Hold on to your huts!

A group of teachers and a reluctant daughter set off for a weekend of bushwalking in the mountains. What could possibly go wrong? Torrential rain and a washed-out bridge that traps all the women together in a hut for three days, for a start!

The stage is set for laughter, tension, and unexpected revelations in Stagecraft Theatre’s production of Roger Hall’s Social Climbers, tramping into Gryphon Theatre on the 23^rd of September and camping there till the 3^rd of October.

Marking Trudy Dalziel’s directorial debut, Social Climbers sparkles with Hall’s trademark wit and warmth. It holds a special place in her heart as her mum, Helen White, played the lovable, no-nonsense Kath back in the 90s.

There’s also a strong family connection for Gillian Boyes, who tackles the role of the flamboyant drama teacher Maxine. “My dad saw it in Christchurch and still remembers the line ‘Is this it?’ He says it’s stuck with him as one of the best and most memorable opening lines for a character ever. That's my character, Dad. Hope I do it proud!”

Jess Brownell, who plays the caring school counsellor Annie, says the characters are real and relatable. “The show is all about their relationships, which I feel is a beautiful thing.”

Gather the girls for a giggle in this insightful comedy that celebrates the bond between women, the wonders of the New Zealand bush, and 50 years of playwrighting from a national treasure, all in one (baby’s) breath!