This Rugged Beauty

Rehearsals for This Rugged Beauty are going really nicely. It starts Tuesday 25th. It's been fantastic and very satisfying to come back to this show again after having time to think about it, absorb feedback, and let it ferment. It's a show we've been developing since 2010, when we did our first explorations around the idea of kiwi identity and our relationship with it. What we're presenting this time contains many elements of the first 2011 season, along with new material and design from last year's reworking, topped off with some new angles for this season. 

Reworking is always challenging, as we find ourselves holding not only the hypothetical finished show in our heads, but also the spirits of the other stagings. But it's great to have the scenes there to attack from different angles and to critique even within the show itself- we came up with them long enough ago to not be too precious about them. As director, I've been especially interested in this project which aims to market New Zealand using a three part 'story' . I see our 'story' as a sort of alternative to the one told by Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Education New Zealand. Probably one that is unlikely to be picked up.

We're pretty excited about what we're building, and honoured to be working once again with the fantastic returning team of Debbie Fish (Stage and production management), Gareth Hobbs (sound) and Rowan McShane (light), along with Keely McCann (production assistant). As well as, of course, the fantastic team at BATS. Hope you can make it, we've put a lot of love into this one.

-Ralph

This is a shared story. And a unique opportunity.

New Zealanders don't talk themselves up, which is part of what makes them great. Yet this can mean they undersell themselves when it counts, losing competitive advantage. We have turned that around.

Created in consultation with a range of sector leaders and stakeholders, This Rugged Beauty helps Kiwis reflect on exactly what makes this place remarkable. 

Join us as at this special event celebrating our Great New Zealand Story and the launch of This Rugged Beauty on the global market. 


 You can book at www.bats.co.nz