‘Once There Was A Woman’ is a gutsy story about grief, memory and caring for the elderly and dying. A much loved Mother and Grandmother is treated badly in care, family take over and look after her until she dies. Memories of family life are evoked and there are colourful stories from the 70’s to present day: caftans, race relations, glimpses of childhood. To their horror the family discover that even the bravest people can be silenced by bullying in their vulnerable, elderly years. Full of feeling, humour, and imagination, this new solo work from Co Theatre Physical Once There Was a Woman premiers at Q Theatre Loft from February 28th to March 3rd 2017.

A Co Theatre Physical Production created and performed by Beth Kayes with dramaturge Murray Edmond (Indian Ink Theatre), directorial consultant Margaret-Mary Hollins (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1000 Hills, OH BABY), music from Claire Cowan (Blackbird Ensemble) and violinist composer Hope Csutoros.

In the search for her lost Mother memories are traded for access to destinations, imagination is the fuel and a true telling is the final exit point from grief. Once There Was a Woman uses story-telling and physical theatre to reveal how extraordinary the ordinary is-it is a tale of kindness and letting go.

A theatre veteran, Beth trained at Auckland’s Theatre Corporate drama school in the 80’s, learnt circus and physical theatre on her O.E in London, returned to Auckland and worked with anarchic theatre company Theatre AT Large (The Butcher’s Wife and Henry 8). In the 90’s she made her name touring nationally and internationally with acclaimed Australian aerial and physical theatre company Legs on the Wall (All of Me, Homelands). In 1995 she founded Co Theatre Physical whose productions A House Across Oceans and Oh Baby followed their premiere in Auckland with successful touring seasons to festivals nationwide. "This is a brilliant piece of original New Zealand theatre... topical, identifiable, truthful, sad and satirical. Don't miss it."- Nelson Mail, Nelson Festival '05

ONCE THERE WAS A WOMAN plays:

Tuesday 28th February-Friday 3rd March 2017, Q Theatre Loft, 8.15pm

Tickets from: www.qtheatre.co.nz and www.iTicket.co.nz

$14- Groups of 10 or students

$20- Use promo code BRING MUM or Senior Citizens

$24-Full Price