Where were you in 1984 the night the world was predicted to end?

The Land of Make Believe is new work set in New Zealand in the eighties. Following her residency at Robert Lord Cottage in Dunedin, talented young writer Vanessa Rhodes returns to the theatre, following the success of her 2003 work - Where Are You My Only One.

In an era famed for glitz, Generation X proudly farewells the day predicted to end the world. A triumph for high-tops, shoulder-pads and MTV, however the big, fluorescent glamour of the eighties, doesn't have quite the same look in a small NZ city, where a young women dreams of a magical future, beyond the limits of the Hutt Valley.

The Land of Make Believe
By Vanessa RhodesWhere were you in 1984 the night the world was predicted to end?

The Land of Make Believe is new work set in New Zealand in the eighties. Following her residency at Robert Lord Cottage in Dunedin, talented young writer Vanessa Rhodes returns to the theatre, following the success of her 2003 work - Where Are You My Only One.

In an era famed for glitz, Generation X proudly farewells the day predicted to end the world. A triumph for high-tops, shoulder-pads and MTV, however the big, fluorescent glamour of the eighties, doesn't have quite the same look in a small NZ city, where a young women dreams of a magical future, beyond the limits of the Hutt Valley.

The Land of Make Believe
By Vanessa RhodesThe Land of Make Believe is new work set in New Zealand in the eighties. Following her residency at Robert Lord Cottage in Dunedin, talented young writer Vanessa Rhodes returns to the theatre, following the success of her 2003 work - Where Are You My Only One. It is not often that New Zealand stories are brought to the stage, and Vanessa represents the talented new voice emerging in NZ writing.

Julie Nolan directs this exceptional young cast of six actors which includes Kip Chapman (The Goat, Equus), Aidee Walker (Outrageous Fortune, Shortland Street), Hera Dunleavy (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Disgrace), Lauren Jackson (Mr. Kolpert, 1nite) and Edwin Wright (Boys in the band, King Kong). Julie's last directorial project - The Butchers Daughter (2004) was a critical success and sold out and extended its Auckland premiere season. Julie takes on the role of director after spending the last three years working for Massive Theatre Company, for which she produced an international and national tour for their successful work - The Sons of Charlie Paora.

The Land of Make Believe follows the journey of fifteen year old Carol-Ann. Living in the Hutt Valley with her Mother, an ex Country and Western singer and Janice's lecherous boyfriend Darryl, she dreams of a world beyond her own existence. A chance meeting at a New Year's Eve party sees her welcome in 1984 with hope for a brighter future. The next time we meet Carol-Ann she is in the drastically different environment of London. It is 1989, the Berlin Wall has come down, the rave culture is rampant and it is the Summer of Love. Whilst searching for her father she discovers how to leave the ghosts of her past behind.

The Land of Make Believe is a touching story of coming of age, for anyone who knows 'who killed JR', has solved the rubix cube and knows the phrase 'let's be careful out there'.

PREMIERE SEASON
Silo Theatre, Auckland
OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 12
Mon/Tues, 7pm. Wed- Sat, 8pm. No Performance Sundays.
Bookings @ Ticket Master (09) 970 9700