No Holds Bard - Old Lodge Theatre - Thursday 16th August, 7.30pm

Vaughan Bradley from Hokitika Regent Theatre

Driven to the brink by the infidelity of his wife and a lack of acting opportunities, an aging thespian confronts his demons in what he hopes will be a final "dark night of the soul". The problem is, his demons are as crazy as he is.

A glorious tour de force in which four of Shakespeare's greatest creations (a foul-mouthed Macbeth, a confused Hamlet, a know-it-all Othello, and a really hungry King Lear) come kicking and screaming into the bursting, deranged brain of a single man. An outrageous and at times profound view into one actor's attempt at self destruction.

Ticket price includes 30 minute Q&A with Michael Hurst after the performance.

“….a well-crafted, clever, uproariously funny and ultimately moving journey…smart and witty script…belly laughs of sheer delight…there’s so much to enjoy here that it is hard to choose highlights.” - Theatreview

Michael Hurst

Michael Hurst is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable performers and experienced directors. He is best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess, both of which he also directed. He most recently appeared on stage in 2017 as Salieri in Amadeus, and previously in Tribes, Red, Cabaret, Blackbird, The Pillowman, all for the Auckland Theatre Company.

Michael has worked with Silo Theatre as a performer and director, and is renowned for his powerful and unique interpretations of Shakespeare, in most recent years tackling Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Macbeth and Hamlet and King Lear.

He won the Best Director Award in the Metro Awards 2008 for The Threepenny Opera and has recently directed Lysistrata, Chicago, The Wasteland, Cabaret and She Stoops To Conquer for the Auckland Theatre Company, Loot and Brel for Silo Theatre and, in 2017, the smash hit Pleasuredome, an independent production which ran for a sellout 12 weeks in a pop-up venue in West Auckland, and which he also co-wrote.

His television and film directing credits include Westside, Evil Dead, 800 Words, Spartacus, Step Dave, The Almighty Johnsons, Legend of the Seeker, and Jubilee.

In 2003, Michael was awarded an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award. He was later designated an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005 “for services to film and the theatre”.