Well-known Wellington actor turned writer Simon Vincent has created a highly physical, swashbuckling adventure-comedy A Renaissance Man.

In the style of Shakespeare in Love the play tells the story of John Donne - Renaissance poet, duellist, preacher and seducer.

John Donne's poetry is among the most dramatic in the English language and will be brought to life by Wellington theatrical company The Bacchanals at BATS on January 10-19.Well-known Wellington actor turned writer Simon Vincent has created a highly physical, swashbuckling adventure-comedy A Renaissance Man.

In the style of Shakespeare in Love the play tells the story of John Donne - Renaissance poet, duellist, preacher and seducer.

John Donne's poetry is among the most dramatic in the English language and will be brought to life by Wellington theatrical company The Bacchanals at BATS on January 10-19.Set in England in 1599, the play follows the early life of the Catholic John Donne as he tries to survive in a Protestant England. He is a poet who hates poetry, a duellist who can't fight and a lover who can't commit.

This combination makes for a wonderfully theatrical plot involving exciting and often hilarious situations employing all the best elements of Renaissance drama - cross-dressing, sword-fighting, conspiracy and - a swinging Spaniard.

In order to achieve the highly theatrical style Simon has called on Director David Lawrence (King Lear, Hate Crimes, I.D) to bring his vast experience of directing both modern and Renaissance drama to the table. With several booby-traps and flying swords to incorporate into the production David is relishing the challenges that the play is throwing up.

Footballistic co-creator Allan Henry has combined elements of martial arts, acrobatics and sword fighting to create a unique style of fight choreography unlike anything Wellington theatre has ever seen.

All these elements make for a production style that combines Renaissance costuming and set with modern elements, creating an in-your-face physical style reminiscent of Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet.

Rehearsals started a month ago and the show is set to burst on to the BATS stage to kick off 2008.

The cast is made up of some of Wellington's hottest talent: Phil Peleton (Venetian Bride, Falling petals), Rachel More (Humble Boy, Amazons), Recent Chapman Tripp winner Gavin Rutherford (Homeland, Uncle Vanya), Erin Banks (Amazons, King Lear), Alex Grieg, (Amazons, King Lear) and Allan Henry, (Footballistic, Sexual Perversity in Chicago).

The production combines all the elements the Bacchanals are famous for (theatricality, energy and physicality) with an original New Zealand text, making it a landmark in the company's growth and a must see!

When: January 10-19th
Where: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Tickets: $18 full / $13 concession & groups 6+
Bookings: BATS 04 802 4175

10/01/08