What will you do to survive?
Royale Productions in association with Development programmes at THE EDGE present
Apocalypse Z
April 12 – 27, Aotea Square, Auckland.
If your life was on the line, would you fight? Would you fly? Would you risk it all to save another?
In 2013 a deadly virus devastates the Land of the Long White Cloud. A plague spreads, the undead rise, Apocalypse
descends. Military outposts are set up in an attempt to control the outbreak. It is futile. Cities fall, overridden by
those infected with the ‘Z’ virus. Here, at the beginning of the end, a final outpost remains: Aotea Square, Auckland
City. The outpost is occupied by a skeleton crew of soldiers holding on in the hope of evacuation. When a broadcast
brings a crowd of survivors, all must band together to ensure survival.
In life there are choices but in the apocalypse every choice is life or death.
An immersive, interactive theatre experience, not for the faint hearted, Apocalypse Z is a cutting-edge journey of survival and the human spirit, immersing the audience within the madness of a zombie
holocaust. Witness the drama unfold as the fourth wall crumbles around you. Sit back and enjoy the spectacle…or step up
and become a hero. Told in real time, Apocalypse Z is performed in a purpose built, fenced-off military zone in Auckland’s town centre, Aotea Square.
‘When the audience arrive they will immediately be thrust into the role of survivors who have gathered in hope of being
transported to safety.’ Says Creative Producer Charlie McDermott, ‘We will ask them to accept challenges that will affect the outcome of the show and to make life and death choices.
Choices that ultimately reveal their true selves’.
People love scary movies. They love rollercoasters. In Royale Productions’ new play, Apocalypse Z, this is taken to the extreme. A complete world is created for the play to exist in. Not only are there the traditional
‘thrills and spills’ expected of the zombie genre but the play delves deeper; when the safe house is breached the
audience will be called to aid the cast in re securing their safety. When cast members get attacked they’ll need to help
stem the flow of blood. When the power goes down, they will need to get it back up and running. When the transporter
loses its way, they will need to guide it. When a survivor is bitten they must decide their fate – allow them the safety
of company until they ‘turn’ or cast them out for their final minutes of life.
‘We want to seriously unsettle the audience and give them something totally different to the conventional theatrical
experience.’
Through AV, set design, lighting, costumes and props a truly authentic world is created and the audience is invited in…
and then their world is turned upside down. It's not a haunted house; it's not a role-playing game. It's a play, albeit
a new, fresh take on the medium. Interactive/immersion theatre removes the boundaries normally associated with
theatrical performance; the fourth wall is removed. From the moment the play begins, the audience become the ‘survivors’
in the story.
Apocalypse Z will transport the audience from being spectators who watch a production passively to actually experiencing what is
happening around them.
‘We want people to be involved but we also want to make this terrifying ride as comfortable as possible, audience
members choose to be involved as much or as little as they want.’
Apocalypse Z is the brainchild of David Van Horn and Simon London, joined by theatrical powerhouses Andrew Foster, Charlie McDermott
and Beth Allen to bring this exciting and challenging project to life. Apocalypse Z promises to deliver a unique and unprecedented theatrical experience for the 21st century.
‘Apocalypse Z is a totally new experience for Aucklanders. We have created an interactive theatrical Zombie Apocalypse
and we are really excited. We want to bring young audiences, young men especially, to theatre and we want them to be
excited by it. But most of all we want to tell a great story.’
Become a survivor. Experience the zombie apocalypse.
Humbling. Electrifying. Thought-provoking. Real.
Apocalypse Z - a unique and unrelenting experience for a new generation of theatre-goers.
Ensure your survival.
Apocalypse Z is on in Aotea Square from 12 – 27 April. Monday – Wednesday 7.30pm, Thursday – Saturday at 7.30pm and 9.30pm (No show
Sunday). Tickets are $40 Adult, $35 Concession, $33 Groups 6+, $28 Child 13 – 17years, $30 Student 18+. This show is
restricted R13. Tickets are available from the Aotea Centre Box Office, or 0800BUYTICKETS or www.buytickets.co.nz.
ENDS