Running into the Sun: Ōtautahi

A 60 minute, high octane performance at the Christchurch Arts Centre with two actors, a three piece jazz band and four contemporary dancers. 

It’s graduation night. Ash and Mary discover they are pregnant. A flash flood hits their hometown. The war crimes overseas become more horrifying.

Running into the Sun arrives back in Aotearoa after a breakthrough debut at the 2024 Melbourne Fringe, winning Best Emerging Company and Best Theatre from a pool of 400+ shows. 

Get ready for a 60 minute whirlwind performance at the Christchurch Arts Centre with two actors, a three piece jazz band and four contemporary dancers. 

The story follows Ash (Ben Ashby), Morris (Ethan Morse) and Mary (Jasmine Susic), at their university graduation house party. As they deal with personal heartbreaks, surprises and betrayals they must also reckon with a climate disaster unfolding in their hometown and a global future filled with war and political unrest. Dance, Clown, Live Music, Film and Physical Theatre weave together to catch the feeling of hope in the face of oncoming doom.

Running into the sun was developed by a2 Company; The Dance & Theatre production house co-directed by Nadiyah Akbar (Footnote, Joel Bray Dance, Malia Johnson) and Ben Ashby (Artistic Director of Long Cloud Youth Theatre 2020-2023)

“messy, joyous, heartfelt and completely off the chain.” 
Melbourne Fringe Festival: Judges’ Picks.

“...suffocating and comforting …exhausting but exhilarating”
My Melbourne Arts 

Running into the Sun is also on in Auckland, Wānaka and Wellington; Go to our website or follow us on instagram to find out more.

Credits 

Ben Ashby - Writer, Director, Producer, “Ash”

Nadiyah Akbar - Choreographer, Rehearsal Director, Dancer

Ethan Morse - “Morris” 

Jasmine Susic - “Mary”

Alec Katsourakis - "Jack"

Luke Romero - Dancer

Toby Leman - Composer, Saxophone, Synths

Seth Boy - Double Bass

Lennox Grootjans - Composer, Drums

Asha Barr - AV, Cinematography, Stage Design, Technical Stage Manager

Cleo Copplestone - Graphic Design

A massive thanks to the 2021 Long Cloud Youth Theatre Company and Pōneke Classical Sessions Ensemble who devised the very first version of Running into the Sun in 2021 at BATS theatre, to Climate Consultants Professor Bronwyn Hayward and Raven Maeder, to Dany Akbar and Davin Ojala who were in the 2024 Melbourne Fringe development process and performance. And to our friends and family who have housed and supported us on this tour of Aotearoa. 

Supported by Creative New Zealand.