also, catch Bull Rush for your weekly dose of improv comedy.
Mā te wā,
Basement Theatre x
My Clowns, My Circus
25 – 29 March, 6.30pm. Studio. Choose What You Pay.The unique comedic talents of Sean Rivera and Janaye Henry are collaborating once more to bring you their most serious show to date. My Clowns, My Circus. After getting rejected from Aotearoa’s leading drama school – TOY Whakaari, Sean and Janaye are forced to reckon with their lives. For the first time, they are forced to stare into the teachings of Stanislavski, Strasberg, Hurst etc. etc. Can they do it? Can they be serious for a full hour or will they succumb to their usual clown antics?**
** This is a sketch comedy show ultimately. A farce.
Love; Mum
25 – 29 March, 8pm. Theatre.Love; Mum is about 5 Pacific women who meet at ‘Mums Anonymous’ – a self-help group for new Mums. They form a sisterhood that embarks on the journey of parenting together and the struggles we don’t often talk about.
- Sponsor Promotion -
As their children get older, life gets more complicated and begins to test their relationship with each other and the people they love. For Joy, the struggle to show up for the sisterhood while trying to navigate her own life becomes unbearable.
Sela Faletolu-Fasi wrote ‘Love; Mum’ in 2023, from a goodbye letter she wrote to her 6 children. She knew they would never thank her for that letter, so she decided to write a play as a way of sharing her story, expressing hope and to let her children know they are the reason for everything. All five characters in ‘Love; Mum’ are a representation of her and the struggles she has faced in life and as a Mum.
This is a funny and yet heartbreaking story about motherhood, about women, and ultimately about the power of love and forgiveness to overcome it all.
Bull Rush
28 March, 10pm. Theatre.No Friday night will ever be the same again.
With a roster of Tāmaki Makaurau’s best and brightest performers, expect spit-take- worthy gags, epic stories, heartbreaking tales, and live improvised music at Bull Rush.
So gather your mates for a night of never before seen, totally made up, improvised comedy every Rāmere Friday.
Mess with the bull, feel the rush.
Since 2020, Bull Rush have been making it up as they go. With several seasons (Jingle Bull(Rush), Ghoul Rush, 1822) under their belt, these self-professed improv nerds know how to put on a bloody good show.
Winners of Best Improv Group at the 2024 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, among other accolades (not to brag).
HER Festival
2 – 6 April, 8pm. Theatre & Studio.HER. A festival for women.
For five days, Basement Theatre and Myers Park will be the heart of HER Festival. Big kōrero, bold performances, hands-on workshops, dance floors, fitness, wellness, and everything in between.
Tell your mates, tell your whānau, tell that girl who complimented your outfit in the bathroom. HER Festival is happening April 2–6 in Tāmaki Makaurau and you should be there. See the full program at herfestival.co.nz.
The Play That Gets Louder
8 – 12 April, 8pm. Theatre.In a crumbling hospital ward amidst a retrofuturistic war, a wounded soldier is confronted by three others. As they bond over memories of their mothers, his search for a lost axe—and its dark legacy—ultimately leads to a tragic end.
How can I support Basement Theatre? Donations help us keep advocating for artists. Becoming a Basement Lover or a Basement Mate is the best way you can continually support us – and you get some bonus treats too!
