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Heroic Faun No. One

The untold story of the bravest faun in all of Narnia

The Fringe Bar www.thefringebar.co.nz
Heroic Faun No. One written and performed by Gregory Cooper
March 1 to 5 (all performances 8pm)
$15/$12 Book at www.iticket.co.nz or on (04) 974 4111

The Rebel Alliance, the company that brought you Grace ('Artistic excellence' - Theatreview), The Orderly ('Solo theatre as it should be' - Capital Times) and A Night of French Mayhem '(Bold and innovative'- NZ Herald) is back!

Heroic Faun No. One was the superb runaway hit of the Auckland Fringe Festival.Its ultra short 3 night sell out season at The Basement didn’t just didn’t just settle for creating a ‘buzz’ or a ‘positive word of mouth’. No, it caused a ‘rambling frenzied rave’. Now, the faun is coming to Wellington. “Unforgettable” - Theatreview

Heroic Faun No. One is the true story of writer and performer Gregory Cooper’s rollercoaster ride when he is cast as a featured extra in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Life changes overnight as he ascends from obscurity to wearing James McAvoy's discarded wig while witnessing the weird wooing of Tilda Swinton by Centaur Sandro Kopp, the notorious extra banned from the set of Lord of The Rings by Peter Jackson himself.

Heroic Faun No. One is directed by Russell Pickering, a rebel veteran who performed in both The Bomb and A Night of French Mayhem. This is his first time directing a Rebel Alliance production. Incidentally Russell was also an actor in Narnia where he played the featured extra part of… Heroic Faun No. Three.

The Rebel Alliance producer Anders Falstie-Jensen saw Heroic Faun No. One when he was stage managing The Fringe Festival at The Basement in 2009. He knew at once that he was looking at the next Rebel Alliance production. “It was extraordinary that Greg and Russell had made the show, literally on a $50 budget. It was simple, clever, utterly charming and people were spellbound. I saw it every night of its 3 day season and immediately knew that I wanted to help them bring it back.”

This year The Rebel Alliance has several projects in the launch chambers. In March, while Heroic Faun No. One plays in Wellington, The Rebel Alliance is premiering a new play, Standstill, as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival. In September they will present the Auckland premier of Albert Belz’ hit play about Jack the Ripper, Yours Truly. In a casting coup they’ve manage to secure stage legend Stuart Devenie to play the part Dr. Gull, the queen’s physician that stalks the streets of London as Jack the Ripper. 2011 could prove to be quite a year for The Rebel Alliance.

The Company
The Orderly launched The Rebel Alliance in 2006. It was followed up by A Night of French Mayhem that became one of the hit shows of the 2006 STAMP season; more than 1000 people came along for a night of heaving bosoms and dodgy bastards. Their third play The Bomb consolidated The Rebel Alliance’s reputation as a company that provided a quirky alternative to Auckland mainstream theatre. Their latest production Grace sold out both its Auckland and Wellington seasons and subsequently saw writer and director Sophie Dingemans nominated for two Chapman Tripp Awards for ‘Best new director’ and ‘Best new playwright’.

“A company to watch” – NZ Herald
ENDS

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