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THE BALLAD OF PONDLIFE MCGURK

2 years ago

 

CATHERINE WHEELS THEATRE COMPANY (SCOTLAND)
Saturday 9 March, Saturday 16 March, Saturday 23 March - Sunday 24 March, 2013
Various venues (see details below)
FOR AUDIENCES AGED 9+
Auckland Arts Festival 2013 is bringing to audiences aged 9 to 90, The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk, an enchanting storytelling experience about friendship, betrayal and how relationships change over time. This capturing and heart-wrenching tale garnered numerous five-star reviews at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Martin is the new boy at school among a sea of unfamiliar faces. Meet Sharon: class bully who immediately takes a disliking to Martin and isn't afraid to show it. Enter Simon McGurk: Martin's new best friend, despite their differences. Simon and Martin spend the summer together. They make an oath to stick together, to never join the dark side with the bullies at school. Then Martin does something that will poison their friendship forever…
Of his show, which has been performed at schools across Scotland, at Edinburgh's Imaginate Children's Festival, at the Sydney Opera House and the Edinburgh Fringe, co-creator and performer, Andy Manley, said, "I thought it might be interesting to tell a story of someone who took the blame for something they didn't do and how this might affect them. The lovely thing about Pondlife is that, though it is for children...it also appeals as much to the adults in the audience. It's a very universal story."
Catherine Wheels Theatre Company is a leading producer of theatre for children and young people, formed in 1999 by the director Gill Robertson. Their first production Martha won the award for Best Production at the Shanghai International Children's Festival. Lifeboat (2002) won the Barclay's Stage Award for Best Show for Children and Young People, and was performed at the New Zealand International Arts Festival 2008. White, the company's first show for under fours, won numerous awards worldwide.
Andy Manley is a British theatre artist based in Edinburgh. He creates performances largely through devising, and directs or performs depending on what feels right for the project. He started making his own work in 2003 and before that he was an actor. Over the last few years Manley has specialised in creating performances for children and young people.
In order to present the work to as many young people as possible, Auckland Arts Festival 2013 is touring The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk to multiple venues across the region, including the Bruce Mason Centre,
Mangere Arts Centre and Auckland Town Hall. For more information about Auckland Arts Festival's Smartsfest Schools Programme, please visit www.aaf.conz.
www.aaf.co.nz
It is as if Manley is a shaman, enchanting his acolytes with magical words... - SCOTTISHTheatre
The very model of audience-capturing storytelling, this is a well-written and excitingly performed tale. - London Theatre Review
Theatre to be enjoyed across the generations - The Arts Journal
SEASON DETAILS
Show The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk
Where Various venues - see details below
When Saturday 9 March, 11am & 2pm - Bruce Mason Centre
Saturday 16 March, 11am & 2pm - Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku
Saturday 23 March, 11am & 2pm - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
Sunday 24 March, 10.30am & 12.30pm - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
For schools performance details, please visit the Smartsfest page at www.aaf.co.nz
Duration 50 min
Price GA Adult $20 /GA  Child $12
Bookings Book at THE EDGE: www.buytickets.co.nz / 09 357 3355 / 0800 289 842
Group bookings: groups@the-edge.co.nz / 09 357 3354
Ticketmaster outlets (for Bruce Mason Centre only): www.ticketmaster.co.nz / 09 970 9700 / 0800 289 842
Mangere Arts Centre Box Office (for Mangere Arts Centre only): 09 262 5789
Information www.aaf.co.nz
Social Media Facebook: facebook.com/Aklfestival
Twitter: @Aklfestival
Video http://www.catherinewheels.co.uk/productions/The+Ballad+of+Pondlife+McGurk/video/#page-content
Media enquiries Siobhan Waterhouse, Publicist. P: +64 (0)9 374 0317 | M: +64 (0) 22 126  4149
E: siobhan.waterhouse@aucklandfestival.co.nz
CREATIVE CREDITS
Performer: Andy Manley
Text: Rob Evans
Director: Gill Robertson
Sound Designer: Danny Krass
Lighting Design: Craig Fleming
Producer: Paul Fitzpatrick
Supported by Made In Scotland and Creative Scotland

 

CATHERINE WHEELS THEATRE COMPANY (SCOTLAND)

 

Saturday 9 March, Saturday 16 March, Saturday 23 March - Sunday 24 March, 2013

Various venues (see details below)

 

FOR AUDIENCES AGED 9+

 

Auckland Arts Festival 2013 is bringing to audiences aged 9 to 90, The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk, an enchanting storytelling experience about friendship, betrayal and how relationships change over time. This capturing and heart-wrenching tale garnered numerous five-star reviews at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

 

Martin is the new boy at school among a sea of unfamiliar faces. Meet Sharon: class bully who immediately takes a disliking to Martin and isn't afraid to show it. Enter Simon McGurk: Martin's new best friend, despite their differences. Simon and Martin spend the summer together. They make an oath to stick together, to never join the dark side with the bullies at school. Then Martin does something that will poison their friendship forever…

 

Of his show, which has been performed at schools across Scotland, at Edinburgh's Imaginate Children's Festival, at the Sydney Opera House and the Edinburgh Fringe, co-creator and performer, Andy Manley, said, "I thought it might be interesting to tell a story of someone who took the blame for something they didn't do and how this might affect them. The lovely thing about Pondlife is that, though it is for children...it also appeals as much to the adults in the audience. It's a very universal story."

 

Catherine Wheels Theatre Company is a leading producer of theatre for children and young people, formed in 1999 by the director Gill Robertson. Their first production Martha won the award for Best Production at the Shanghai International Children's Festival. Lifeboat (2002) won the Barclay's Stage Award for Best Show for Children and Young People, and was performed at the New Zealand International Arts Festival 2008. White, the company's first show for under fours, won numerous awards worldwide.

 

Andy Manley is a British theatre artist based in Edinburgh. He creates performances largely through devising, and directs or performs depending on what feels right for the project. He started making his own work in 2003 and before that he was an actor. Over the last few years Manley has specialised in creating performances for children and young people.

 

In order to present the work to as many young people as possible, Auckland Arts Festival 2013 is touring The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk to multiple venues across the region, including the Bruce Mason Centre, Mangere Arts Centre and Auckland Town Hall. For more information about Auckland Arts Festival's Smartsfest Schools Programme, please visit www.aaf.co.nz.

 

www.aaf.co.nz

 

It is as if Manley is a shaman, enchanting his acolytes with magical words... - SCOTTISHTheatre

 

The very model of audience-capturing storytelling, this is a well-written and excitingly performed tale. - London Theatre Review

 

Theatre to be enjoyed across the generations - The Arts Journal

 

SEASON DETAILS

 

Show The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk

Where Various venues - see details below

When Saturday 9 March, 11am & 2pm - Bruce Mason Centre

Saturday 16 March, 11am & 2pm - Mangere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku

Saturday 23 March, 11am & 2pm - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

Sunday 24 March, 10.30am & 12.30pm - Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

For schools performance details, please visit the Smartsfest page at www.aaf.co.nz

Duration 50 min

Price GA Adult $20 /GA  Child $12

Bookings Book at THE EDGE: www.buytickets.co.nz / 09 357 3355 / 0800 289 842

Group bookings: groups@the-edge.co.nz / 09 357 3354

Ticketmaster outlets (for Bruce Mason Centre only): www.ticketmaster.co.nz / 09 970 9700 / 0800 289 842

Mangere Arts Centre Box Office (for Mangere Arts Centre only): 09 262 5789

Information www.aaf.co.nz

Social Media Facebook: facebook.com/Aklfestival

Twitter: @Aklfestival

Video http://www.catherinewheels.co.uk/productions/The+Ballad+of+Pondlife+McGurk/video/#page-content

Media enquiries Siobhan Waterhouse, Publicist. P: +64 (0)9 374 0317 | M: +64 (0) 22126 4149 | E:siobhan.waterhouse@aucklandfestival.co.nz

 

CREATIVE CREDITS

 

Performer: Andy Manley

Text: Rob Evans

Director: Gill Robertson

Sound Designer: Danny Krass

Lighting Design: Craig Fleming

Producer: Paul Fitzpatrick

 

Supported by Made In Scotland and Creative Scotland