WONDERFUL - TOUR
Wonderful, a two-handed ‘drawing room comedy,’ is set in England during the notorious roaring 20s. It is the story of the divine Lady Hermione and her loyal butler Roberts, as they grapple with the important issues of modern life - biscuits, trousers, sausages, art, and what did the actress really say to the bishop.
DUNEDIN - ALLEN HALL
17-19 March
CHRISTCHURCH - LITTLE ANDROMEDA THEATRE
31 March - 1 April
ARROWTOWN - ATHENAEUM HALL
14 - 15 April
OUT AT SEA
Dunedin - New Athenaeum Theatre
20-22 March
Arrowtown - Athenaeum Hall
14-15 April
Out at Sea, by Polish dramatist Slawomir Mrozek, is an absurdist play, setting its characters starving and stranded on a raft out at sea. The characters Fat, Medium and Thin employ a logical application of democratic and other political processes to debate who should be eaten.
Director Blaise Barham brings the play to the New Athenaeum Theatre with the cast Aimee Freeman, Brent Caldwell, Chris Cook and Sarah Barham. The ensemble first performed Out at Sea as part of Lunchtime Theatre at Otago University in August 2022.
THE BEAR
Dunedin - The Mayfair Theatre
22-24 March
Anton Chekhov’s vaudeville farce, The Bear, gets a makeover for Dunedin Fringe, incorporating clowning, song, and aerial circus. A widow will not leave her house and move on, and neither will a creditor, who has come to collect on her late husband’s debt. What happens when an immovable object meets another immovable object? Who will win? And how free are we when it comes to gender stereotypes and notions of love?
This piece is translated by the University of Otago's Professor Stuart Young.
THE JOHN SHOW
Dunedin - The Knockabout Studio at the New Athenaeum Theatre
23-25 March
In the one-man show, The John Show, Auckland actor and creator John Goudge plays famous and infamous Johns throughout history, exploring what it is to be a John. Part game show, part historical, part improvisation, John is literally turned upside down in this interactive show, as his alter-egos take him on a journey from injustice to hope.
Every home has one, but how much do we know about them? Who was John Doe? Did John Crapper invent the toilet? What was John B. Goodenough famous for?
Shot Glass Shorts
Dunedin - Dog With Two Tails
August
Join us for an evening of humour, mystery, and entertainment promoting local artists.
SBZ Productions is so excited to be launching this annual competition showcasing new and up-and-coming playwrights, directors, and actors. We have a selection of very entertaining and quirky finalists that will be performed live each night.
The short plays involve small casts, with minimal set, props, and technical support. Each night the audience votes for their favourite script and performance, and on the final night all the the winning playwright and performance are announced at the event.
2023 New Zealand Tour of ‘WONDERFUL’ by Richard Huber
Repertory Society (Invercargill)
10-11 February 2023
Te Auaha, Tapere Nui (Wellington)
17-19 February 2023
Bannockburn (Cromwell)
24-25 February 2023
THE PREMIERE OF ‘WONDERFUL’ BY RICHARD HUBER – DUNEDIN NOV 2022
The Playhouse Theatre (Dunedin)
10 - 13 November 2022
Direction was by Richard Huber, with performances by Sarah Barham and Blaise Barham.
'Wonderful' is a romantic comedy about the divine Lady Hermione and her loyal butler Roberts, as they grapple with the important issues of modern life - biscuits, trousers, sausages, art and what to do about Penelope. Set in England, during the witty and just a little bit notorious roaring 20s, its characters cast aside the darkness, despair and bad poetry from the Great War and fall headlong into the brave new world of martinis, monocles, romance, and fountains.
"Richard Huber’s script (he also directs) very cleverly blurs distinctions between reality and possibility and shifts and retracts social class distinctions… rich in literary allusions, actress-and-bishop jokes and pathos ...” ODT – Review – Barbara Frame – 12/11/22
"In the Barhams, Huber has found the perfect accomplices. Their tongue-in-cheek enjoyment of the absurdities of the situation is one of the great pleasures of the play. They inhabit their roles with ease, in a cracking conversational duel." Theatreview - Terry McTavish - 11/11/22
“Combining drawing room farce, romantic comedy and fast-paced dialogue, Wonderful is thought-provoking and entertaining.” The Star – Brenda Harwood – 17/11/22
Reviews:
Smart Riffs and Polished Rapport (Theatrereview, Terry MacTavish)
REVIEW: Wonderful by Richard Huber (The Star, Brenda Harwood)
Playing With Illusions and Social Class (ODT, Barbara Frame)
‘DRACULA - THE BLOODY TRUTH’ BY LA NAVET BETE & JOHN NICHOLSON –2021- TOUR
The Mayfair Theatre (Dunedin)
11-14 November 2021
Athenaeum Hall (Arrowtown)
25-28 November 2021
Direction was by Chris Cook & John Goudge, with performance by Blaise Barham, Sarah Barham, Nathan Cook and Marty Newell.
This parody of vampire movie cliches is crammed full of sensational slapstick, frantic costume changes, magic tricks, and airborne props as well as clever dialogue, hilarious wordplay, and the odd song and dance.
“An enjoyable romp through a well-loved story."
“High-speed dialogue and frenetic gender-bending action … with lashings of slapstick and farce.” The Star – Brenda Harwood – 18/11/21
‘TWO’ BY JIM CARTWRIGHT – 2020 – TOUR
Community Centre (Arrowtown)
13-14 November 2020
Grand Tavern (Roxburgh)
15 November 2020
Bannockburn Hall (Cromwell)
19 November 2020
Stadium Tavern (Alexandra)
20 November 2020
Rydges Lakeland Resort (Queenstown)
22 November 2020
Camp Glenorchy (Glenorchy)
27 November 2020
Lake Wanaka Centre (Wanaka)
29 November 2020
New Athenaeum Theatre (Dunedin)
22-24 March 2021
Mayfair Theatre (Dunedin)
26 March 2021
Direction was by John Goudge, with performance by Blaise Barham and Sarah Barham.
One night, One pub, TWO actors, 14 characters. Set in a local pub, Jim Cartwright’s timeless comedy TWO features a landlord, landlady, and their colourful regulars - with all 14 characters played by actor couple Blaise and Sarah Barham. Each character has a story to tell, sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, but always human.
“I was blown away!!! It is quite brilliant. Funny, engaging, moving and just fabulous.”
“I highly recommend this show. It will have you hooked from start to finish and take you on an emotional roller-coaster!”
This show was nominated for Most Outstanding Performers at the 2021 Dunedin Fringe Festival.
‘RE(NEW)AL - THE NEW REAL’ – 2020
Queenstown Events Centre:
October 9, 7:30-9:30pm
October 10, 4-6pm
Lake Wanaka Centre:
October 16, 7:30-9:30pm
October 17, 4-6pm
An original theatre piece created by Blaise Barham & Emma Deakin, including actors Nathan Cook, Zelia Horrell, and Shannon Pennefather.
Re(new)al is a Verbatim play formed from interviews carried out with members of the local Southern Lakes community about how Covid had changed their lives and how they had coped. It poses the question of what is the 'New Real?'
‘DEAR LUPIN’ BY ROGER AND CHARLIE MORTIMER - 2019 – TOUR
Gin & Raspberry (Wanaka)
21 November 2019
Community Centre (Arrowtown)
23 November 2019
Camp Glenorchy (Glenorchy)
27 November 2019
Sherwood (Queenstown)
29 November 2019
Earnscleugh Hall (Alexandra)
4 December 2019
Bannockburn Hall (Cromwell)
7 December 2019
Direction was by John Goudge, with performance by Blaise Barham and John Barham.
Michael Simkins' stage adaption of the hilarious letters of Dunkirk veteran and BBC2 racing reporter Roger Mortimer to his son Charlie. The play has nostalgia, wit, pathos, and genuine laugh-out-loud moments.