How well do you know your family?

How well do you know your family?
SEEyD Return to Downstage

In her thirties, Rebecca is told she was adopted. She decides to track down her birth family but what she finds are murdered relatives, a sibling in jail, two sides to a story and no idea who to believe.

This is the thrilling final act in The December Brother as Tim Spite (SEEyD) brings two true stories into sharp contrast.

The concept for the show began with the real life story of Tony Spite, Tim’s father, who was adopted at birth. As unlikely as it sounds, his half sister had an astrological reading in which she was told she had a brother born in December. This piece of information began a family’s search for their long lost sibling.

At the same time, in New Zealand, another story was unfolding. The nation was fixated on the Bain family. In Act Two, SEEyD Company explores the two distinct legal perspectives of the case that provoked fierce public opinion, as our community grappled with their own sense of family.

In the Final Act (described in italics above), these two seemingly unrelated stories come together in a third narrative that examines family, adoption and the impossible search for the truth.

SEEyD Theatre Company lead by Tim Spite has a history of exploring public issues from a range of personal perspectives and brings them to life on stage. In 2006, SEEyD premiered Turbine which explored the Makara Wind Farm debate raging in Wellington. They interviewed affected residents and also presented the point of view of the power companies and general public. In 2008, SEEyD devised Paua, an exploration of illegal paua poaching inspired by the shooting of a paua fisherman. It explored the consequences when people take the law into their own hands.

Director: Tim Spite – Best Director, Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards 2008 & 2009
Producer: Stuart McKenzie
Company: Nikki McDonnell, Hadleigh Walker, Brad McCormick, Tim Spite

The December Brother
Dates: 14 Aug – 11 Sep
Times: 6:30pm Tue-Wed and 8pm Thu-Sat.
Matinee: 4 Sep Prices: $25 to $45.
Meet the Artists: Tue 17 Aug

Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at (04) 801 6946 or in person at Downstage’s box office. For up-to-date information visit www.downstage.co.nz Downstage is proudly sponsored by BNZ.
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