i carried this
Written by nicola pauling & directed by jacqueline coats
5 - 16 june 2024
I Carried This is a documentary theatre show, illuminating adoption experiences of New Zealand women in the 1950s-60s, breathing new life into stories held onto for decades. The show will debut at Wellington’s Hannah Playhouse this June and features five distilled, real-life stories from women interviewed by writer Nicola Pauling. Directed by Jacqueline Coats, I Carried This is performed by three actresses as an ensemble—one from each ‘season’ of their life.
An emotionally impactful experience from start to finish, I Carried This follows five strains of one incredible history in Aotearoa. Together, the three-woman ensemble, simply referred to as Young, Middle and Wise, weave together multiple entrancing vignettes; one woman tries to fathom why a tender reunion with her adopted son has released waves of rage she never thought capable of, another is forced to reveal to her husband a secret she was always told he should never know about. With a captivating show design from renowned local designer, Lucas Neal, and breathtaking musical compositions from Matthew Hutton, the technical elements work to complement three utterly compelling performances from the show’s actresses—Hilary Norris (The Coven on Grey Street), Nicola Pauling (She Danced on a Friday), and Mycah Keall (Mokomoko).
Performances
Wed 5 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Thu 6 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Fri 7 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Sat 8 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Sun 9 Jun 2024, 3:00pm–4:30pm*
Tue 11 Jun 2024, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Wed 12 Jun 2024, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Thu 13 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Fri 14 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Sat 15 Jun 2024, 7:30pm–8:30pm
Sun 16 Jun 2024, 3:00pm–4:30pm*
*Both Sunday matinee performances will be followed by a 30min Q & A with one of the women whose story features in this production.
Tickets from $20 - $40 *Service fees may apply
Run time: 1 hour
See Ticketing T&Cs.