Truth and terror –‘Too Far from Heaven’ tour, 2 – 27 March
It is the night before the executions of two New Zealanders – the notorious Southland ‘baby farmer’, Minnie Dean, and
Victor Spencer, shot for desertion during World War 1. Through Verity, the play’s narrator, the two give harrowing
accounts of their lives and reasons for their actions, pieced together from diary entries and other original material.
Based on the true stories of Dean, the only woman ever hanged in New Zealand, and Spencer, the Bluff lad killed by
firing squad in Belgium for deserting a war he had forged his age to join, ‘Too Far from Heaven’, was nominated in the
Best Theatre Category, Best Newcomer and Stand-out Performer awards at the 2013 NZ Fringe Festival, and performed at the
2012 Edinburgh Fringe.
Written by Angela Newell, Jade Gillies and Lizzie Dawson.
Actors: Lizzie Dawson. Minnie Dean; Jade Gillies, Victor Spencer; Angela Newell, Verity.
‘In almost 20 years of reviewing, I’ve often been moved by productions, but seldom to tears…my personal pick of the
Fringe so far’ - Lynne Freeman, Capital Times
‘…a chilling piece of work ….superbly dramatized….There are questions here about poverty, war, unwanted babies, capital
punishment, last suppers….’ – Pat Velkamp Smith, Southland Times
‘Although both infamous, they are nevertheless important figures in our history, especially in Southland, and this group
must be commended for the highly original and innovative way they have brought their stories to life.’ – Ewen Coleman,
Dominion Post
Itinerary
Sunday 2 March 8pm - Stewart Island
Community Centre
$20 Door Sales
Monday 3 March 2pm - Invercargill
James Hargest College Hall
Tuesday 4 March 7.30pm - Queenstown
Memorial Centre
$20 Book: TICKETEK; I-site and Queenstown Event Centre
Wednesday 5 March 8pm – Cromwell
Lowburn Hall
Adults $25; SuperGold $20; Student/child $5 (inc. light supper)
Book: Cromwell I-site
Friday 7 March 7.30pm - Westport
NBS Theatre
Adults $25; Gold card holders $20; Children $12
Book: NBS Theatre
Saturday 8 March 8pm - Nelson
Dinner from 6pm
The Playhouse Café
$20 Book: The Playhouse Café
Monday 10 March 7.30pm - Wellington
TBC
Tuesday 11 March 7.30pm -Wanganui
Wanganui Collegiate Auditorium
$20/$10
Book: Door sales from 7pm, Eventfinder
Wednesday 12 March 7.30pm – New Plymouth
4
Wall Theatre
th
11 Baring Tce, Strandon
Adult $30 Senior/Student concessions $25
Friday 14 March 7pm - Whitianga
Town Hall
$15 Book: Whitianga Paper Plus
Saturday 15 March 8pm - Onewhero
OSPA Theatre
24 Hall Rd
$20 Book: River Traders 09 236 8875
Sunday 16 March 7.30pm - Tauranga
Baycourt X Space
$19.50-$24.50
Book: Baycourt Box Office; www.ticketek.co.nz; 0800 TICKETEK
Wednesday 19 March 7.30pm - Akaroa
Akaroa Area School Gymnasium
Adults $20; Children $10
Book: Cash sales at Akaroa Information Centre
Thursday 20 March 7.30pm - Ashburton
Ashburton Trust Event Centre
$25 each (fees apply)
Book: Ashburton Trust Event Centre Box Office or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Friday 21 March 7.30pm - Geraldine
The Lodge Theatre
$25 Book: LOUK NZ Clothing
Saturday 22 March 7.30pm - Timaru
The Playhouse, Church St
$15 Book: Steve Newman 3 Rowan Place Glen-iti Timaru
Sunday 23 March 7.30pm - Oamaru
Opera House
Adults $28; Concession $26; Students (under 18) $10 Groups $20
Book: Oamaru Opera House or Oamaru I-site www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Monday 24 March 7.30pm - Twizel
Events Centre
Adults $20; Students $10
Book: Information Centre and Mackenzie Lotto Plus
Tuesday 25 March 7.30pm - Mosgiel
Firestation Theatre, 3 Cargill St
$25 Book www.iticket.co.nz 0508 ITICKET
Wednesday 26 March 8pm - Owaka
Owaka Memorial Community Centre
$20; Gold card $18; Senior/student $10
Book: Mary Sutherland, Mohua Park, The Catlins 9586;
mary@catlins-ecotours.co.nz and Catlins Café Owaka
Thursday 27 March 8pm - Gore
The Little Theatre
$27/ $22 unwaged (+booking fees)
Book: SBS St James Theatre or www.iticket.co.nz 0508 ITICKET
ends