THE BASEMENT TAPES

Twin Peaks meets Serial in this Fringe First award-winning NZ mystery

Winner: Fringe First
at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

“Impressive one-hander that unearths a family secret that blurs the lines between reality, memory and much more...you’ll be grateful if you’re sat with your back against the wall. ★★★★”

— The Skinny

“Unnerving from the earliest moments, the piece never goes where you expect and this quality of a constantly shifting narrative combined with a quiet humour is what makes the piece so riveting. ★★★★”

— The Reviews Hub

Following her grandmother’s death, a girl faces the overwhelming task of clearing out the basement. She discovers a series of mysterious tape recordings made by her grandmother. As she hears these tapes for the first time, things start to unravel...

Twin Peaks meets Serial in this award-winning New Zealand mystery, which combines the immediacy of physical performance with the imaginative capabilities of audio recording. Squeezed close together among the detritus of a cluttered basement, audience and performer face the waves of secrets and memories that emerge.

Created by: STELLA REID, JANE YONGE, THOMAS LAMBERT & OLIVER MORSE
Performer: STELLA REID
Director: JANE YONGE
Sound Designer: THOMAS LAMBERT
Spatial Designer: OLIVER MORSE
Lighting Designer, Technical Operator & Technical Manager: JASON LONGSTAFF
Producer & Tour Manager: LYDIA ZANETTI for Zanetti Productions

“a breath of fresh air...a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride that will stick with you for days afterwards ★★★★★”

— Broadway Baby

“a startling piece of theatre, compelling and surprising, throbbing with energy ★★★★ 1/2”

— Bouquets and Brickbats

“Reid’s captivating performance ensures that the heebie-jeebies creep up your spine ★★★★1/2”

— Sydney Morning Herald

“intimate and spine-tingling ★★★★”

— The Stage

“A unique thrilling piece of theatre on the things we keep and secrets that can never be given away. ★★★★★”

— Edinburgh Guide

WINNER:
Fringe First, Week One (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018)
Best Performance Award - The Stage (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018)
Outstanding Performance - Stella Reid (NZ Fringe Festival 2017)
Melbourne Fringe Tour Ready Award (NZ Fringe Festival 2017)
Best Director (Wellington Theatre Awards, 2017)

NOMINEE:
Best Performance (2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival)
Best Directed Chaos (NZ Fringe Festival 2017)
Best of Fringe (NZ Fringe Festival 2017)
Outstanding Performance (Wellington Theatre Awards, 2017)
Production of the Year (Wellington Theatre Awards, 2017)

“Stella Reid is terrific as the lead character, balancing between outrageous shenanigans and absolute terror with ease...[this play is] an absolute treat. Both funny and scary...brave leaps and surprising turns. ★★★★”

— Across The Arts

“Totally engaging. A must-see production”

— stuff.co.nz

“thrilling, skin-crawling fun ★★★★”

— Three Weeks

“leaves its audience reeling ★★★★”

— The Wee Review

“Eerie, thrilling and totally engrossing”

— Theatreview

“This show rewarded my attention on every single level. The recordings were weird and poetic, and the beginning opens this big question of how much of is real versus how much of this is practiced. And Stella Reid’s physical performance is amazing.”

— The Pantograph Punch (NZ)