Out loud and into the world

The cast of Up Close Out Loud are off to England.

It's called Contacting the World and that's exactly what Massive Company will do when it participates in an international youth theatre project in Manchester this month.

Massive, who took the Sons of Charlie Paora to England in 2004 and recently performed 100 Cousins at the Herald Theatre, has spent nine months creating Up Close Out Loud.

The theatrical montage - rather than traditional play - has been specially devised for Contacting the World, which brings together 160 young theatre-makers from South Africa, Rwanda, Brazil, India, the Philippines, Britain and New Zealand.

It's the first time a New Zealand company has been invited to participate in the two-yearly project, which encourages new ways of communicating and understanding in times of cultural change.

Massive's selection results from a four-year relationship between Auckland's The Edge and Manchester's Contact Theatre. But Massive isn't leaving home until the country - or Auckland, at least - has seen Up Close Out Loud. It will perform three shows before the performers and production team head to Britain.

Up Close Out Loud is about eight young men blazing a "fresh and defiant trail across the landscape of their Auckland" and uses music and "wild physicality" to link the stories of their daily lives.

In characteristic Massive style, directors Sam Scott and Carla Martell invited young performers who attracted their attention at school shows, theatresports and youth theatre workshops to audition.

Eighty turned up; 25 were called back. Scott and Martell decided it would be interesting to work with an all-male cast.

"We just sort of looked at each other and said, 'I wonder what would happen if', and took things from there," says Scott.

The cast includes Jack Haldane-Willis, Kitan Petkovski, Scotty Cotter, Misiarona Puni, Winston Harris, Dominic Ona-Ariki, Ashley Jones and Tainui Tukiwaho who have spent the last nine months in "theatre boot camp" creating their story and training to perform it.

Scott says the cast wanted to tell an urban story. "That's why you won't see any sheep or anything like that on the publicity posters," she laughs.

"We wanted to make a very physical show which would give a sense of what Auckland is like to people on the other side of the world."

Each of the 12 theatre companies going to Contacting the World is partnered with another and they exchange ideas through websites, chat rooms, email and snail mail.

Massive has worked with County Durham's Jackass Theatre Company who sent two of its people to New Zealand this year. They'll visit County Durham after their week in Manchester which includes workshops, shows and, of course, performing Up Close Out Loud.

Scotty Cotter, who turns 21 while in England, admits he isn't sure what to expect but is getting an insight from Up Close Out Loud assistant directors Joe Folau and Wesley Dowdell.

Keeping with Massive's aim to develop new talent, Folau and Dowdell have been tasked with management responsibilities after starring in both the company's earlier shows and travelling to England with The Sons of Charlie Paora.

For Sam Scott, the most exciting aspect is the chance to gather ideas from other theatre-makers, but she may have to rely on team reports back to New Zealand.

Five weeks ago, the powerhouse behind Massive broke her right leg when she was run over and unless funds can be found for a business class airfare, she'll have to stay in Auckland.

The opening night of Up Close Out Loud will feature a silent auction to help raise money for the trip to Manchester. Items up for grabs include $400 worth of Puma gear, art work, Kim Crawford Reserve red wines, theatre tickets and secret chocolate fudge recipes.

LOWDOWN

What: Up Close Out Loud
Where: Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall When: July 7-9, 8pm