Gloria’s Handbag starring Helen Moulder 27 April – 4 June 20

Gloria’s Handbag starring Helen Moulder 27 April – 4 June 2017

A modern magical mystery play with music from The Magic Flute

“It’s imperative to have a good handbag when you are on the way out.”

It is 2021 in Nelson and Gloria, aged 97, hasn’t long to live. Her son Craig is pushing her to move to a “retireville” but she wants to die in her own home.

On a whim, Gloria buys an extraordinary designer handbag. This purchase sets off a series of unusual events which transform Gloria’s remaining days and enable her to send a message to the future.

Written by Helen Moulder and Sue Rider (Meeting Karpovsky, Playing Miss Havisham); handbag design by Gillie Coxill; First production – Circa Theatre, Wellington (March 2014)

"Highly enjoyable entertainment" Dominion Post

"There are so many goodies in Gloria’s Handbag, it's well worth rummaging through" Theatreview

“Helen Moulder as Gloria is a marvel…six characters, expert storytelling, opera singing and magic tricks, all performed by a cast of one" Keeping up with NZ.

Biographies

Helen Moulder – Writer, performer

An award winning actor, Helen has been working in the theatre for over 40 years in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Major roles have been as Virginia Woolf in Vita and Virginia, Vivian Bearing in Wit, the eccentric opera singer Cynthia Fortitude, in her own show The Legend Returns, Miss Shepherd in Lady in the Van, Madame Giry in Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera (3 tours of Japan), Sylvia in Meeting Karpovsky (devised with Sue Rider and Sir Jon Trimmer), Sister Aloysius in Doubt and Lady Churchill in Meet the Churchills. Helen’s solo shows, Playing Miss Havisham and Gloria’s Handbag play in living rooms, art galleries, libraries, community halls and small theatres. Helen’s film and television credits include Pictures, Close to Home, Country GP, Erebus – the Aftermath, Aberration, The Wall, The Dark Knight, Sweet As, Rest for the Wicked and Food for Thought.

Sue Rider – Writer, director

Sue is a Brisbane-based director, writer and dramaturg, working across theatre, music theatre, opera and theatre for young people. She was Artistic Director of La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, from 1993 to 2000 and has won eighteen industry awards for her productions and for writing and direction of her own plays, including several Matilda Awards, NZ Listener Awards and a Helpmann nomination. Sue is an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland and has been Chair of Backbone Youth Arts since 2008.

Itinerary

Thursday 27 April 7.30pm Nelson

Nelson Musical Theatre

$25, $20, $10 Book: www.iticket.co.nz

0508iticket and Nelson i-Site

Saturday 29 April 7.30pm Hokitika

Old Lodge Theatre

11 Revell St

$20 Book: Hokitika Regent Theatre

Sunday 30 April 5.30pm Christchurch

Gloucester Room

Isaac Theatre Royal

Adults $35; Concessions $30

Book: www.isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

0800 TICKETEK

Tuesday 2 May 7.30pm Timaru

The Playhouse Church St

$25 (includes booking fee)

Book: Newmans Music Works www.nmw.co.nz

Wednesday 3 May 7.30pm Oamaru

Inkbox Theatre

Opera House

$25+fees Book: Ticketdirect

and Oamaru Opera House

Thursday 4 May 7pm Roxburgh

Town Hall

$20 Book: Roxburgh Information Centre

Door sales

Friday 5 May 7.30pm Alexandra

The Cellar Door

Adults $20, Gold card holders $15, Child $10

Book: Alexandra i-Site, cash door sales

Saturday 6 May 7.30pm Bannockburn

Coronation hall

Adults $25, Super Gold $20, Student/child $5

Book: Cromwell i-Site

Sunday 7 May 7pm Hawea

Lake Hawea Community Centre

$25 Book: Sailz store, OCD Café

@ medical centre and via LHCC FB Page

Tuesday 9 May 7.30pm Arrowtown

Athenaeum Hall

Adult $25, Child$10

Book: Eventfinda

Wednesday 10 May 7.30pm Te Anau

Fiordland Events Centre

$30/$25/$15 (fees apply)

Book: Eventfinda Door sales from 7pm

Presented by the Southland Arts Festival

Thursday 11 May 7.30pm Invercargill

Repertory House

$30/$25/$15 (fees apply)

Book: Eventfinda Door sales from 6.30pm

Presented by the Southland Arts Festival

Friday 12 May 7pm Owaka

Owaka Memorial Centre

$20 Book: Catlins Café

Sunday 14 May 7.30pm Twizel

Events Centre

Adults $20, Students $10

Book: Twizel Information Centre

Monday 15 May 7pm Lincoln

The Laboratory

$20 Book Eventfinda or at the Laboratory

Wednesday 17 May 8pm-ish Onekaka

The Mussel Inn

$15 Book: Eventfinda for presales

Friday 19 May 8pm Upper Hutt

Expressions Whirinaki Arts Centre

$20Book: www.expressions.org.nz

Saturday 20 May 7pm Waipawa

CHB Municipal Theatre

Adults $25, Students $20, Dinner pack $40

Book: Eventfinda

Monday 22 May 7.30pm Opotiki

De Luxe Theatre

$20, Students $10

Book: Travel Shop or on the door

Tuesday 23 May 7.30pm Paeroa

Little Theatre

$20 Book: Arkwrights Antiques and Positive Paeroa

Wednesday 24 May 7.30pm Tauranga

16th Avenue Theatre

Adults $25, Seniors $22, FOB members $20

Book: www.ticketek.co.nz

Friday 26 May 7pm Whitianga

Town Hall

$18, Under 18 years $10

Book: Paper Plus Whitianga

Saturday 27 May 8pm Coromandel

Hauraki House Theatre

$20 Book: Harcourts Coromandel

Monday 29 May 7.30pm Whangarei

Riverbank Centre

Reyburn House Lane

$25 Book: www.whangareitheatrecompany.org.nz

Tuesday 30 May 7.30pm Mangere

Arts Centre

$25,$20, $10

Book: www.eventfinda.co.nz Info 09 262 5789

Wednesday 31 May 7.30pm Putaruru

The Plaza Theatre

Adults $20, Seniors/students $15

Book: The Plaza, Diamond Jewellers Matamata,

I-Site Tokoroa and Eventfinda

Thursday 1 June 7.30pm New Plymouth

4th Wall Theatre

$30 Book: www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz 0800 484 925

Friday 2 June 7.30pm Wanganui

Royal Wanganui Opera House

Adults $28, Senior $25, Friend OH $23, Student $15

Special rates for school groups

Book at venue or www.royaloperahouse.co.nz

Sunday 4 June 4pm Hamilton

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts

University of Waikato

$25, Concessions $20, Groups 4+ $18pp, Students $10

Book: www.waikato.ac.nz/academy/whats-on

0800 383 5200 or Academy Box office

Arts On Tour New Zealand (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand, support from Interislander, and liaises with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent to country districts. The AOTNZ programme is environmentally sustainable – artists travel to their audiences rather than the reverse. (ends)

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