BATS Theatre is celebrating 21 years of STAB
23 September 2016
BATS Theatre is celebrating
21 years of STAB The BATS’ annual commission, STAB is
turning 21 this year! STAB was created in 1995, with support
from Creative New Zealand to provide a platform for artists
to take their production to the next level. STAB has since
grown to include STAB LAB, which was developed in 2013 to
nurture new ideas by giving them space to be
developed. STAB is an integral part of BATS’ annual
programme. It gives us the opportunity to offer theatre
practitioners a chance to take a stab at a new idea,
allowing them the space to experiment in a supportive
environment. STAB productions showcase theatrical innovation
in all its forms. It's a rare chance for artists to be given
the financial resource required to realise something
ambitious, experimental, or unusual. It is also an important
event in the Wellington arts calendar, giving audiences the
chance to see something they have never seen before. The
focus of STAB was initially on the new ways in which
technology could be incorporated into live performance. For
many years, theatre practitioners seized the opportunity to
deliver productions that experimented with different uses of
technology to innovate their practice. As theatre has
evolved over the past 20 years, STAB too has evolved to be
less focussed on technology alone and more focussed on how a
project will contribute to the evolution of theatre
practice, process, performance and audience
engagement. This year’s STAB production is The Rime of
the Modern Mariner. Adapted by award winning theatre
company, The PlayGround Collective from a beautiful graphic
novel by British author/illustrator Nick Hayes. It will be a
visual spectacle that thrusts Coleridge’s Rime of the
Ancient Mariner into the 21st century.
We are excited to
be working with the Playground Collective again this year.
Robin Kerr, Director of The Rime of the Modern Mariner has
this to say about STAB: "It's a pleasure to be
participating in this years STAB at BATS. STAB has always
been at the cutting edge of the performing arts, pushing the
boundaries, setting precedents, and defining the
conversation. More than just a place for theatre
practitioners to grow and experiment, it's driven the whole
theatre community to aim for innovation. Some of my most
thrilling theatrical experiences I have have been had in
STAB's past… Thanks to STAB we can safely say, in New
Zealand we're at the forefront of theatre, as much as
anywhere else in the world. The PlayGround Collective are
excited to be back at BATS for the 21st birthday. Last time
we were here, we brought to life a magical re-imagining of
Hans Christian Anderson's Tinderbox in 2011 - this time we
can't wait to share what we've got in store." The STAB
commissions are a great opportunity for our artists and
community. It enables them to focus on developing new and
innovative New Zealand theatre. We thank Creative New
Zealand for their continued support, and cannot wait to see
what another 21 years of STAB will bring us. The Rime of
the Modern Mariner ends
10 – 26 November, 8pm
BATS
Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace
TICKETS: $20/25
BOOKINGS:
bats.co.nz or call 04 802
4175