Theatre in Small Town New Zealand Just Got Serious…
The Basement Theatre’s 8th Annual Christmas Show
THE OPENING NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Written by Thomas Sainsbury & Chris Parker
Directed by Sam Snedden
The Basement is back with their 8th Annual Christmas Show, and after exhausting every Christmas topic - from remakes of
Jesus Christ Superstar and Charles Dickens, to Christmas murder mysteries, and pantomimes featuring internet mega-mind
Santa’s (back when Kim Dot Com was still cool) - this year’s offering explores the only festive subject left; how to
make a Christmas theatre show. Its part time rehearsals, full time drama on the Basement Stage this festive season from 6 - 22 December.
Guest starring a different celebrity each night from your fave NZ faces of stage and screen including Amanda Billing, Olivia Tennet, Nic Sampson, Jackie van Beek, Kimberley Crossman, Morgana O'Reilly, Fasitua Amosa, Laura
Daniel, Jaquie Brown, Jarod Rawiri, Harry McNaughton and more yet to be announced.
Waiting for Guffman meets Love Actually as a small town community theatre group has just 24 hours to rehearse their
show, and get it ready for opening night - the biggest highlight on Levin's social calendar! Tensions run high as the
show’s Broadway-aspiring Director pushes for a new high-concept, Santa-free drama, while love blossoms backstage, and
the stage manager plans a coup.
Each night our celebrity guest actor will find out just how big they are in Levin, as they improvise their way through
the show and try their best to outshine the local talent. From the writers who brought the hit comedy “Camping” to Basement’s stage earlier this year, Tom Sainsbury and Chris Parker return along with Kura Forrester, Brynley Stent and Byron Coll, as well as a revolving guest cast of famous faces from stage and screen.
It wouldn’t be the Auckland festive scene as we know it without the Annual Basement Theatre Christmas Show. It’s sure to
bring hilarity and ridiculous antics to all Aucklanders, and the big questions of the year - who will be the biggest
star in Levin? Will the Christmas Show go on?
Don’t miss the highlight of the season, it sells out every year!
FEATURING A CELEBRITY GUEST ACTOR EACH NIGHT:
(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, ON NO PARTICULAR PERFORMANCE DATE):
Amanda Billing, Olivia Tennet, Nic Sampson, Jackie van Beek, Kimberley Crossman, Morgana O'Reilly Fasitua Amosa, Laura
Daniel, Jaquie Brown, Jarod Rawiri, Harry McNaughton and more yet to be announced.
THE OPENING NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS plays
Dates: Tuesday 6 – Thursday 22 December 2016
Times: 7:00pm Monday - Saturday
Late Shows: 9:30pm Saturdays; Wednesday 14 & 21 & Thursday 22 December 2016
Venue: The Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland CBD
Tickets: $30 - $35 SANTA UPGRADE (Guaranteed best seats in the house): $50.00
Bookings: www.iticket.co.nz // 0508 iTICKET (484 253)
Christmas party functions are available for large groups, for more details click here or enquire at julie@basementtheatre.co.nz
For media enquiries please contact
Bex Martelletti at Elephant Publicity
(09) 368 4180 | 027 528 6839
Basement Theatre is Auckland’s culture-defining powerhouse - home to an artistic mixtape of the performing arts since
2008. The venue showcases new and local voices, featuring 80% world premieres and over 50% New Zealand work in its
programme. The Basement’s unique risk-share model supports emerging artists by reducing their financial risk, taking a
percentage of box office sales in lieu of a venue hireage fee. In a world where everything is downloadable, The Basement
is the place to see something live. Basement Theatre is a Charitable Trust and all profits from this show go back into
running our theatre and supporting the development of NZ’s emerging artists.
"The Beating Heart of Auckland Theatre" - Winner of Best Theatre, Metro Magazine 2014
ends