Gravity & Grace

By Eleanor Bishop & Karin McCracken
Adapted from the book “Aliens & Anorexia” by Chris Kraus


Everybody fails, sometimes spectacularly.
Few write a fearless book about it

Premiering 2024 at Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts & Auckland Arts Festival

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Everybody fails, sometimes spectacularly. Few write a fearless book about it

Gravity & Grace is a smart new production by Bruce Mason Playwriting Award-winning duo Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken based on a thrilling autobiographical fiction by acclaimed feminist writer Chris Kraus.

Brimming with intellect, humour and rich visuals, the show follows Kraus through the production of an ill-fated film in Auckland in the 90s, her bold move to punk New York in the 70s, and to a disastrous appearance at a Berlin film market. Along the way, she has encounters with some of the greatest artists and philosophers of the 20th century.

“Gravity & Grace is a triumph. Consistently funny, visually inventive and rich in ideas”
— The Post
“The way all five actors bring total conviction to each beat and moment, as four of them flip in and out of their various roles, donning distinctive wigs like character masks, offers a masterclass in performance skills…it’s insights into fallible humanity are somehow refreshing and reassuring.”
— Theatreview

Credits

  • Nī Dekkers-Reihana, Simon Leary, Karin McCracken, Sam Snedden, Rongopai Tickell

  • Created by Eleanor Bishop & Karin McCracken

    Director - Eleanor Bishop

    Performance Designer - Meg Rollandi

    AV Designer - Owen Iosefa McCarthy

    Music and Sound Designer - Emi 恵美 Pogoni

    Light Designer - Rob Larsen

  • Producer - Melanie Hamilton

    Production Manager - Khalid Parkar, Pilot Productions

    Stage Manager - Natasha Thyne

    AV Technician - Rachel Neser from Artificial Imagination

  • By arrangement with Playmarket.

    The development of Gravity & Grace was supported by Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Te Ahurei Toi O Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival & Creative New Zealand. Thank you to Artificial Imagination for video system design and integration support.

    Initial script development supported by BATS Theatre, through their Artist Residency programme and Wellington City Council.

    Production photos by Andi Crown.

  • Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Circa Theatre 7-10 March 2024

    Auckland Arts Festival, Q Theatre, 21-24 March 2024

  • Production of the Year - Wellington Theatre Awards 2024

    Actor of the Year (Karin McCracken) - Wellington Theatre Awards 2024

    Set Designer of the Year (Meg Rollandi) - Wellington Theatre Awards 2024

    Gold Award - NZ Best Design Awards 2024