Gleeful abandon _{by Madelaine Empson}

Would D’Things N Such director Seiyan Thompson-Tonga describe the show as comedy, improv, slapstick, all of the above, or something else entirely?

“All of the above and something else entirely”, the Invercargill-born and bred creative tells me. “I believe it is more of a conglomeration of all of the good, and bad, things that we are surrounded by and is put into one place. My best description is that it is ‘seriously unserious’ and ‘unseriously serious’ at the same time.”

Running during Circa Theatre’s 50^th anniversary season for 14 shows only from the 13^th to the 28^th of February as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival, D’Things N Such was born from a desire to challenge traditional theatre forms and norms.

“What excites me about theatre and really drove me to create this show was to highlight my own imagination and how I see the world. And personally, I see art in general, as well as theatre, as a heightened or physical experience of someone’s imagination. I hope that this show provides that experience for others… that it weirdly gives them permission to do whatever they want, and to trust that there is someone that believes in and relates to it.”

Starring Brett Taefu, Albert Latailakepa, Caleb Teaupa, and Thompson-Tonga with musician Ete Reupena, D’Things N Such is Wellington’s freshest, wildest, and most unhinged theatrical experience. It’s a disaster on purpose; a never-ending game of theatrical tag, where intense moments are created and then gleefully abandoned. Get lost with The Gentle Boys and maybe even leave with abs.