Splash Hit show SOAP comes to NZ

Credit: Andy Phillipson

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release
"Stunning acrobatics and water antics abound in this refreshingly fun, exciting and sexy show…physically breathtaking" – Time Out, UK

Splash Hit show SOAP comes to New Zealand

Bathtime will never be the same! Splash hit show Soap heads to New Zealand in July and August for seasons in Wellington, New Plymouth, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland.

Direct from Berlin and fresh from a sell out season at Sydney Opera House, Soap opens at Wellington’s St James Theatre on Thursday 28 July for a season until 6 August, followed by TSB Showplace, New Plymouth from 10-14 August, Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings on 19 and 20 August, and Auckland’s The Civic THE EDGE from 23-28 August.

Dazzling, daring and dangerous, eight acrobats perform in, on and around a series of bathtubs in highly-charged spectacle of new circus, comedy and cabaret.

The delicious cast of glamorous characters, including Soap’s resident diva, American opera singer Patricia Hotlzmann, former Circus Ethiopia and Afrika! Afrika! juggler Adem Endris and aerial silk and Chinese pole performer Faon Shae, perform a stunning series of water-soaked acts to an eclectic soundtrack that includes the music of The Doors, Mika, Sia, Tool and Ben Harper.

From contortion and straps to trapeze and aerial silk, the show includes moments of divine beauty – a captivating gymnastic performance on a bath ledge – to a humorous love story between two feet.

Presented by Circle of Eleven and directed by Markus Pabst (Caesar Twins, La Clique) and Maximilian Rambaek (VibeZ), Soap’s highly charged fusion of new circus, comedy and cabaret set in the confines of a bathroom provides a truly “cleansing” theatrical experience that demonstrates the beauty and strength of the human form.

“The craziest show sensation of the year.” – RBB Fernsehen, Berlin

“A whole lot of WOW!” – Edinburgh Spotlight

Soap plays at St James Theatre, Wellington from 28-31 July and 4-6 August (0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz); TSB Showplace, New Plymouth from 10-14 August (0800 111 999, www.ticketmaster.co.nz); Hawke’s Bay Opera House, Hastings on 19 and 20 August (0800 224 224 www.ticketdirect.co.nz) and The Civic, THE EDGE in Auckland (0800 BUY TICKETS, www.buytickets.co.nz). Tickets are on sale now.

ENDS

“Bathtime will never be same” - London Theatre Guide

Credit: Lutske Veenstra

SOAP – The Show: CAST

(subject to change)

Adem Endris – Juggling

Adem hails from Addis Abeba. He took his first step as a circus artist with Circus Ethiopia, where he specialised in acrobatics. Before SOAP – The Show he dazzled audiences with his juggling skills in André Heller’s show Afrika! Afrika! amongst others.

Marie-Andrée Lemaire – Comedy

Marie-Andrée form Drummondville, Canada, is a born comedian. As a child her career aspirations varied from wanting to be an Olympic swimmer to violinist but, eventually, she became a clown (National Circus School, Montréal). Marie-Andrée toured with Cirque Starlight for two years before she found herself in a bathtub.

Faon Shane – Aerial Silk, Chinese Pole

Faon Shane was born in California, USA and is a true circus child. Her parents are founding members of the world famous “Cirque du Soleil” with which Faon toured around the world for many years. She practically grew up in the circus ring and learned various artistic disciplines as a young child. She later graduated from the renowned “National Circus School Montréal” while simultaneously performing in various tour productions of the “Cirque du Soleil”, including her last show “Quidam” in which she performed for five years. Faon established herself as a solo artist with her stunning performance on the aerial chains – a circus discipline she created herself. After countless performances all over the world, she along with six other artists founded the internationally successful circus company “Les doigts de la main / the 7 fingers”.

Alessandro di Sazio - Handbalancing

Alessandro di Sazio grew up in Sicilia for nine years before he moved with his parents to Pforzheim, Germany. It just about the same time when he discovered his love for breakdancing and soon joined the "Havox Crew" with whom, among other things, he was crowned German Champion in breakdance and hip hop 5 times. In 2003, Alessandro performed as an individual artist in the breakdance and hip-hop championships and took home the title. He trained at the "Danceworks" vocational school in Berlin, adding modern dance to his already impressive repertoire. Alessandro has already performed in numerous film and TV productions, such as "Dance Star" 2007, "Popstars on Stage Finale" or "Vivalicious". He recently performed on stage in the show "VibeZ" and in the Circle of Eleven production “VERSUS”.

Ludmila Nikolaeva – Foot Juggling

Ludmila Nikolaeva is from Russia and a real circus child. Already her grandfather performed in the manege, from her father she learned all disciplines, before she decided to do antipodes. This led to circus studies in Moscow and four years of performances at the Great Moscow State Circus. The maneges are her home. With her rapid antipodes play she is elates the audience.

Patricia Holtzmann – Singing

Patricia Holtzmann comes from St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She began taking singing, piano, and dance lessons as a child and completed her Master of Music at Aaron Copland School of Music in New York. Following a series of engagements in the USA, she toured Germany with the "Phantom of the Opera" and shined in countless operas, operettas, and musicals. Thus, the role of the opera diva in "SOAP – The Show" was virtually tailor-made for her.

Michael Lanphear - Straps

Michael Lanphear from Boston / USA was a horseback rider before he discovered his artistic passion. He was trained as an aerial acrobat by the world famous Gemini Twins, who toured with the Cirque du Soleil show „Saltimbanco“ for years. After completing his training, he joined the ensemble of Britney Spears’s „Circus Tour“.

Francois Gravel – Dance Trapeze

Francois Gravel grew up in Drummondville, Canada and started acrobat training when he was 8 years old. He graduated from the National Circus School in Montreal after a two-year dance training with the focus on Dance Trapeze. Afterwards, he performed with the Swiss "Circus Monti" at the "Festival en Lumiére" and with "Cirque du Soleil".

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