For immediate release 7 February 2003

Introducing The Real Theatre Company and Amadeus
New professional theatre company for Auckland

Theatregoers are in for a treat when The Real Theatre Company, a new professional group based on the North Shore, launches its first season at The PumpHouse on March 1st with a production of Peter Shaffer’s thrilling play Amadeus.

The Real Theatre Company is the brainchild of well-known director, David Coddington who has directed a number of professional theatre productions in Auckland, and also co-owns and runs the South Seas Film and Television School, which he also co-founded.

Coddington has enlisted the support of a group of professional people who have volunteered their time, enthusiasm and expertise to help get The Real Theatre Company established.

"I have always wanted to be involved with a professional theatre company on the North Shore" says Coddington, "And I am delighted that this dream is about to be fulfilled. We are extremely appreciative of the support The Real Theatre Company has received from North Shore City and Creative New Zealand. Getting a new venture like this off the ground is not without its pitfalls and we hope that the local community will show its support by coming to see our plays."

The Real Theatre Company’s first production is Amadeus. Genius, intrigue, wit, ambition and betrayal - Peter Shaffer's award-winning play has them all.  Set amidst the splendour of 18th Century Vienna, Amadeus, a mix of philosophical drama and satirical comedy, tells the story of the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and court composer Antonio Salieri.

Antonio Salieri is honoured as the most famous composer in a city of musicians - that is, until the arrival of young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After hearing the “voice of God” coming from the music of an “obscene child”, the ambitious Salieri is confronted with the limitations of his own talent and embarks on a desperate course of action.

A mix of philosophical drama and satirical comedy, Amadeus has been enthusiastically received by audiences world-wide and has won playwright Peter Shaffer a string of international awards.

Salieri, the court composer, will be played by Stephen Papps who has a long list of film, television and theatre credits to his name including End of the Golden Weather, Shortland Street, Xena and Saving Grace.

Mozart will be played by Tim Raby who has been working as a professional actor for two decades both in New Zealand and abroad. He has appeared in over 40 stage productions. Credits include The Piano, Desperate Remedies, The End of the Golden Weather, Hercules, Zena, Black Beauty and Shortland Street.

The Real Theatre Company is grateful for the support of
First Scene Costume and Prop Hire, More FM and Zeus Hair Design.

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To the 'Amadeus' team...

Last night I came home emotionally wrung out. My mind and body were still feeling the heart-wrenching drama portrayed in your magnificent production. I just have to thank you for it.

Mozart, thank you thank you. My heart sang with you when you were one with your sublime music, smiled with you when you were not able to suppress your rude cheekiness. You did it so well, and it gave such a delightful contrast to the play.
And my whole being cried with you in the depth of your despair. You were magnificent.

Salieri, when you had finally reached your last confrontation with your God, cursed out your despair, and cursed ,
and then just lay there, lay there, I held my breath wide-eyed, and felt the God, and the man, and the agony. Magnificent.Thank you.

What more can I say. It was all so perfect. The stage, the set, sober, beautiful; the smooth flow of the play.

Thank you, director, producers, and cast, for giving me such an unforgettable evening.

At the end I wanted to keep clapping and clapping, and you to come back. But, New Zealanders are not passionate, in that way. The British legacy I suppose.

Afina de Jong - Patron of The Real Theatre Company's Amadeus