ATC's Next Big Thing Festival to Show CHECKOUT CHICKS Musical & TUSK TUSK, Now thru to July 21

Auckland Theatre Company presents the debut of 'Next Big Thing', a year-long youth company which provides young actors with a bridge between school and full-time industry training. Youth aged 15 - 25 auditioned in March this year to take part in the festival where new talent and works are fostered and developed. As part of the programme July brings the performance of a new musical CHECKOUT CHICKS and Poly Stenham's play TUSK TUSK.

CHECKOUT CHICKS, a new musical by Julia Truscott and Rachel Callinan and directed by Simon Coleman and Jason Te Mete. It is being billed as Glee meets Legally Blonde in a Four Square store and they make check out chick babies!

It's only a matter of time before you'll be dancing down the aisles at the annual Checkout Operator of the Year competition in this gloriously silly kiwi musical with a great big heart.

Featuring: Crystelle L'Amie, Hazel Tansley-Broad, ReuBen Bowen, James Collyer, Leilani Dave-Ekepati, Daksh Juneja, Kalyani Nagarajan, Jo Olsen, Rachel Smith, Lane Twigden, Caleb Wells and Daryl Wrightson.

Set design by Jessika Verryt, costume Design by Caitlin Brogan and choreography by Amanaki Prescott.

Playing 6 - 21 July, 9pm at The Basement, Auckland. Suitable for 14 years+, to book call: 09 309 3395.

TUSK TUSK by Polly Stenham, directed by Hera Dunleavy.

Skins meets Home Alone in this funny and heartbreaking drama by London's hottest young playwright.

Maggie, 14, Eliot, 15, and Finn, 7, are home alone in an unfurnished flat awaiting a call on a cell-phone that never rings. What are they waiting for and where the hell is Mum?

Dancing a fine line between hilarity and heartache, TUSK TUSK is the new offering from 26-year-old English sensation, Polly Stenham (That Face).

Featuring: Flynn Allan, Lucelia Everett-Brown, Arlo Gibson, Arlo McLean, Nilianne Ualiu with guest appearances by Michelle Leuthart and Matthew Norton.

Set design by Jessika Verryt and costume design by Caitlin Brogan.

Both shows are playing 6 - 21 July, 9pm at The Basement, Auckland. Suitable for 14 years+.

To book call: 09 309 3395, for more information visit: Young and Hungry.

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