The Dentist's Chair

“A dark comedy with real teeth” - Dominion Post

Following a sell out season at the New Zealand International Arts Festival in February, Indian Ink Theatre Company is bringing its deliciously dark comedy The Dentist’s Chair back to Wellington for a strictly limited season.

Written by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis and featuring a stellar cast and live band, The Dentist’s Chair is at The Opera House, Wellington from August 26-30.

The Dentist’s Chair is the eagerly anticipated fourth production by multiple award -winning Indian Ink Theatre Company, who are best known as the creators of the trilogy of plays, Krishnan’s Dairy, The Candlestickmaker and The Pickle King.

Provoked by the notion that ‘life makes cowards of us all’ The Dentist’s Chair is set in that most terrifying of locations – the dentist’s chair.

Albert is a dentist with a gift for easing others' pain - but not his own. His long neglected passions are inflamed by a delicate operation on a young woman. In the process of straightening Ruth's teeth will Albert straighten out his life? To complicate matters Albert is haunted by the ghost of William Kemmler, the first person to be executed in the electric chair - and who is encouraging him to make a rather personal extraction.

The Dentist’s Chair premiered at the New Zealand International Arts Festival in February, captivating audiences and selling out.

The Dentist’s Chair features a superb cast with award-winning actor Mia Blake (No 2, The Tatooist) as Ruth, and husband and wife Carl Bland and Peta Rutter (both 2007 Chapman Tripp Award Winners) playing husband and wife Albert and Judy.

Mia, Carl and Peta are joined by Gareth Williams as the menacing Kemmler with the lanky limbs and the haunting singing voice. Fresh out of drama school this is Gareth’s first major professional outing. “Williams is superb” - Dominion Post

The Dentist’s Chair features a live band, led by David Ward (Krishnan’s Dairy and The Candlestickmaker) with Isaac Smith on double bass. The music is an inspired mix of folk and blues composed by David Ward.

“Marvelously gritty songs” – Dominion Post

The Dentist’s Chair was created with generous support from Creative New Zealand and co-commissioned by the New Zealand International Arts Festival.