Join us to see Kevin Keys’ fantastic one-act farce, Desperate Antics, on June 1 at 12.30 pm or June 2 at 5.30 pm in The Theatrette, Tokomaru, Massey Wellington Campus (also known as Room 10A02, in Block 10 or The Museum Building). These fab, frantic performances are brought to you by the Massey University Wellington Theatre in Production class of ‘22, by arrangement with Playmarket New Zealand.

Getting there: Massey’s Wellington campus is on lots of bus routes, we have bike racks and accessible parking.

There is pay and display parking right outside the Theatrette. There’s a map here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/documents/62/Wellington-campus-map.pdf 

Covid stuff: please wear a mask for the duration of the performance (40 minutes). The actors cannot (but they’ll be well socially distanced from you). The Thursday performance is followed by free pizza. You’ll be able to take it outside to eat.

About Desperate Antics

Something is rotten in the State of Fad. Pet Economies are eating their owners; gym machines are working their users to death; it seems the stock of Fad is plummeting…

Desperate Antics centres around the almighty Fad, a religion which controls characters’ lives and mindsets as consumers. From fashion trends to gym rats, the play pokes fun at society’s materialistic obsessions. As desperate believers fight to keep Fad’s image alive, characters start to wake up and challenge the status quo. 

Join us as we take a satirical look at modern consumer life through a series of sketch-like pieces linked by the goings-on of the ‘Corporate Angel’ – the guardian of the realm of ‘Fad’. There’s sound, light, choreography, puppets, and even a little bit of Olivia Newton-John!

About the playwright, Kevin Keys

Kevin Keys is a writer and performer based in Tāmaki Makaurau. He has a background and qualifications in music (he’s a concert trombonist) and theatre. When he’s not acting on stage (theatre credits include Not Psycho, Famous Flora, Wild Bees, Once On Chunuk Bair and End Of The Rainbow) or screen (TV work includes Brokenwood Mysteries, Venus & Mars, The Almighty Johnsons and Nothing Trivial), Kevin writes and presents scripts for orchestral education concerts for various NZ ensembles and for Radio New Zealand Concert.  

Kevin has written two plays; Fact and Fable, a one-man story of ark-based obsession co-written with Jamie Standen, and Desperate Antics, an ensemble work specifically designed for a youth theatre cast. 

Cast and Crew

Sammy Carter: Corporate Angel

Sammy is a second-year Bachelor of Communication student, majoring in Expressive Arts. She has had a huge passion for writing and performing since she was young. Sammy can’t wait for you to watch the show and desperately hopes you like it. 

Mark Kitchingman: James & Father

Mark is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Creative Writing.  When not busy being inundated with uni assignments, Mark can be found photographing New Zealand’s wild orcas and dolphins, while being a voice for the endangered wildlife of the world.  He looks forward to taking the mickey out of himself and bringing you all some laughter in this hilarious play that he hopes you will all enjoy.

Elizabeth Hodgson: Jessica & Narrator

Elizabeth (aka Lizzo) is a third-year film student at Massey. She spends most of her time either watching films, looking for new Wellington foods to try or working in the Massey Students’ Association office! She loves working both in front of and behind the camera, and hopes you enjoy Desperate Antics!

Sarah Saint-Pere: Voice 1, Gym Junky 1 & Puppet 1

Majoring in Expressive Arts and Media Studies, Sarah is a third-year Communication student with a passion for visual arts and writing. Despite not having performed on stage since high school, Sarah is excited to deliver and transport you into the wondrous world of Desperate Antics!

David Robertson: Voice 2, Gym Junky 2 & Puppet 2 

David is a third-year student here at Massey, studying a Bachelor of Communication with a special focus on Expressive Arts. It’s been a minute since his last stint as an actor, but he is excited to provide the audience with the wisdom of Fad.

Ryan Assenmacher: Lucky 100-1, Gym Junky 3, Puppet 3, and Pet Economy 

A third-year Communication student majoring in Expressive Arts, Ryan has always had a love for theatre, performing and making a complete fool of themselves.

Gabrielle Millar: Lucky 100-2, Gym Junky 4 & Puppet 4  

Gabby is a third-year Communication student majoring in Expressive Arts. She loves reading and writing. In her spare time she is singing away to herself, playing hockey and swimming. She hopes everyone enjoys the show and gets something out of it.                                 

Bekky Boyce: Tech Support

Bekky is a Multimedia Theatre Technician and Operator based in Wellington. They currently work part-time at Massey University, within the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication. Bekky graduated in 2019 with a degree in Communication. They have since been involved with lighting, sound and set design and operator for various shows at Circa, Bats, Te Auaha, Massey University and Toi Whakaari. Some to mention; Transmission (2021), Hole (2021), Gag Reflex (Fringe 2022), Ted talks crimes (Tahi festival 2021).

Elspeth Tilley: Producer and Director

Elspeth Tilley (she/her/Pākehā) teaches theatre and creative activism at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa / Massey University. She is a three-time official playwright and four-time producer for Climate Change Theatre Action, and received the Playwrights’ Association of New Zealand Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018.

Huge thank you to:

• Massey University School of Humanities, Media & Creative Communication for supporting us with costumes, props, pizza, printing, and so much more!
• Ashley Oswin and Angela Kilford from Massey University Textile Design, Ngā Pae Māhutonga, for help with printing our fabulous Gym Junky ‘FAD’ costumes. 
• Playmarket New Zealand, especially licensing whiz Joanna Cho for sorting out permissions for our ‘small cast’ covid-era adaptation of what was originally a ‘large cast’ play.
• Our audience! We love you. Thank you for supporting us. It’s been a tough semester with everyone taking turns at being sick or being in iso but we’ve hung in there, worked around the gaps, and we’re proud of the show we’ve developed. Thank you for coming along to share the fun!