THEATRE INSPIRED BY JANET FRAME’S ICONIC NOVEL TOURS TO HAMILTON AND WELLINGTON
Red Leap Theatre presents
OWLS DO CRY
Directed by Malia Johnston
Hamilton, 26-28 October
Wellington, 3-13 November
Beloved New Zealand author Janet Frame’s landmark novel is brought to life on stage by the iconic theatre company Red Leap. Filled with fierce heart and visual splendour, Red Leap’s Owls Do Cry made its world premiere in Frame’s childhood hometown of Ōamaru, followed by sell-out seasons in both Tāmaki Makaurau and Whangārei, and a South Island tour in 2021. This year it is going on tour, to Hamilton and Wellington from 26 October – 13 November.
Red Leap’s adaption of Owls Do Cry uses multimedia including live music, song, poetry, dynamic movement and AV to celebrate Frame’s work. Rather than creating a direct narrative staging of Owls Do Cry, Red Leap have taken inspiration from Frame’s rich imagery and poetry to create a multi-disciplinary dreamscape. This extraordinary tale is transformed into an exciting, devised performance through their signature physical and visual styles, capturing and revealing her still pertinent insights into society.
"…extraordinary, inventive, immersive and highly energetic" - Otago Daily Times, 2021
"Owls Do Cry immerses the audience deep in the heart of the author’s masterpiece, loses us in the words, the sounds, the terror, the loss, the sweet moments of pure bliss. It literally left me gasping" - 13th Floor, 2019
Some of Aotearoa’s best creative minds have come together from a love of literature to explore the themes of her novel; of resilience through struggle and of living life with open hands and hearts. They bring with them the treasure of books and the pleasure of reading. Award-winning choreographer and director Malia Johnston (WOW, RUSHES, Movement of the Human) brings this extraordinary piece of New Zealand literature to the stage.
The cast is made up of an incredible host of performers: Ross McCormack (Triumphs and Other Alternatives, System), Margaret-Mary Hollins (Last Legs, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night), Hannah Lynch (Dakota of the White Flats, Movement of the Human), Katrina George (Kororareka, Under the Mountain), Arlo Gibson (Skin Tight, Step Dave, Mating in Captivity), and Comfrey Sanders (Jekyll and Hyde, Shortland Street – The Musical).
Audiences are invited to gain an understanding of why Frame's work is so thoroughly dear to our literary scene, the heart, warmth and acuity of her stories and how the arts recapture our imaginations.
"a beautiful, generous and diligently crafted piece that invited me into Frame’s world, and left me feeling both replete and somehow wanting more." - Flat City Field Notes, 2021
"I’m left with sheer joy of witnessing images of beauty, light and poetry" - Pantograph Punch, 2019
www.redleaptheatre.co.nz