The Liberal Agenda - Basement Theatre Auckland

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In the Theatre, catch Man Lessons, a raw, funny, and deeply personal coming-of-age journey that blends live storytelling with documentary footage to explore gender, identity, and growing up beyond the binary.

In the Studio, catch My AI Twin, a sharp, satirical new play about politics, AI, and the chaos of campaigning, with special post-show Q+As on Thursday and Friday. Also, Live Reel: CasinoHeist AngryGarcia improv retelling of Ocean’s Eleven by comedians and Hot New Jokes is back with a killer lineup and brand new material from some of Aotearoa’s funniest. Also in the Studio, Bull Rush brings improv chaos and comedy.

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Mā te wā,
Basement Theatre x

My AI Twin
29 July – 02 Aug, 6.30pm. Studio.Xan, an elected councillor to local government, is making a bid for the mayoralty of her city. Overwhelmed by the demands of campaigning in a world dominated by social media she decides to use an AI twin as an online physical presence to connect with more people.Through comedy and irony, the play explores the challenges, particularly for women, of standing for election, the ethics of using AI twins which digitally replicate real people, and the pressures of campaigning in an age of social media. This is all particularly topical as we come into local body elections in September.Shirin Brown has written and directed a number of short plays. #Me Not was performed at the Short and Sweet Festival and the Waiheke Short Play Festival and was highly commended by the New Zealand Playwright’s Association. This is her first feature length play and we’re excited to see it premiere at the Basement.

There will be a Q+A on both Thursday and Friday night straight after the performance at 7.30pm.

Thursday Q+A: Cast and Crew
Friday Q+A: Surprise guest discussion about women in politics and local government elections.

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Man Lessons
29 July – 02 Aug, 6.30pm. Theatre.For nearly a decade, feature-length documentary Man Lessons has been in production following Adam Rohe’s gender transition.Now, Adam (he/they) steps into the driver’s seat of the storytelling, combining intimate documentary footage with live storytelling to bring you a wild, earnest behind-the-scenes.What began as the chronicling of Adam’s gender transition became something messier – a vulnerable exploration of identity, friendship, and what it means to grow into personhood.

This is a coming-of-age story that transcends the patriarchy, values wellbeing over sanity, and absolves you of the pressure to ‘just be yourself’.

New Playwright of the Year nominee – Wellington Theatre Awards, 2022
Spotlight Award nominee – Whangarei Fringe, 2022

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Live Reel: Casinoheist Angrygarcia
30 July, 8.30pm. Studio.This month, Live Reel is headed to Vegas baybay!!!We’re rolling the dice to see whether six comedians can recreate a feature-length movie from memory live onstage in 75 minutes.This July Live Reel presents CasinoHeist AngryGarcia– a completely improvised and misremembered retelling of Ocean’s Eleven by people who recall loving it 25 years ago and some people who will watch it for the first time the night before.

Come along on July 30th for a night of hilarity, heist planning, and Ross and Monica’s Dad helping Clooney and Pitt win big!

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Hot New Jokes
1 August, 8.30pm. Studio.Hot New Jokes is back by popular demand after a sold-out show in March! Get ready for a night of fresh material and bold new bits from some of Aotearoa’s finest comedy talent. Hosted by the hilarious Itay Dom, with sets from crowd favourites Tom Sainsbury, Pax Assadi, Courtney Dawson and more!Line up:
Itay Ben-Dom (MC)
Courtney Dawson
Tom Sainsbury
Pax Assadi
Angella Dravid
Jack Ansett
James Mustapic

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Bull Rush
25 July, 10pm. Studio.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.

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Tafatolu
12 – 16 August, 8pm. Theatre.‘Tafatolu’- is a visceral, musical, and physical adaptation of the stories passed down from our tupuna, tuaā, and fanga-kui. Stories born from Pasifika mythology inspired by the traditional samoan theatre style of fale aitu. Venturing into a realm unknown we bear witness to the awakening of our ancestral knowledge and gods who have lied dormant within us awaiting their turn to dance!

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GUIDO: A Play Reading
13 August, 8.30pm. Studio.One room. One night. One reckoning.Set in 1920s Dunedin during the height of New Zealand’s colonial legacy, Guido is a taut two-hander that traps two men in a private study—while the echoes of a high-society party hum just beyond the door. Over the course of a single night, memories rise, power shifts, and the truth presses in from all sides.Performed in the raw intimacy of Basement Theatre, Guido is a claustrophobic descent into memory, guilt, and the long shadow of power. What happens when the past comes back—uninvited?

A haunting queer, migrant, and POC-centred story of survival, silence, and reckoning—set in 1920s Aotearoa.

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Mother Is A Daughter Is A Mother
14-16 August, 6.30pm. Studio.WHO ARE YOU IN RELATION TO ME?Exploiting what it means to be a Mother,
when you are still a Daughter.
Birthing art as a result of fermentation.
Inducing labour in the hope of catharsis.Mother. Daughter.
Pulsing to the tune of destruction and restoration.
A portrait of life creation.
Or is it art creation?
Probably neither.

MDM explores the outside concepts of Motherhood and Art.
Prepare to be cradled, confronted and confused (???)

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Marble Cinematic Universe
19-20 August, 6.30pm. Studio.One man and an overhead projector take a humble marble on a hero’s journey.
With no dialogue, analogue technology and all illusions constructed live in front of the audience, this show promises more humility and charm than you can fit your heart around.

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Strawberry Baby
19-23 August, 8pm. Theatre.Strawberry Baby is a bold, camp, and colorful solo dance work exploring beauty standards, neurodivergence, and queerness through movement, humor, and expressive design. Set in a bright pink bedroom, this vibrant performance peels back the layers of societal expectations, revealing the intimate struggle of self-acceptance. Audiences will be taken on a playful, rebellious, and thought-provoking journey through an immersive dance performance that challenges beauty norms while celebrating the joy of self-discovery.

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Decadunce
21-23 August, 6.30pm. Studio.The award-winning Kiwi comedian Marshall Lorenzo (Canada’s Drag Race) is back with a brand new sketch comedy extravaganza ‘Decadunce’. Let’s just say we’re a gun law away from finally eating the rich and Marshall Lorenzo is ready to pull the trigger. ‘Decadunce’ is the third chapter in the eight-time NZ Fringe award-nominated ‘Baby Gorgeous’ sketch comedy trilogy. While 2024’s ‘Baby Gorgeous’ was the amuse-bouche and Baby Gorgeous Build Ups was the main course, get ready to eat good in the decadent and dizzying dessert of the Baby Gorgeous trilogy: ‘Decadunce’. Now fully committed to living a lifestyle outside of his means, Decudunce is a brand new show about fraud, excess and stupidity. Featuring various unforgettable characters (Including the Briscoes lady!), and biting commentary on the dilapidated state of it all! Come see the sequel to the comedy show audience members called ‘freakin hilarious’, and ‘on another level’.

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