Community theatre
It's a Trial!
Courtroom drama meets community theatre: a theatrical forum to discuss social issues.
Staged like a genuine trial and following (more or less) real court procedures, this show stages a serious debate using absurd characters. Presented in collaboration with Barbarian Productions. As part of the show, audience members are invited to act as the members of the jury, sketch-artists in the press box, or viewers in the public gallery. Opposing lawyers call on real-life expert witnesses to help win the case, all under the watchful eye of maverick Judge Jody and her court notetaker.
A Binge Culture and Barbarian Productions co-production
Devised and performed by Karin McCracken, Joel Baxendale, Jo Randerson, Maria Williams and Anya Tate-Manning
Designed by Nick Zwart and Meg Rollandi
“Kiwimeter” (TVNZ v [name suppressed])
It's a Trial was originally created and performed at BATS Theatre in April of 2016. In this first case of the 'Adjunct High Court' TVNZ sued a prominent commentator for defamatory statements about the infamous 'Kiwimeter' quiz in a trial that was serialised over five nights. Witnesses: Ria Simmons, Tadhg Daly, David Farrar, Tania Sawicki-Mead, Jonny Potts
"Housing” (Mate-Tanning v Attorney General)
A second trial was held on Saturday 19th November 2016 at the Wellington Museum as part of Barbarian's Spring Uprising Festival. The Government was sued for negligence over New Zealand's current housing crisis. Witnesses: Robert Whittaker, Jonathan Foster, Lenka Rochford. Produced by Gina Moss
"Commercial Incentives In the Arts” (Mate-Tanning v Minister for Culture and Heritage)
The third trial was held on 22 February at Samoa House, as part of Auckland Fringe Festival. The case was a judicial review brought against the controversial decision to distance the creation of art from commercial imperatives. Witnesses: Stephen Wainwright, Dr Emily Beausoleil, James Tito, Alice Canton. Produced by Joel Baxendale in association with The Basement Theatre
“Local Government Funding for the Arts” (Phil E. Stine v Attorney General)
The fourth trial was held as part of the Local Government New Zealand Conference. The case was another judicial review, again at the Wellington Museum, testing whether it is possible to improve the ‘cultural wellbeing’ of people through arts and culture initiatives.Performed by Karin McCracken, Joel Baxendale, Jo Randerson, Maria Williams. Witnesses: John Smythe, Rachel Bowen, Nicola Young, Bonita Bigham, Stephen Wainwright. Produced by Barbarian Productions
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