26 Jul 2024

The history of Asian New Zealand theatre, told on a bike

From Nights, 10:17 pm on 26 July 2024

A new show sets a performer on a bike tied to the theatre's lights, and if they stop peddling, that's curtain.

It's being called 'performance essay meets spin class'.

'A Short History of Asian New Zealand Theatre' is written and directed by Auckland playwright Nathan Joe.

He joins Emile Donovan.

Nathan stands in front of a wall, wearing white, with a projector beaming a blue screen onto him, with the words "A SHORT HISTORY OF ASIAN NEW ZEALAND THEATRE" written in white, all-caps text over and over.

Starring a different Asian artist every night, A Short History of Asian New Zealand Theatre cycles through a problematically Pan-Asian rollercoaster ride through the murky cultural memories & theatrical milestones of Aotearoa colliding with personal histories past, present and future. Photo: Supplied