July 11, 2006

The Return of KING & COUNTRY

Members of one of the top brass bands in the Wellington region will be performing in Downstage Theatre’s return season of Dave Armstrong’s King and Country. The Titan Hutt City Brass will provide the music for the production about ordinary New Zealanders during World War One which attracted sell-out audiences and rave reviews at the recent 2006 International Festival of the Arts.

Titan Hutt City Brass, conducted by NZSO trumpet player Mark Carter, competed last weekend in the National Brass Band Championships coming third in the street march event of the B Grade competition and fifth overall. ‘We are absolutely delighted to have one of Wellington’s best bands accompanying this return season of King and Country,’ says writer and musical director Dave Armstrong. ‘In a city whose musical culture is dominated by orchestras and other classical groups, it’s great for the public to discover that we also have some outstanding brass bands in the region.’

Members of another top local brass band, Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass, conducted by NZSO trombonist David Bremner, will be augmenting the band for some performances.

King and Country returns to Downstage on Thursday July 13, fresh from a successful season at Hamilton’s Fuel Festival and will be appearing at the Going West Festival in August and the Otago Festival in October. ‘We’ve now taken the show to ten different venues around New Zealand, picking up the local brass band in each town,’ explains Armstrong. ‘The response has been wonderful wherever we go, but it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to perform the show again back home with a local band.’

King and Country by Dave Armstrong
Directed by Conrad Newport
Featuring Craig Geenty, Jason Hood, Dena Kennedy, Jamie McCaskill,
Rob Mokaraka and Nigel Collins

"Very funny…incredibly powerful…a really major moment in New Zealand theatre history". Paul Bushnell, Festival Review, Radio New Zealand

Thursday 13 July  – Saturday 22 July

Monday and Tuesday at 6.30pm   Wednesday to Saturday at 8.00pm
Matinee Sunday 22 July at 4.00pm
Book Now at Downstage Theatre Phone 801 6946 or www.downstage.co.nz