Smoke Labours Productions

Kia ora y’all!

The last piece of public-facing work I’ll be doing this year is a playreading of a new show I’ve written, with the goal being a big ol’ premiere in 2026.

The details are below, would love to see a bunch of you here. I’ve been working on this one across 2024 and 2025, and think it’s (humbly) one of the best things I’ve ever written.

HOW TO WIN AT LOVE AND ART
Silo Hall, December 14, 7:30pm

Starring Vincent Andrew-Scammell, Max Crean, Bronwyn Ensor and Angus Stevens.

This romantic drama follows four theatre artists as they fall in and out of love with each other while rehearsing a show. When you put your soul on the line, what comes first: love or art? Does the show actually have to go on?

Introducing our writer and director Sam Brooks.

His plays include Burn Her, Lads on the Island, Riding in Cars with (Mostly Straight) Boys and most recently the critically acclaimed production of From Another Woman at Basement Theatre earlier this year. As a journalist, he wrote for The Spinoff for a number of years, and has recently had bylines with Metro Magazine, Ensemble and Sunday.

Book tickets for A Rich Man in our bio! Opening night is sold out, but tickets are still left for other nights.

The second play being read in Firing the Canon is Smashed by Tawhi Thomas on July 9!

This dark comedy follows a spunky crew of teens work, groove, laugh and fight their way into the future in a punchy series of short theatrical vignettes with a theme of kids under pressure.

The cast is:
Kasi Valu as AJ
Poe Tiare Taroro as Grace
Shervonne Grierson as Alice
Finley Hughes as Jimmy
Louise Jiang as Levi
Dylan Thuraisingham as Keene
Tāne Poutu as Jason
Brit O’Rourke as Twitch
Holly Stephens as Mel
Ben Hudson as Chris
Dan Cockerill as Luke

Directed by Mark Chayanat Whittet

This series is produced by Smoke Labours Productions.

All playreadings in the Firing the Canon series are free, presented by arrangement with Playmarket NZ and proudly supported by the Auckland Council and the City Centre Targeted Rate.

Tickets can be reserved at the link in bio.

The second play being read in Firing the Canon is Smashed by Tāwhi Thomas, directed by Mark Chayanat Whittet, on Wednesday July 9.

This dark comedy follows a spunky crew of teens work, groove, laugh and fight their way into the future in a punchy series of short theatrical vignettes with a theme of kids under pressure.

Tāwhi Thomas is best known for plays Have Car Will Travel and Hui, and this marks this play’s Basement Theatre debut.

This series is produced by Smoke Labours Productions.

All playreadings in the Firing the Canon series are free, presented by arrangement with Playmarket NZ and proudly supported by Auckland Council and the City Centre Targeted Rate.

We opened The Perfect Image last night! It's on until February 24 at LOT23 Studio, and you can grab tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-perfect-image-tickets-764228426797

Photography: Jinki Cambronero