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Past/Passed Over

Past/Passed Over was an evening of two one act plays. The first play, directed by Peter Baldock, was adapted by Paddy Stevens from a British Play George. The cast was: Carol Thompson - Margie Croft Will Clannachan - Gavin Croft Steve Wilson - Rua The second, directed by Fran Baldock, was Celestial Pursuits by New Zealand playwright Bronwyn Elsemore. This play was winner of the Minolta Playwriting Competition 1997. The cast was: Peter Hughson - A1 Beverley Barclay - A2 David Gledhill - Novice Esta Croft - A3

Man of the Moment

In November 2006 Barry Mawer directed Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn. The set included a swimming pool! The play was well received by reviewers. Directed by Barry Mawer Vic Parks - Michael McDonald Trudy - Anne Manchester Cindy - Tessa/Molly McFarlane Sharon - Sarah-Rose Burke Ruy - Peter Hughson Marta - Janis Caddy Kenny Collins - Will Clanachan Jill Rillington - Holly Robinson Douglas Beechey - Don Quiring Ashley Barnes - Barry Mawer Shadow Cast: Ashley Bloomfield David Gledhill Bev Barclay Elspeth Harris Ian Freeguard Ed Hickey Carol Thompson Reviews

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

Measure for Measure

Bard in the Yard 2010 was Shakespeare's 'problem' play Measure for Measure directed by John Marwick. Watch YouTube extracts of this production Extracts on YouTube of scenes from this production Act II Scene 4 Act III Scene 1 Act IV Scene 3 Act V Publicity 2010 Corruption, Comedy and Confusion in Full Measure Do you enjoy a good laugh? Like to see theatre that makes you think, that’s full of tension and surprise?  Fancy a night out where after a good meal you can sit back with a glass of wine and be entertained under the stars by a troupe of talented actors? This summer you

The Importance of Being Earnest

Barry Mawer directed Oscar Wilde's masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest in September 2011. Media Release The Importance of Being Earnest – an all time audience favourite Oscar Wilde’s most well-known and best loved play, The Importance of Being Earnest, is coming to Eastbourne audiences in September, courtesy of Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe. First performed in 1895, Wilde called it “a trivial comedy for serious people” and it is thought by some critics to have been the funniest play ever written. Director Barry Mawer says the play for him was a ‘must’, with so many wonderfully witty and memorable quotes that never tire. “We did it at

Comedy of Errors

Bard in the Yard for 2012 was Comedy of Errors directed by Florence McFarlane. Watch on YouTube 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. Watch this production on YouTube

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

Othello

Our Bard in the Yard production was Shakespeare's great tragedy of jealousy - Othello. We sneaked in just before the COVID pandemic. The play was directed by Emanuel E Garcia. Watch this production on YouTube Publicity 2020 Love, jealousy, race, revenge and madness -- such are the major themes of Shakespeare';s Othello. And like all of the great tragedies, nothing is quite as black and white as it may seem. How pure was Desdemona? How gullible was Othello? How evil was Iago? Join us for a fast-paced production of a drama that builds towards a passionately explosive conclusion like no other. Watch the YouTube video.

The Winter’s Tale

As its 25th annual Shakespeare production the Troupe presented The Winter's Tale for the second time in February / March 2021 (the first production was 21 years earlier). It was directed jointly by John Marwick and Elspeth Cotsilinis. Allen Burne won an Antoinnette Award for Excellence in Acting in the Wellington District Theatre Federation's Full Length Play competition.   Cast Allan Burne Leontes Anne Manchester Paulina Colin Orchiston Old Shepherd & Jailer Emma Littlefair  Lady in Waiting & Servant (Sc5) Hayden Rogers Camillo Heather Gordon Cleomenes & Mopsa Jasmine Stock Perdita Jimmy Allcock Mamillius John Smythe Antigonus Laurence Ward Old shepherd Leoni McKelvey Dion &

It Runs in the Family

The mid-year play was a farce by Ray Cooney, directed by Florence McFarlane. Publicity 2021 Get ready for your glasses to steam up with laughter: Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe is performing It Runs in the Family by Britain’s master of farce, Ray Cooney. In this larger-than-life tale of comical chaos, Dr Mortimer (a successful neurologist) must fend off a surprise paternity case: whilst keeping his wife out of the picture, and simultaneously giving a prestigious international lecture that may lead to his knighthood - if done properly. This is a farce though, and as Dr Mortimer tries to get himself out of one sticky situation,

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