La bonne vie in the South Island

Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Photo / Supplied

Just imagine. If the French had colonised the South Island, Christchurch would be chic.

Dave Armstrong's satirical new play Le Sud - said to have more bang than a French nuclear test - examines what the New Zealand we know now would look like if the French had claimed the South Island in 1938.

170 years after colonisation, Armstrong's Zelande du Sud is an independent, prosperous French-speaking socialist nation where people work 30 hours a week, enjoy long wine-fuelled lunches, and the popular Prime Minister, Francois Duvauchelle (Andrew Grainger), is a renowned womaniser.

Meanwhile, poor old English-speaking North Zealand is starved of electricity and Prime Minister Jim Peterson, must lead a delegation south to persuade their rich neighbours to get the goodwill - and the electricity - flowing north.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand stars as Dominique Le Bons, the elegant Foreign Minister and George Henare plays Tama Te Tonga, a consummate statesman with a range of business interests on the side.

* Bookings can be made at the Maidment Theatre, 09 308 2383 or www.atc.co.nz.