Dark Matter

One vote will change everybody’s life. 

This play is unlike any other. It has heart, drama, and did I mention it's set in space?

A crew of six journey millions of miles away to the planet of Obiteria, in search of the unknown. However, at the halfway point on their mission, they stumble upon something that could change their lives forever. The disjointed group has to face the biggest decision of their life. Should they keep what they found a secret, or let everyone home on Earth know the truth? Terminal illness, and religion are the driving factors for opposing views, but what secrets will be revealed about the rest of the unlikely astronauts. With only a day before they descend home, a choice has to be made. And it has to be now! 

After a successful Playreading in 2024, ‘Dark Matter’ now is ready for the stage. These are some of the quotes from our audience:

“Left the table read buzzing. Would definitely line up to see this as a show” - Nathanael Mitchell

“Dark Matter is a refreshing piece that demonstrates the exciting potential of a criminally under-utilised genre in theatre. I want more of this.” - Brock Oliver

“Dark Matter was a brilliant and tense script that had me on the edge of my seat. It had me eager to learn each new piece of information on the characters.” -Sam Lewis

‘Dark Matter’ is a newly written play by emerging playwright, Chris Robertson. A story we don’t often get to see in a theatre, but one that we should.

AADredge presents a new play written and directed by Chris Robertson.

Our Crewmen:

Kit Marsh as Alice "the scientist"

James Bayliss as Liam "the captain"

Maea Shepherd as Eva "the doctor"

Kealan Schmidt as Peter "the pilot"

Legion Kelly as Adam "the sergeant"

Georgia Woodrow as Liz "the engineer"

About the Writer/Director:

Chris Robertson is a new playwright! After study at The Film School and meeting a lot of actors around the community- he switched focus into theatre. Seeing the gap of deep and dense characters around for his friends, he set about with a goal to change that. 'Dark Matter' is hopefully the first of many plays to come. So after many drafts, rewrites, and a successful Playreading in 2024, it was a no-brainer to get this piece up on its feet on the stage. 

About the Producer: 

Aimee Dredge is an emerging producer, who graduated from Te Auaha's Stage and Screen course as an actor. She found that in order to make projects and jobs appear, you need to create them for yourself. So she learned how to produce and has had many successful Fringe shows the past years alongside fellow classmates. This is her first producing outside a festival environment though, so this is a very awesome play to be a part of.

About the Cast: 

Our cast are all actors in the Poneke community, trying to break into the industry. Most have been involved in the beginning with the Playreading, others were welcomed in for this season. This play has given the opportunity to try different characters and really dig deep into learning more about them and understand the 'why'. They all carry so much within the whole of the story. 

We are a cast of six, making this come to life on a very tight budget. The director and writer is a current student at Vic University, and a lot of the crew are relatively recent graduates. Thus said we have a big vision and know we can achieve an amazing performance on little- we just need a bit of help getting there!

We are asking for $2000 to help us put on this amazing piece of theatre!

All the money funded will be going directly into the project. For set, props, costume, venue hire, and especially to pay our amazing cast and crew! So much work has gone into this play, late night rehearsals and help from friends. It would mean so much to be able to pay them for their efforts. Also you'd be supporting young creatives, trying to introduce new, gritty, and captivating plays into Aotearoa.

This is an all or nothing campaign, so every little donation helps- and we really appreciate it!

We are putting this amazing show on with a 5 night season at Bats theatre in The Dome from the 9th-13th of December! 

9th-13th December 7:30pm, with a 4pm Matinee on Saturday 13th. 

Our Director/Writer and Producer have been working away in the background for over a year, putting the puzzle pieces together. 

The potential success of this show season will pave the way for future works, with our Playwright already having another on the backburn. 

If you want to come and see our mahi, you can buy tickets here!

https://bats.co.nz/whats-on/dark-matter/

(To keep up to date with this project, follow @aadredge_ on instagram)

'Dark Matter' looks at humanity and shows unique flaws of the characters in an intriguing way. The play is set in space and on a spaceship- but the conversations had and the emotion behind every line could be set anywhere, a bar, a cafe, in a park etc. The characters could be people you know, or yourself and it makes you wonder what you would do if you were in the same position. It takes you on a journey of your own self-discovery as you follow each character and the things they share or don't share with others. It is a drama, and has heavy themes but is easy to follow and process, which makes this type of theatre unique.

From all of us a part of this project- thank you so much and hope to see you in the audience!