A Picasso: Art, sex, politics and truth

NO Productions Theatre (Turn of the Screw, The Woman in Black) presents Jeffrey Hatcher's fast-paced psychological thriller A Picasso at the Christchurch Art Gallery, three shows only on the 8th and 9th June.

Directed by Michael Adams (Turn of the Screw), this intense piece about art, sex, politics and truth is full of unexpected twists and surprises. Set in an interrogation room in Nazi-occupied Paris, this is a cat-and-mouse game between the great artist and a captivating female “cultural atta-ché” from Berlin.

“Which of these three paintings are genuine, Señor?”… When Miss Fischer (Nataliya Oryshchuk) reveals that the “genuine” Picasso pieces are destined not for an exhibition but a burning of degen-erate art, the artist (David Allen) begins a desperate negotiation with his Nazi opponent, who turns out to be his secret admirer...

NO Productions Theatre continues to demonstrate that independent theatre can survive in Christ-church through using various venues and choosing the works that suit the theatre’s unique style. A Picasso is a perfect fit for the Art Gallery’s Philip Carter Auditorium.

According to Nataliya Oryshchuk, the company’s director, “We are very excited to offer this thought-provoking piece of original theatre to our audiences. This play shows that art history is not a dry subject; it is full of personal and political themes that are very much alive. Similar to our previ-ous works, Turn of the Screw in particular, this show will leave the audience thinking about the story long after the performance is over”.

“Sex, Art, Nazis, and a classy twentieth-century icon, all wrapped up like a tasty cultural burri-to” (The New York Times).

Duration is approximately 1 hour. R16 recommended - adult themes and some coarse language.

For more information and bookings, visit christchurchartgallery.org.nz

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