by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Carl Drake

Season 14th June - 5th July 2014

Bingham, president of the Quail Valley Country Club, is in a difficult position, less by finding out that his newly hired hand, Justin, is in love with Louise, the waitress at the club house, but by the discovery that the golfer he thought would play for his club has switched sides recruited by his counterpart and opponent, the cocky and arrogant Dickie, and the huge bet he had foolishly wagered is now likely to be lost.

Fortunately, he discovers that Justin is actually quite a good golfer and finagles his nomination. Justin does not disappoint and has a huge lead, when close to its end the tournament is interrupted by bad weather.

When Justin learns that Louise has lost the engagement ring he gave her - she accidentally flushed it down the toilet - he comes unglued.

The game resumes the next day, but Justin loses the lead, and, upset, takes an unfortunate swing breaking his arm. Bingham is desperate, and the appearance of his wife complicates the matter, as she catches him much too close to Pamela, his sex-starved vice-president. Can Bingham find a replacement for Justin to win the game, win the wager, and get his life in order?

by Noel Coward
Directed by Jan Saussey
Season 14th February - 7th March 2015

What better way to research for a new book about a homicidal medium, than to invite eccentric psychic Madame Arcati to your home, and have a jolly good séance? So far so good.

But writer Charles Condomine is certainly not prepared for the surprising and spirited consequences. He finds himself face to face with the ghost of his deceased wife, Elvira, who playfully appears only to him, much to the dismay of his second wife, Ruth.

Take one husband, two feuding wives; add a sprinkling of mischief, and things get thoroughly out of hand!

by Ron Aldridge
Directed by Rae McGregor
11th April - 2nd May 2015

A funny heart warming and uplifting play. Susan Shaw is 58 and her husband has left her for a younger woman. What do you do with your life when you have never had to go outside the home to work? She decides to take action and this very funny and at times tender play follows Susan as she attempts to kick start her life in the belief that 'it's never too late'. In the end she makes a most unexpected choice.

by Norman Foster
Directed by Julian Harrison
6th - 27th June 2015

Looking, by Canadian playwright Norm Foster, takes us into the lives of four middle-aged singles. Matt and Andy have shared a friendship for years. Unfortunately, they have also shared the same relationship status for years (single), and so now they reluctantly share their emotional baggage and problems whenever they get together. Val and Nina are also long-time friends; they are similarly questioning their lives. All four are 'looking' for more in life, looking for someone to fill the void that was left after their failed marriages. So Andy, in desperation, puts an ad in the personals column, Val in desperation reads the ad and sees some potential. With the help of their friends as buffers, they agree to a double date, meeting at a downtown pub named The Private Dick. Classic situational comedy ensues as male-female agendas meet amid first-date insecurities.
It’s a fabulously funny script full of lightning-quick dialogue and loaded with original sexual innuendos. For all of its adult frivolity, there are some tender and serious moments in this play that make for poignant and emotionally wrought acting.

by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Jan Saussey

Season 1st August - 15th August 2015

The Corbetts have everything a family could want, until the day their world is turned upside down.

In the aftermath of a life-shattering accident, a young husband and wife find themselves drifting perilously apart. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places...and for a path that will lead them back up into the light of day.
 
Undoubtedly, the simplicity has been a crucial component in the accolades the play has received. Significant events do happen of course, but Lindsay-Abaire’s presentation is so subtle that the audience does not see the shifts until they have already occurred. This is a play that shows how close comedy and tragedy really are. In many ways, what makes it bearable to watch Becca and Howie work through their grief is the liberal amount of humour Lindsay-Abaire has included in the script. The positive responses that greeted Rabbit Hole often praise it on similar terms: its ability to juxtapose heartfelt emotion with moments of incredible humour.

Rabbit Hole opened on Broadway in 2006 and in 2007 won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In 2007, film director John Cameron Mitchell announced his plans for a movie adaptation and was released in 2010. The film starred Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as Becca and Howie.

by Shirley Lauro
Directed by Barry Spring

Season 19th September - 10th October 2015

They're at bed-sides in operating theatres, and on the battlefields. They give comfort, ease pain and devote themselves to service even in the face of iminent danger. They are the Nurses and these are true stories based on over 1500 personal interviews. The memories will move you to laughter, tears and enormous admiration of the courage, dedication and selflessness of these special women.

Note Mild adult themes, some language may offend.

By Roy Clarke
Directed by Penelope Keegan

14th November - 5th December 2015

They're back! Foggy, Compo and Clegg come together again.

If you're a fan of the series you will remember these marvellous characters - not the least the somewhat stern and resolute Nora Batty, the object of Compo's affections. She has a niece, Constance, and Foggy has come over all amorous and is keen to win her affections. She has been the long time fiancée of the hapless Gifford Bewmont who is out and about this evening with every intention of catching a flasher. Unfortunately Compo turns up unexpectedly and between him, Gifford and mistaken identities, chaos reigns!

By Richard Bean        
Directed by Laurie Mills
Season:  26 February - 19 March

A rollicking and intensely funny play. Francis Henshall finds himself in the tricky situation of trying to please two bosses while keeping them unaware of one another. He’s not the smartest chap, and being caught up in their various competing schemes makes for a chaotic day. 

Adapted from Carlo Goldoni’s 1743 Commedia dell’arte play A Servant of Two Masters, the action is updated to Brighton, England, 1963. Dolphin is proud to have this play in its 2016 schedule. It has been a hit in London and New York since its 2011 debut.

By Beth Henley
Directed by Ami Coster
Season:  29 April - 14 May

1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

A charming black comedy set in a small Mississippi town. Three sisters search for meaning and happiness in their lives after suffering a veritable heap of misfortune. They must reunite to make sense of their individual challenges and family issues. Lenny the eldest has devoted her life to caring for their ailing Grandfather; Meg has run away to pursue a singing career in Hollywood; while Babe is facing trial for shooting her abusive husband. Combine an enthusiastic lawyer, a nosy neighbour and a lonely ex boyfriend and we have a hilarious mix of conflicts, crisis and revelations.

By Joe Zarrow
Directed by Sheila Summers
Season:  June 17 – July 2

New Zealand Premiere

Armed with dreams of changing the world along with an accelerated certification program for ‘career changers’, Kay quits her corporate job to teach English in a Chicago public high school.  On her first day in the English Lit office she finds that the copy machine, the system and the spirits of her fellow teachers are all broken. Or are they? A dark comedy of academic intrigue that takes a peek at the politics behind the closed door of the teachers’ lounge.

"There are very few excellent plays about public education. This is one." –Chicago Tribune

By the Goodale Brothers
Based on the works of P.G.Wodehouse
Directed by Syd Mannion
Season:   5th - 20th August

Join two of the 20th century’s most loved characters - the effervescent but intellectually challenged, young aristocrat Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet Jeeves, for an evening of genial jollity.

When a perfectly delightful country weekend takes a turn for the worse, Wooster turns matchmaker to rescue the engagement of his host's drippy daughter Madeline to his newt-fancying friend Gussie. If Bertie, assisted by the ever-inventive Jeeves, can't pull off the wedding of the season he'll be forced to abandon cherished bachelorhood and marry the ghastly girl himself!

Warning - No content will offend.
(In the 1930s they were just terribly nice.)

By Ron Aldridge
Directed by Rae McGregor
Season:  23 September – 8 October

The Frank Daniels Trio was once a successful singing and dancing variety group in the 1970s.  Frank and his beautiful wife Sarah and the comic of the ensemble, Tony are a perfect recipe for an evening’s entertainment.  Three decades later, when Sarah and Frank visit Tony at the nursing home, all the old emotional baggage comes to the fore, and there are flashbacks to the ‘good old days’ when we see them as their younger selves performing the song and dance routines.

“Aldridge’s new play is something of a minor masterpiece.” -The Stage

Jeremy Brock’s stage play
Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens
Directed by Julian Harrison
Season:  11 November – 3 December

The classic tale of poverty and pick pocketing, privilege and prosperity is brought to the stage in a splendid theatrical version which combines all the richness of the original story.  The sinister antics of Fagin, the wonderful comic pomposity of Mr Bumble the Beadle and the horror of Nancy’s murder at the hands of Sykes.  Be intrigued at the colourful characters Oliver meets from his past and watch secrets unravel.  Expect laughter, and tears and some surprises.  Jeremy Brock has created a play which will add further enjoyment to the world Dickens created for us in his books. 

By Pam Valentine
Directed by Penelope Keegan
Season: 3 - 18 March

Cobbler’s Cottage is home to famous author of crime novels, Jack Cameron, and his wife Susie. Flic and her husband Simon, an aspiring crime writer, are eager to rent the cottage. But life isn’t easy for Simon in their new home; severe writer’s block, a monstrous interfering mother-in-law, plus a series of unorthodox and bizarre events all lead to moments of utter confusion.

By Martin Donagh
Directed by Julian Toy-Cronin
Season: 28 April - 13 May

Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland in 1934, this endearing, comic satire centres on Billy, the village cripple. When the Americans announce they are coming to the neighbouring island to make a film, many are excited to be part of it – but none more than young Billy, who develops a reckless scheme to escape his grim life.

Contains strong language.

By Norman Robbins
Directed by David Charteris
Season: 16 June - 1 July

Set in a sinister old library presided over by a portrait of a grim-faced, mad-eyed old man. A dusty lawyer reads a will (involving millions of pounds) to an equally sinister family, one member of which has werewolf tendencies. By Act Three, there are more corpses than live members in the cast. All is revealed as the plot twists and turns to its surprising conclusion. 

By Ben Elton
Directed by Peter Webster
Season: 4 - 19 August

ADULT THEMES

When Philip is challenged by his boss to find a new way of making money from nothing, he invents the ‘Suck and Blow Machine’ and, along with it, the business of ‘air’ – providing private air, stockpiling air and eventually selling air. A flash advertising campaign convinces the public that everyone needs a Suck and Blow, but while the market for oxygen is growing, the world’s supply is diminishing.

By Peter Quilter
Directed by Jon T (JT) Kemeys
Season: 22 September - 7 October

The hilarious story of five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life again. Tensions are high between them, but they must work together to make their dream a reality – to restore the theatre to its former glory and get the audiences flocking back. They try various fund-raising schemes but their most ambitious is to hold a concert…

By Jane Austen
Adapted by Kathryn Attwood
Directed by Syd Mannion
Season: 10 November - 2 December

To mark Jane Austen’s bicentenary, we are privileged to present an adaptation of what is arguably her most provocative novel. Although unpublished in Austen’s lifetime, it was one of her earliest works. The eponymous character is by far the most scandalous, unscrupulous anti-heroine Austen ever conceived, with neither conscience nor morals. If you thought you knew your Jane Austen, think again!

An amateur production by arrangement with Stagescripts Ltd

by Roger Hall
Classic Kiwi Comedy
Directed by Julia Leathwick
2-17 Mar

A farce set in a Taupo lakeside holiday home, during the un-PC 1980s. A family of city folk, a jet-lagged granny fresh from Britain and a probation officer daughter with her unexpected Maori husband – along with an over-friendly US exchange student – give us a Christmas celebration like no other. And that’s without the shotgun-blazing deer farmer! An irresistibly funny, satirical play.

by Richard De Luca
A World Premier NEW Drama
Directed by Penelope Keegan
20 Apr–5 May

'Death of a Dream' has been written as a sequel to Arthur Miller's classic play 'Death of a Salesman' and examines the two ‘dreams’ the play evolved around – the American Dream, and Willy Loman’s personal dream. Willy’s businessman grandson, Bill, much like his grandfather is still hoping to crack the big time. Bill’s adult son Art, is a drug addict and lives at home; his stepdaughter Suzy, is a successful New York executive and his wife Carol, is financially involved in the business. They gather for Thanksgiving weekend, 2015, and struggle with the resulting catastrophic events.

by J B Priestley
An All-time Classic Thriller
Directed by Glenda Pearce
22 Jun–7 Jul

Set in England in 1912, the play opens with the Birling family celebrating their daughter’s engagement. An inspector calls to question them about the apparent suicide of a young woman. We learn everyone is implicated in her undoing. The tension that follows climaxes with an astounding revelation. A masterpiece that forces the audience to reflect on how their actions affect others.

by Ken Ludwig
A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Directed by Annie Whittaker
10–25 August

Ludwig transforms Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into an hilarious comedy. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. Five actors deftly portray more than forty characters as Holmes and Watson brave the desolate moors to save the newest heir. Can our heroes discover the truth in time? See how far from elementary the truth can be.

by David Wood
A Heart Melting Drama
Directed by Nathan Hey
28 Sep–13 Oct

Based on one of the most uplifting stories ever written, the play is set during the build-up to World War Two. We follow sad, young William Beech as he is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside where he builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley. All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned back to London by his mother.

by Jessica Swale
An Historical Comedy
Directed by Syd Mannion
16 Nov–8 Dec

The play opens in a 1660s playhouse in Drury Lane, London, where Nell Gwynn is an ‘orange hawker’ whose wit and beauty soon get her noticed. She becomes an actress, causing merry havoc in a traditionally male world, and wins the heart of King Charles II. Can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court? First performed in 2015 at The Globe, London.

SEASON: 17TH - 20TH MAY

HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE
Playwright: Aaron Sorkin
Director: Christina Christopher

Two friends [Robert and Jeff] are taking their theatre partnership to the big screen in their first film. Behind schedule and over budget an unforeseen problem occurs. Panic strikes leaving Robert and Jeff trying to find a plausible solution while questioning their work, their relationship and even making movies. Estimated running time: 40 minutes

12HR LIFE
Playwright: Robert Scott
Co-Directors: Abby Lawrence and Bianka Lee

Dylan should be going to a conference, but a chance encounter with Samantha and some forthright discussion has him playing truant and having the time of his life. Is it possible to live an entire life in one day? Estimated running time: 30-35 minutes

21 CHUMP ST: THE MUSICAL
Music and Lyrics: Lin Manuel Miranda
Director: Zane Fleming
Musical Director: Erin Fagan
Choreographer: Rebekkah Schoonbeek-Berridge

"21 Chump Street" is a new One Act Musical brought to us by the award winning mind behind In The Heights, Disney's Moana and Hamilton. Based on a true story as reported in the series This American Life, 21 Chump Street is a cautionary tale of a high school senior who falls for a cute transfer student. He goes to great lengths to oblige her request for marijuana in the hopes of winning her affection only to find that his crush is not entirely what she seems. 21 Chump Street discusses the ramifications of peer pressure, conformity and drug use in schools, hopefully leaving everyone with a message that will stay with them long after they leave the theatre. Estimated running time: 30 minutes

ALL TICKETS $20
GENERAL ADMISSION
PLEASE NOTE: SOME PLAYS MAY CONTAIN BAD LANGUAGE

By Joseph Kesselring
Directed by Penelope Keegan
1-16 March

Two charming old ladies make it their mission to provide tea and accommodation to socially and religiously “acceptable” lodgers. When they pass on, their brother, who thinks they are victims of yellow fever, buries them in the cellar. He thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt so never questions their actions. Then there’s a somewhat unusual nephew, to put it mildly, and another one who is really, actually completely normal – not easy in this household!

By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, on behalf of Dramatists Play Service Inc., New York

By Donald Margulies
Directed by Zane Fleming
26 April-11 May

Sarah and James are a photojournalist and foreign correspondent documenting the horrors of war while trying to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy. Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories and, together, making a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple must confront the prospect of a more conventional life. Set in Brooklyn.

By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, on behalf of Dramatists Play Service Inc., New York

Note: Some Language May Offend

Book by Austin Winsberg
Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner
Director Maryanne Rushton, Musical Director Erin Fagan, Choreographer Rebekkah Schoonbeek - Berridge, Vocal Coach Robyn Kennerley
14-29 June

When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial dater Casey, a casual drink turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds, the couple quickly find they’re not alone. In an unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents. Can the couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the bill arrives?

First Date is presented by permission of ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of R&H Theatricals, www.rnh.com

By Ron Hutchinson
Directed by Christina Christopher
2-17 August

Movie mogul David O Selznick has just shut down his mega-budget version of Gone With the Wind. Determined to produce a rewrite in five days, he engages the reluctant services of ace script doctor, Ben Hecht (possibly the only one in America who hasn’t read the novel) and a new director, Victor Fleming, poached from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Selznick locks himself in his office with his two collaborators, and a marathon creative session begins.

A community theatre production by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd and NZ Play Bureau Ltd.

By Agatha Christie
Directed by David Blakey
20 September-5 October

Imprisoned for poisoning her husband fifteen years earlier, Caroline Crale finds herself at death’s door and writes a letter to her daughter Carla expressing her undeniable innocence. Carla, aided by Justin Fogg – a former admirer of Caroline’s – persuades those present on the day of her father’s death to return to the scene of the crime. When witnesses reassemble, Fogg discovers the identity of the true murderer, and Carla discovers her true feelings for Fogg.

A community theatre production by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd and NZ Play Bureau Ltd.

By Tim Firth
Directed by Jon Tamihere-Kemeys
8-30 November

Mizzis Horrocks’s class of seven-year-olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for their proud mums and dads – and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles that he’s not a proper star (like at NASA), Herod won’t stop waving to his parents and the subversive Innkeeper insists on livening up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes …

A community theatre production by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd and NZ Play Bureau Ltd.