Be Longing: A Verbatim Play

*As part of New Performance Festival
By Theatre Studies, University of Otago

The experience of belonging – or not belonging – to a place, a country, a culture. Be | Longing tells the many stories of those who have migrated to Aotearoa, who have lived overseas for a long period and returned, as well as those from the tangata whenua.

Pioneers in documentary theatre, Theatre Studies at the University of Otago in association with Talking House present an extreme form of verbatim theatre that uses mp3 players to relay interviewees’ stories to actors in performance, resulting in an absorbing and poignant presentation of real events. A powerful sense of authenticity is achieved by replicating the body language of the interviewees as well as their words. The company’s compelling production Hush was a 2010 Auckland theatre highlight.

Theatre Studies, University of Otago, and Talking House comprise professional theatre-makers, postgraduate students and university lecturers. Be | Longing is their third documentary theatre project to date. Their last production Hush, a play about family violence, was performed at the Maidment, Auckland in November 2010. The company includes Stuart Young, Hilary Halba (directors), Erica Newlands, Simon O’Connor, Danny Still, Cindy Diver, Karen Elliot, Gareth McMillian, Kate Han, Martyn Roberts (designer) and Fiona Graham (dramaturg).

“…The production values are altogether impressive, and Stuart Young and his team bring passion and integrity to their research project.“ - Theatreview

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