TOE TAPPING, BIG HEARTED COMEDY BRINGS CHOIR AND COUNTRY CHARM TO AUCKLAND THIS SUMMER

Auckland Theatre Company kicks off their 30th year anniversary celebrations with the NZ premiere of The Heartbreak Choir by award-winning Australian playwright Aidan Fennessy, on from Valentine’s Day 14 February – 4 March at ASB Waterfront Theatre.

Armed with a cast of some of New Zealand’s funniest actors in full voice and directed by Lara Macgregor, this big-hearted summer comedy will transport audiences back to the hilarious and oh so familiar surrounds of the rural Aussie community hall, to experience the eccentric charm of local characters, the power of music and the magic of connection.

There’s been a bit of drama in the local choir. Splintering off from the original group, a small band of oddballs have gathered in a quintessentially country town hall to begin again. It’s cold, it’s musty and the heater is on the blink. But they’ve got a new name, they’ve got their voices and they’ve got each other. All they need now is a song to sing. Will our heroes find a way to harmonise?

Making her directorial debut for Auckland Theatre Company, Lara Macgregor wants this play to gift audiences a chance to celebrate music, community, and friendship. “We can all relate to these characters. We’ve all met them before. Aged from 16 to 60, these folk are the heartbeat of local communities, and they teach us, with all their quirks that’s it’s the little things in life that matter”,says Macgregor.

Having directed over thirty musicals in his impressive career Musical Director Jason Te Mete(Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai te Rangi) brings together a wide range of musical genres to this production that pay tribute to the uniqueness of these wonderfully honest characters. “I’m having fun with this music taking well known pop songs and turning them into choral arrangements. It’s going to be a good time musically with a repertoire that spans the whole gamut of styles – from gospel to sports anthems, the music will be uplifting and seriously toe tapping” says Te Mete.

Channelling the hilarity and familiarity of our cousins across the ditch are some of our finest local actors including Jodie Dorday (Filthy Business, Billy Elliott: The Musical) and Kate Louise Elliott(Rongowhakaata) (Mums Choir, Outrageous Fortune). Both actors have enjoyed careers of over thirty years in the business and are at the top of their game. They are joined by a brilliant cast including Mufrida Hayes (The Night of The Iguana, Emmerdale), Munashe Tapfuya (The Colour Purple, The New Legends of Monkey), Esmay August (Paradise Island, Fiddler on the Roof), and Levi Kereama (Ngati Raukawa) (Astroman, Shortland Street).

The stellar team set to bring this production to the stage also includes Assistant Director Keagan Carr Fransch (Director of the sell-out season of Silo Theatre’s seven methods of killing kylie jenner), Production Designer Sean Coyle (The Life of Galileo, Wheeler’s Luck), Lighting Designer Phillip Dexter (Mary Stuart, Equus), and Sound Designer Andrew Furness.

The Heartbreak Choir premiered in Melbourne in April 2022 and received rave reviews:

"An absolute must-see" (The Age)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Funny, honest, heartwarming." (Limelight)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "[A] life-affirming testament to the power of community." (TimeOut)

“The very special thing about Auckland Theatre Company producing this play is that the playwright Aidan Fennessy sadly passed away before he got to see his work on stage. The programming of this show is a huge blessing and responsibility for us to carry that baton for Aidan and his legacy”, says Macgregor.

Tickets on sale now.

The Heartbreak Choir by Aidan Fennessy
14 Feb – 4 March 2023
ASB Waterfront Theatre, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Tickets and info www.atc.co.nz 0800 ATC TIX

CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Lara Macgregor
Assistant Director: Keagan Carr Fransch
Musical Director: Jason Te Mete
Production Design: Sean Coyle
Lighting Design: Phillip Dexter
Sound Design: Andrew Furness

CAST:
Savannah: Esmay August
Totty: Jodie Dorday
Mack: Kate Louise Elliott
Barbara: Mufrida Hayes
Beau: Levi Kereama
Anesu: Munashe Tapfuya


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