New Zealand's Circa Theatre Presents Premiere of EQUIVOCATION Directed by The Hobbit's Peter Hambleton, Now thru June 21

Circa luminary Peter Hambleton returns from the core-cast of Sir Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT movie trilogy, to direct this extraordinary new American play by Bill Cain. EQUIVOCATION is an explosively funny, high-stakes political thriller that will charm you, entertain you, and quite possibly blow your mind.

London, 1605. Shakespeare (Shag for short) is ordered by the King's Prime Minister to write the `true' story of Guy Fawkes and the treasonous Gunpowder Plot - as a crowd-pleasing play. While the plotters wait in prison, Shag must decide if he would rather write a lie - and lose his soul, or write the truth - and lose his head. He walks this dangerous tightrope with the help of his theatre troupe, his devoted daughter, and by learning the tricky art of equivocation (the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth.)

EQUIVOCATION gallops from the great Globe Theatre, to the Tower of London, and through the Halls of Parliament, to the heart of Judith, Shakespeare's youngest daughter. As Shag digs deeper, the political quickly becomes personal, and the consequences could be torturous. This enthralling play asks just how far would we all go to do what is right. "Answer the question beneath the question. The equivalent question. And answer it with your life."

In Elizabethan dress but with modern-day dialogue, EQUIVOCATION is for fashion fanatics, 'Game of Thrones'
and 'House of Cards' fans, human rights watchers, conspiracy-theorists, legal eagles, politicos, theatre-lovers, lovers of history, and anyone who has ever had a boss from hell.
"This play is one of the most exciting I have ever encountered. It is thrillingly theatrical, high-octane entertainment. With Will Shakespeare writing your government's propaganda, you can't go wrong, can you?" says Peter Hambleton.

A truly epic and entertaining way to celebrate Shakespeare's 450th Birthday year, EQUIVOCATION is directed by Peter Hambleton (THE 39 STEPS), with staging by Andrew Foster (2013 Chapman Tripp Award for Best Set Design), and costumes by award winner Donna Jefferis, with help from Toi Whakaari Costume Construction students. This show's magnificent cast features Paul McLaughlin (KINGS OF THE GYM), Tai Berdinner-Blades (TV's GO GIRLS), Andrew Foster (NO NAUGHTY BITS) as Shakespeare, Jason Whyte (PASEFIKA), Gavin Rutherford (THE PRICE), and introduces Toi Whakaari graduate Tom Eason.

Equivocation was the WINNER OF THE STEINBERG ACTA NEW PLAY AWARD & EDGERTON FOUNDATION NEW AMERICAN PLAY AWARD.

EQUIVOCATION contains STRONG LANGUAGE and VIOLENT SCENES.

Opening Night will be Saturday 24 May, 8pm, and the show will run until June 21. Performances are 6:30PM on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 8pm from Thursday to Saturday, and matinees are 4pm on Sundays. Ticket prices are as follows: $46 full / $38 senior / $33 friends of circa / $39 groups 6+ / $36 groups 20+ / $25 under 25s

Book through Circa Theatre on 04 801 7992 or circa@circa.co.nz
For more info visit www.circa.co.nz.

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