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Written by
Clare Barron -
Directed by
Alison Walls
Somewhere in small-town America… an adolescent dance troupe is poised to claw their way to the top.
ONE.
EXACTING.
ROUTINE.
AT. A. TIMEEEEEEE!
And if they do… they ‘will fly all the way to TAMPA BAY, FLORIDAAAAAAAAAAAAA’
‘For NATIONALSSSSSSSSSS’
Amidst the glittering swirl of sequins, perspiration, and high-stakes performances, six teenage girls and one boy (all portrayed by adults ranging from their 20s to 50s) remind us of what it is to be thirteen – a volatile blend of naiveté and wisdom, of humour and pain.
In this darkly comic, award-winning play, the lines between reality and fantasy meld in captivating ways. The characters extend a compelling invitation to revisit the realm of ‘thirteen-year-old-land,’ guiding us through their voyage of self-discovery as they unveil their vulnerabilities and aspirations.
Cutting through the fluff, embracing a pagan-like wildness, and harnessing unparalleled ferocity, Clare Barron’s DANCE NATION shatters the façade of cuteness, offering front-row seats to a power-struggle and pursuit of flawlessness.
Get ready to reconnect with the fierce and ambitious thirteen-year-old residing within you… Or, gain a deeper insight into the psyche of the teen in your life! The globally lauded, sold-out sensation, DANCE NATION, finally graces the stages of The Court Theatre and New Zealand for the first time.
This one is NOT to be missed!
“It’s a brave, visceral, excitingly off-kilter barbaric yawp of a play.” – New York Magazine
“I've seen the future and it is Dance Nation” - Washington Post
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Cast
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Creatives
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Key Dates
- 23 September 2023: Opening night
- 25 September 2023: Forum - a special performance where audiences get to ask cast and crew questions after the show
- 26 September 2023: $20 Tuesday, on sale 9:30am Friday 22 September 2023 (SOLD OUT)
- 14 October 2023: Matinee performance at 4pm
- 21 October 2023: Closing night
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Tickets
We recognise the escalating expenses of daily life, which have introduced financial constraints on our capacity to relish leisure pursuits. Theatre, a unifying medium that facilitates the exchange of pivotal instants, entertainment, and sensory gratification, holds a special place.
The Court Theatre is committed to guaranteeing that the magic of theatre, along with the splendid productions meticulously crafted by our production team, artists, and performers, remains accessible to a wider audience. In light of this aspiration, we have taken the decision to curtail the ticket prices for the duration of the 2023 Season.
Standard Adult $49 2 Adult Tickets (USE CODE DN25) $74 Senior (65+) $49 Friends of The Court Theatre $49 Group (6+) 10% Discount* Child (under 18) $34 Student ID cardholders $34 Community Services or Hāpai Access cardholders $34 *Applies to Standard Adult, Friends, Child and Senior price tickets -
Subscribe
Dance Nation is included in your Super Subscription, or you can bundle it with at least two other shows to Build Your Own subscription.
If you want more some more laughs in your life, you could create a Shades of Comedy Subscription with:
- Sense and Sensibility
- Appropriate
- The Appleton Ladies Potato Race (NZ professional premiere)
- Something Rotten!
Add on – Scared Scriptless, Scriptless Attempts and The Jesters’ Holiday Show
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Covid – Your Booking is Safe with Us
To minimise the impact of possible Covid-related closures we employ understudies and swings for our cast and have contingencies to cover essential crew absences.
However, if a performance is affected by Covid and cannot go on, you will not lose out. We will attempt to rebook you to another performance in the show’s season or, if that is not possible, we can explore other options with you such as Court account credits or transferring your tickets to another show.
There are currently no Covid-related restrictions on attending The Court Theatre. However, as always, we encourage you to be mindful of good hygiene, for the sake of your own health, and that of other members of the audience, our cast, crew and staff.
If a show is cancelled:
- Performances most immediately impacted will be texted – to ensure that your details are up-to-date for this purpose, please log into your account (top right on our web pages) and review them now.
- Emails will be sent to all patrons affected outlining the dates of affected performance and the process that will follow to rebook. Typically this will be:
- rebooking your seats for the same night of the week within the following two weeks,
- endeavouring to book you into a similar spot in the auditorium, if possible.
- We telephone anyone we cannot contact via email.
- Your new booking will be emailed to you. If you require further changes, please email us.
We ask people not to phone our Box Office but rather to email us with special requests – this is easier for the team to handle when dealing with significant rebookings.
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Audience Reviews (11)
"Had the privilege of seeing the dress rehearsal of Dance Nation last night. It’s a ferociously funny comedy with brilliant actors & directing. It’s magnificently written, exploring the weirdness that is being a 13 yr old girl - becoming sexually aware, being brave but with the naivety of a pubescent girl. It’s a fun, frolic of madness, dance, dipping into surrealism, serious themes around what it is to try to be a strong woman all the while not taking itself too seriously highlighting the bizarre world of being an early teen. One of the best productions from The Court Theatre in awhile. Highly recommend.""I thoroughly enjoyed this thought provoking show. Highly recommended""This is an incredible play, so different, unexpected twists and turns, both big and subtle, all the way through.
The cast are fantastic - so skilled, drawing us in, delighting then shocking. A must see, twice.
Thank you for a thought provoking, wonderful experience you amazing actors!""100% yes to this show! Sensational ""Thoroughly enjoyed the show with many laughters, not for children tho. Lol""The best show I have seen at the Court Theatre in ages.""It was so funny and clever! Loved the costumes and tech and the acting and dancing were brilliant! SABINAAAAAAAAAAA!""Dance Nation is a must see. Go prepared to be confronted, to laugh, to be challenged, and go along with your 13-year-old self in mind. You’ll no doubt recognise a little piece of yourself, or your best friend. The arts are there to challenge us, to inspire us, to maybe scare us out of our comfort zones a little, to make us see things from another’s perspective – Dance Nation does all of this.""Captivating, humorous, just great. Must see.""This show really stirred something in me. I was hit with multiple waves of nostalgia, recognition and empowerment. What a terrific piece of contemporary theatre. I loved this show. It was a bullseye for my inner thirteen year old. "Submit Review
One of the best. Very talented people!!!"