HEARTBREAK HOTEL HAS IT OUT OVER THE STAGE

Heartbreak Hotel
Q Theatre | Loft
28 November - 2 December

Director/performer power pair and winners of the 2022 Bruce Mason Playwriting Award, Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken (of Body Double, Jane Doe and Yes Yes Yes collaborations) are back for another theatre show that reveals and intimately unfolds a crucial aspect of the human psyche in Heartbreak Hotel, on 28 November – 2 December at Q Theatre. 

Having previously handled subjects of consent, attraction and sexuality with care and vigour (with Yes Yes Yes having received Outstanding Performance and Excellence in Theatre for Social Change in Wellington and Excellence for Overall Production in Auckland Theatre awards), the duo have approached matters of the heart from a different direction: ‘What happens when your heart breaks?’

“I wanted to create a show that touched on the almost universal issue of heartbreak,” says writer Karin McCracken. “Eleanor and I were talking to students with the aim of making a new work about emotional resiliency, and we realised that what we ended up discussing revolved around relationships, conflict, and heartbreak. Still relating to these discussions ourselves, we realised the subject of breakups is really ageless, as anyone can go through heartbreak at any stage of their life.”

Heartbreak Hotel incorporates Bishop and McCracken’s signature style of mixed-method storytelling, offering scenes as effective stories within themselves and also as potential case-studies, providing context from research on heartbreak and how best to deal with it, as well as an ultimate breakup playlist of live musical interludes including the titular Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley and Bonnie Raitt’s I Can't Make You Love Me.

“We know from the research that connection with others helps when you’re heartbroken, as does having art and awe experiences. Making a show that brings people together so they can reflect on their own experiences of heartbreak while making them laugh at the same time felt socially useful and a fun way to explore something that most of us both go through and recover from” said McCracken.
 

“Karin McCracken is superb on stage. She has a radiating aura of warmth and maturity all while remaining youthful and relevant to a young audience. She offers us a sure and steady hand, leading us through difficult territory.”
– Sarah Nathan, Theatreview

Karin McCracken plays the central ‘Her’ on-stage, and is joined by theatre sweetheart Simon Leary, as ‘everyone else’; the protagonist’s various ex-lovers, doctor and occasional narrator. Leary’s recent credits include television show Brokenwood Mysteries, as well as A Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Filthy Business with Auckland Theatre Company, the 2018 Circa Theatre production of Switzerland, and Brilliant Adventures production Everything After.

The creative team are having other notable milestones, with Eleanor Bishopparticipating in Jane Campion’s film intensive A Wave in the Ocean, and YES YES YES scheduled for performance in Serbia on 22 November for the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering 2023.

EBKM in collaboration with Q Theatre present
Heartbreak Hotel
Performers - Karin McCracken & Simon Leary
Director - Eleanor Bishop
Production & Light Designers - Filament Eleven 11
Sound Designer - Te Aihe Bulter 
Stage Manager - Natasha Thyne
Producer - Melanie Hamilton

Supported by:
The development of Heartbreak Hotel was supported by Creative New Zealand, Hawkes Bay Arts Festival, Hannah Playhouse Trust, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and Playmarket. 

This season of Heartbreak Hotel is supported by Waipapa Taumata Rau. The University of Auckland is proud to sponsor Q Theatre.

We would like to acknowledge Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland for their support and development of independent art in Auckland.