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      Antonio!
      Basement Theatre presentsAntonio!

      Antonio!

      with Butch Mermaid Productions

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      Where

      View venue

      Basement Theatre

      Lower Greys Avenue

      Auckland, New Zealand

      When

      Wed 19 Mar 2025 - Sat 22 Mar 2025

      Running Time

      60 minutes

      Delivery Options

      eTicket

      Payment Options

      Credit Card

      Afterpay

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      Antonio! is a queer punk pirate musical starring Shakespeare's ultimate love interest.

      What if The Bard wasn't just reusing a character name, but was instead inspired by one hopelessly romantic pirate looking for love in all the wrong places? Antonio! reimagines all of Shakespeare's Antonios as one proudly queer pirate stealing hearts and booty on the high seas - that is, when he's not in London, regaling his playwright lover William Shakespeare with tales of love and adventure.

      Fed up with Will taking his stories but erasing their gay content, Antonio takes the stage with his band The Fools for Love to take the audience on a journey through the love stories that inspired The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.

      "A treasure chest of musical comedy." ★★★★ West End Best Friend (UK) 

      What if Shakespeare wasn’t just reusing a character name, but instead was inspired by one proudly queer pirate stealing hearts and booty on the high seas? Antonio takes the stage with his live band ‘The Fools for Love’ to reclaim his stories in this queer punk pirate musical not to be missed. He’s not bitter: he’s getting even! 

      Now touring Australasia after a ★★★★ and ★★★★★ sell-out season at Edinburgh Fringe 2023, 'Antonio!' is “the cult classic that we all deserve" - Broadway Baby. “This show is such a joy; it’s hilarious, it’s camp” - The Edinburgh Reporter  "Vibrant, passionate and extremely fun" - Theatre Travels (UK)

      Book by Ania Upstill

      Music and Lyrics by William Duignan and Andy Manning

      Directed by Andrew Paterson

      Featuring Henry Ashby, William Duignan, Emma Katene, Jthan Morgan and Ania Upstill

      Fresh from the Adelaide Fringe, this Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit makes its Auckland debut!

      Content warning: Recommended for 14+ for mild coarse language (context: there is a song called ‘Fuck Money’)

      NOTE: The performance at 3pm on Saturday, March 22nd will be a relaxed performance. There will be a touch tour for blind and low-vision patrons at 2:30pm in the theater, and a pre-show demonstration at 2:45pm, also in the theater. Antonio! is a highly auditory show with storytelling told through speech and music, and will not be audio described.

      Relaxed Performance features:

      • Doors left open throughout the performance.
      • House lights left low in the auditorium for ease of movement
      • Touch Tour at 2:30pm
      • A pre-show demonstration at 2:45pm before the show
      • Stickers to allow patrons to opt out of audience participation
      • Ear plugs and fidgets available, other comfort items welcome

      Accessible Features across the Season:

      • Wheelchair accessible seating
      • A wheelchair accessible toilet
      • Free Companion tickets that can be booked by calling or email Basement or iTicket 

      Otherwise, the show will be the same as for other performances.

      Antonio! is in the downstairs space at Basement Theatre, which is wheelchair accessible via a lift. Basement Theatre has a wheelchair accessible toilet and one wheelchair parking space that can be reserved by emailing info@basementtheatre.co.nz or calling 09 309 7433. Early seating is available for all performances, and service animals are also welcome. For full access and inclusion information at Basement Theatre, visit https://basementtheatre.co.nz/resources/access-and-inclusion

      For the Relaxed Show Guide for Antonio!, please click this link.
       

      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. 

      $15 and $20 Basement Mates tickets available for this event. Find out more about Basement Mates here.

      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.

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