Auckland Theatre Company’s Youth Company interrogates what will be left of our earth for future generations to inherit. ATC’s Youth Company present The Trials and Future-tense at the Basement Theatre this November.

The Trials by Dawn King

It is the near future; the climate emergency is gathering pace and our generation is being judged. The jurors are children. But are they delivering justice or just taking revenge?

In Dawn King's The Trials, those who are responsible for the climate emergency are being judged - literally - by a younger generation.

The Trials was first performed at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus in January 2022 and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

'A gripping climate dystopia...compelling and fascinating...a parable about the near future that's also an unsettling window into the vertiginous chaos of revolution' - Time Out (UK)

Directed by Acacia O’Connor and Matthew Kereama.

Approx: 1 hour and 15 minutes, no interval.

The Trials contains strobe lighting, strong language and references to the climate crisis, bereavement, execution, euthanasia, and war crimes.

Future-tense curated by Keagan Carr Fransch

A play anthology, Future-tense is a collection of six 10 minute plays. The stories all ruminate on the future of Aotearoa and are performed by the 2023 members of the ATC Youth Company.

These imaginations on our future are darkly funny, sharp, and insightful.

From an AI (artificial intelligence) robot at the construction of a new Waitematā harbour bridge, to the last descendants of tangata whenua trying to find their way back to the culture that's been stripped from them, this collection of stories is thought-provoking, inspiring and entertaining.

Directed by Leo Gene Peters and Jane Yonge.

Featuring writing from Tāmaki Makaurau-based writers: Alex de Vries, Shelby Kua, Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana, Tuakoi Ohia, Vira Paky & Zane Wood

Approx: 1 hour and 10 minutes, no interval. 

Future-tense contains strobe lighting, strong language, sexual references, depictions of mental illness, threats of violence, suggested drug use, and themes of racism.

Auckland Theatre Company’s Youth Company

ATC’s Youth Company is a part-time, year-long programme offered free to participants aged 18 to 25. The Youth Company lets young people learn in a working theatre, feel comfortable in this space, and train in an environment that acknowledges the enormous strength and resilience it takes to be an artist.

Youth Company is proudly supported by Youth Company Supporters Group. 

Content warnings:

The Trials contains strobe lighting, strong language and references to the climate crisis, bereavement, execution, euthanasia, and war crimes.

Future-tense contains strobe lighting, strong language, sexual references, depictions of mental illness, threats of violence, suggested drug use, and themes of racism.

Want to see even more from Basement Theatre? Click here to see their full schedule of upcoming shows!

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show start time. Latecomers admitted into the theatre at Basement's discretion. No refunds will be given. 

COVID-19 measures at Basement Theatre:

- The Government mandates may be gone, but our frenemy COVID (and a bunch of other nasty flus) are still hanging around. Head HERE for the information on what to do if you're feeling unwell and have a ticket.