Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

OVERVIEW

The average person will speak 123,205,750 words in a lifetime. But what if there were a limit? What if you could only say 140 words per day? Oliver and Bernadette are about to find out. Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons imagines a world where we're forced to say less. It's about what we say and how we say it; about the things we can only hear in the silence; about dead cats, activism, eye contact and lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons.

Join us as we explore the power of silence, the nuances of expression, and the boundless potential of human connection. Don't miss your chance to experience this award-winning sensation that's captured hearts from Edinburgh to London and beyond.

ABOUT US

This is the Tāmaki Makaurau premiere of Sam Steiner's gripping play, presented by Chocolate & Carnage Theatre. We are a small team committed to creating life-altering, world-shaking, groundbreaking, thought-provoking theatre - theatre that puts a focus on the audience experience, and the nurturing of our creatives. We strongly advocate for Māori, Queer, and Wāhine led stories.

THE TEAM

Rory Janssen (he/him/they): Director

Rory is a Tāmaki Makaurau based director, writer, and actor whose practice typically involves both scripted and devised work. He recently co-directed an original work by fellow writer/director Faith Ward as part of the Auckland Pride Festival (2024). His own original written and directorial work includes Swallow the Fly (2022) as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival, as well as Only Insecure Pussies Write Shit on Toilet Walls (Coal Bunker Studio, 2019). He has studied Drama at industry leading institutions such as Toi Whakaari, Acting for Screen at South Seas Film and Television School and Performing, Screen Arts at Unitec Institute of Technology and holds a BA in Psychology and Drama from UOA. Both on and off stage, Rory has been involved in various shows across Tāmaki Makaurau. He has set-up and run drama groups for people with disabilities and participated in festivals such as InterACT, Going West and Auckland Fringe. As a director, he always looks forward to creating genuine and compelling pieces of theatre and working with actors to craft moving and truthful performances, bringing out the best in every aspect of the production.

Jocelyn Christian (she/her): Actor

Jocelyn has appeared in drama and comedy roles on New Zealand and international screens since 2002. Recent credits include the films Avatar the Way of Water, In Dark Places, Only Cloud Knows, and television drama credits include, Shortland Street, Murder is Forever, and Wilde Ride as well as voicing characters in Barefoot Bandits 2 and Quimbo’s Quest. 

Her stage credits include Rushing Woman, a new solo show, Anne Elliot in an adaptation of Jane Austin's Persuasion and Caroline Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. 

Jocelyn is also a screenwriter and Voice-over artist. She lives with her composer husband and three children.

Matthew Diesch (he/him): Actor

Matthew works as an actor, director, intimacy coordinator and photographer. His recent projects include The Welkin, Educating Rita, An Unseasonable Fall of Snow and the multi-award winning short film Means To An End.

Julia Rutherford: Tech Designer & Operator

Julia has experience in most areas of theatre but has a clear favourite in technical design. She currently splits her time between freelancing and her day job as Rental Manager at Kenderdine Electrical.

Julia loves creating unconventional designs in unconventional spaces.

Mark Wilson (he/they): Producer

Mark (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a talented playwright, actor, and co-owner of Chocolate & Carnage Theatre. They have had countless award nominations for Shakespearean performances such as Macbeth, Oberon, Laertes, and Friar Lawrence. They have performed in professional productions Alice in Wonderland (2020), Lovepuke (2019), and The Iliad (2018).

Meg Andrews (she/her): Producer & Marketer

Meg is an award-winning actor and director who has enjoyed a scrumptious theatre-filled life exploring many varied and exciting roles both on stage and screen.

She is a sought-after theatre marketer, and is the co-owner of Chocolate & Carnage Theatre.

YOUR SUPPORT

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is an extremely relevant story right now, in a time where arts funding has been severely cut - we are losing our voice and ability to speak up in many ways. Supporting this show supports us keeping our voices - for the people.

The funds raised from our Boosted campaign are what we need to make this project a reality. This is an all or nothing campaign, if we don't reach our goal we won't get anything.

We need to reach our Boosted goal to cover essential production costs, and so that we can pay our artists the fairest wage possible.

Your donations will go towards:

• Venue hire costs
• Promotion
• Kai for audience post-show, to help decompress and nourish
• Lighting equipment
• Keeping ticket prices as low as possible

We are immensely grateful for any donation, small or large. We also hope you may be able to join us to watch this special play performed this October 2024 at The PumpHouse Coal Bunker Studio in Takapuna.

Whakawhetai koe,

Chocolate & Carnage Theatre x