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Habeas Corpus

Barry Mawer directed Alan Bennett's wonderful comedy Habeas Corpus in October 2005.  

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2007

Florence McFarlane set our first Bard in the Yard Midsummer Night's Dream in an old folk's home so the four 'young' lovers were aged from 60s to 80s. The play was part of the Wellington Fringe Festival and received this positive review from Ewen Coleman in the Dominion Post: Sheer delight Review by Ewen Coleman 06th Mar 2007 The two plays of Shakespeare that are most associated with youth are Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and so to have the latter set in a rest home where the majority of the characters are in their dotage, as they are in Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupes current Bard-In-The-Yard production seems a

Macbeth 2008

The Troupe’s second fully-staged, indoor Shakespeare production directed by Peter Baldock with John Marwick as Macbeth and Fran Baldock as Lady Macbeth. In the Wellington District Theatre Federation full length play competition for 2008 the play won best the award for best sound (Rae Dickinson) and lighting (Peter Baldock). CAST Weird sister Florence McFarlane Weird sister Sandra Gillespie Weird sister Sue Jones Duncan Laurie Atkinson Malcolm Theo Nettleton Donalbain Mike McJorrow A Soldier Dan Milward Rosse Chris O’Grady Macbeth John Marwick Banquo Damian Reid Lady Macbeth Fran Baldock Servant Billy Miskimmin Fleance Charlie McFarlane Porter Ed Hickey Macduff Will Clannachan Gentlewoman Carol Thompson Old Man

Much Ado About Nothing

Emanuel E Garcia was the director for Bard in the Yard 2011.  Publicity 2011 Directed by Manny Garcia Though this is Manny’s first production with Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe, he’s an experienced director and actor. He says he was inspired to join us after seeing our successful 2010 production of Measure for Measure. We’re delighted to have him join us, for while we’re very proud of our past achievements, we’re always wanting to learn. Manny brings a unique approach to directing , employing techniques of psychological interpretation and performance enhancements; techniques from his “day job” with classical musicians and other creative people. So, expect to see

Comedy of Errors

Bard in the Yard for 2012 was Comedy of Errors directed by Florence McFarlane. Publicity 2012 Set in Brisbane with the rancour of World Rugby Cup loss still ringing in the ears of the locals. Rivalry, mistaken identity, lost family, a shipwreck, and lots more take you through this hilarious action filled comedy at breakneck speed. Performed on the Muritai School Yard stage, Muritai Road, Eastbourne (in the Hall if wet) 7:30pm.

What You Will (or Twelfth Night)

John Marwick directed Bard in the Yard 2013 and gave Twelfth Night Shakespeare's alternative title of What You Will.  Publicity 2013 This year's production is entitled What You WILL - Shakespeare's own alternative name for the play better known as Twelfth Night.Award-winning Director John Marwick is directing a great cast of actors from Eastbourne, Lower Hutt and Wellington and he is also taking the part of Sir Toby Belch.The play will be an exuberant summer celebration of life, love, laughter.This is an outside production so dress warmly - but we will move inside if the weather is bad. Director John Marwick takes a fresh look

Hamlet

William Shakespeare's great tragedy was directed by Emanuel E Garcia for our Bard in the Yard 2015. Cast Bernardo: David Gledhil Claudius: Hayden Rogers Fortinbras: Iain Gordon Francisco: Peter Hughson Gertrude: Renee Christie Gravedigger: Anne Manchester Hamlet: Benjamin Haddock Horatio: Laurie Ward Laertes: Mike McJorrow Marcellus: Andy Hall Ophelia: Harriet Prebble Osric: Erin Murphy Player King: Anne Manchester Player Queen: Sandra Gillespie Players: Erin Murphy, Iain Gordon (who will perform on mandolin during “The Mousetrap”) Polonius: Manny Garcia     Publicity 2015 The Hutt News 3 Mar 2015 Hamlet in original form Something is rotten in the state of Denmark: Actors in Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s production

The Tempest

Bard in the Yard 2016 was The Tempest directed by Emannuel E Garcia. Director’s Notes The Tempest, widely considered to be Shakespeare’s last play and a summary comment on his creative endeavours, is a unique blend of magic and realism.  It is a story about a usurped monarch, slavery, love and redemption, and a brave new world of possibilities.  Our production will emphasise the surreal and dreamlike nature of the drama, as well as its earthiness and ambiguity.  We are fortunate enough to have an experienced cast of Shakespeareans, as well as original live music specifically composed for this Bard in the Yard theatrical experience.

The Merchant of Venice

The Troupe's Bard in the Yard production in 2017 was The Merchant of Venice direcetd by Peter Baldock. John Marwick won an excellence in acting Antoinnette award for his part as Antonio.

As You Like It

Bard in the Yard 2019 was As You Like It. This was the second time the Troupe had produced the play although the previous production had been in 2001 when we still performed in people's back yards with book in hand. The 2019 production was directed by Anne Manchester. Publicity 2019 I'd like to let you know that Eastbourne's Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe is putting on its summer Bard in the Yard Shakespeare production in the first week of March. This year (our 23rd annual Shakespeare production) Anne Manchester is directing As You Like It. She's giving the Bard's romantic comedy a contemporary New Zealand twist. As in

A Farmhouse Called Shelter

This is the premiere of a play written by Lower Hutt Playwright MichaelJohn Butcher. The background of the play is the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982. A British paratrooper has been wounded in the Falklands War and is rescued by Costa, an Argentinian deserter, and taken to the farmhouse of Costa's islander girlfriend where they duly attend to him. Then they both realise the awful truth – they can’t hand him over to the Argentinian Army because Costa, the Argentinian, will be shot as a deserter. They can’t hand him over to the English because win or lose the conflict

Richard III

Muritai School Yard Muritai Road, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, New Zealand (+64), New Zealand

For Bard in the Yard 2025 Michaeljohn Butcher directed Richard III. Cast Richard the Third (Duke of Gloucester) Colton Stuart Duke of Buckingham Allan Burne Edward the Fourth Philip Rossiter Queen Elizabeth Tilly Potter Lady Anne Lian Butcher Lord Hastings Rhiannon Bertaud-Gander Earl of Richmond Philip Rossiter Prince Edward Timothy Prebble Prince Richard Scout Hunter Sir James Tyrell Philip Rossiter Duke of Clarence Tom Martin Sir Thomas Stanley Tom Martin Lord Rivers Sandra Jean McClean Sir Robert Brakenbury Nicola Tod Sir William Catesby Michaeljohn Butcher Jane Shore Lian Butcher Sir William Brandon Rebecca Brennan Duke of Norfolk Will Clannachan Bishop of Ely David Gledhill Murderers