Future Downstage Programme

Narrow Road to the Deep North which was originally presented in England as a part of a Peoples and Cities conference in 1968 [unclear: w] has opened [unclear: on] at Downstage.

A powerful play by the controversial author Edward Bond Narrow Road to the Deep North uses a Japanese form and setting to examine man's search for identity and a place in the world. Ian Mune is directing Narrow Road to the Deep North for Downstage. One of New Zealand's leading actors he will also play Shogo a military dictator.

The future programme for Downstage includes the Australian musical play The Legend of King O'Malley which will be presented for one week only from Monday 29th May to Saturday 3rd June. This play is being performed by the Old Tote Theatre Company of Sydney and its Wellington season follows an appearance at the Auckland Festival.

The Auckland based group Theatre Action will return to Downstage, following King O'Malley with Once upon a Planet a new programme about a group of clowns who leave this worn-out planet in order to find a new life.

Harold Pinter's latest play Old Times will be presented in June. This play which is Pinter's first full-length play since he wrote The Homecoming in 1965 has been critically acclaimed in London and recently opened on Broadway. George Webby who directed last year's production of The Birthday Party will direct Old Times.