New Zealand’s most beloved family drama, a firebrand feminist comedy from the 80s, and an edgy Basement Theatre classic make up the three plays in the second season of Firing the Canon, a series of free play readings at Basement Theatre that runs from June 25 – 27.
Firing the Canon presents three readings of plays from Aotearoa New Zealand’s massive back catalogue – plays that are important to our history, plays that represent the best of the best, and plays that are just plain cool – and pairs them up with Basement Theatre artists new and familiar. This second season focuses on the queer canon of Aotearoa in particular, reviving two plays from the 20th century from two of New Zealand’s most acclaimed playwrights, and giving a new shot of life to an unsung Basement Theatre classic.
Firing the Canon will bring 17 performers from Basement Theatre’s past, present, and future together between June 25 – June 27 to breathe new life into stories that have lost none of their potency, vibrancy, and humour since their premieres.
The three plays being read are:
Setting the Table by Renee, directed by Lauren Gibson on Thursday June 25th. This bracing comedy is set in the living room of a house in Ponsonby as four women challenge the violence in NZ society and debate the use of it by women, all while rehearsing a revue.
Joyful and Triumphant by Robert Lord, directed by Sean Rivera on Friday June 26th. This classic from 1992 tells the history of the Bishop family in a series of scenes set on Christmas Days spread over a period of forty years, from post-WW2 New Zealand to the wake of the ‘87 depression.
The Black by Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu, directed by Jonjon Tolovae, on Saturday June 27th. This play premiered to critical acclaim at Basement Theatre in 2015, and follows a woman named Cleo who is stalked by her depression – taking the form of a horse.
This series is curated and produced by award-winning playwright and journalist Sam Brooks (Burn Her, Riding in Cars with (Mostly Straight) Boys). He says, “I’m so excited to bring Firing the Canon back to Basement Theatre for another year, and even more excited about this year’s focus: our queer canon. Robert Lord, Renee and Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu are three of our most important artistic voices, and these works are as lively and vibrant as they were when they premiered.”
“I’m also excited to bring these three plays in particular to Basement Theatre’s artists and audiences. Joyful and Triumphant is one of our best family dramas, Setting the Table is as funny as it was when it premiered, and The Black is a reminder that people have always been doing really cool shit at Basement Theatre.”
This year, Firing the Canon will be rounded out with two events on June 27: a workshop on critical engagement with theatre during the day and a salon (read: party) in the evening, for playwrights and play enthusiasts to mix, mingle, and banter all things theatre. It’s a celebration of our canon, not just the plays that make it up, but the playwrights and people who make it essential.
All playreadings and associated events are free to attend.
This series is produced by Smoke Labours Productions.
All these readings are free, produced by arrangement with Playmarket NZ, and proudly supported by Auckland Council and the City Centre Targeted Rate.
Event: Firing the Canon – Jun 2026
