Limbo - Premiere Season

Kia ora!

After a sold-out development season at BATS Theatre this January. We are bringing our original play Limbo back, with new and improved elements, for a five-night season this July. This project comes from our shared love of literature, adaptation, and using old stories to attract new audiences.

Limbo was first produced and performed under the umbrella of the Victoria University of Wellington’s Master of Fine Arts Six Degrees Festival at BATS Theatre in January 2024.

What’s the play about?

Limbo is an original Kiwi stage play inspired by the 1300s epic poem Dante's Inferno. David Noble is a washed-up comedian riding on the coattails of fame from years past. Against his best wishes, he is plucked from his debauchery by the benevolent spirit, Virgil. Career, legacy, family - everything is on the line.

As they peel back the layers of wrongs never righted, David is forced to confront the sins of his past to better his future. This production explores Dante’s original themes of morality, ethics, and loyalty through a modernised lens.

Limbo is a 75-minute comedy-drama by director Kathy Keane. Co-written by herself, Tom Smith, and Jimmy Williamson. Presented by Keane As and produced by Smith and Williamson’s company, Believable Arts Management.

Great! What’s the funding for?

Limbo features the talents of Ben Lamb, Ava O’Brien, Blake Boston, and Sophie Helm. Each brings their comedic chops alongside a stellar art department for a show that aims to entertain. We have been fortunate enough to gather a fantastic group of collaborators to bring this project to life again.

By donating to our campaign, you will be directly supporting our wonderful cast and crew of emerging artists so they can confidently commit to developing this amazing show again. Your contribution would go towards design costs, such as paint and materials, marketing costs, to spread the word, and paying our cast and crew fair wages. Your support would allow developing practitioners to stage their craft in a professional setting and work towards the better-paid arts industry we hope to see in Aotearoa.

Creative Team:

Co-Writer/Director: Kathy Keane

Co-Writer/Co-Producer: Tom Smith

Co-Writer/Co-Producer: Jimmy Williamson

Stage Manager: Adriana Vasinca

Set Designer: Nathan Arnott

Set Builder: Lachlan Oosterman

Co-Lighting Designer: Josiah Matagi

Co-Lighting Designer/Operator: Ethan Cranefield

Sound Designer/Operator: Roco Moroi Thorn

Graphic Designer/Publicist: Cate Sharma

Costumier: Ava O’Brien

Performers:

David: Ben Lamb

Virgil: Ava O’Brien

Twin: Blake Boston

Twin: Sophie Helm