Comedy And Calamity Collide In Mr & Mrs Macbeth Of Duart Valley Road At Toitoi This July
Running for two nights only—Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 July—this modern, fast-paced two-hander promises a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of partnership, performance, and the chaos of live theatre. Written and directed by Gregory Cooper, the show takes audiences behind the scenes as married actors Tom and Jo Macbeth prepare to take the stage in a production of Macbeth. Jo is ready. Tom is not.
What follows is a rollercoaster of sharp dialogue, emotional landmines, theatrical mishaps, and one very unexpected celebrity audience member.
'Watching Mark and Lara together is electric,' says Glen Pickering, Presenter Services Manager at Toitoi. 'They deliver a pitch-perfect mix of comedy and vulnerability that's both relatable and wildly entertaining. This is New Zealand theatre at its best—sharp, funny, and brilliantly performed.'
Celebrated for his roles in MAMIL, The Hobbit, and King Kong, Hadlow joins acclaimed actor-director Lara Macgregor (Clickbait, One of Us Is Lying) in this crowd-pleasing theatrical farce that Theatreview calls 'a sublime masterclass in farce, physical comedy, gnawing vulnerability and on-point poignancy... a must-see treat.'
Whether you're a Shakespeare lover—or someone who avoids the Bard entirely—Mr & Mrs Macbeth of Duart Valley Road is a hilarious take on life behind the curtain that promises to entertain from start to curtain call.
Tickets are available now from Toitoi's website, or from the Hastings or Havelock North isites.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
Beyond Blockbusters: Virtual Production On A Limited Budget
Virtual Production (VP) isn't just for blockbusters anymore. From indie dramas to short-form content and commercials, creatives across Aotearoa are integrating LED volumes and real-time environments into locally made projects—often with tight budgets and lean teams. This event is your chance to hear firsthand how Virtual Production is being used on the ground in New Zealand. What works, what doesn't, how to plan for it, price it, and integrate it at the writing and development stage. Whether you're a director, writer, producer, technician, animator, or VFX artist—this night is for you. Presented by the Visual Effects Professionals Guild, Women in Film and Television and Massey University | National Academy of Screen Arts. Who Should Attend: VFX Artists | Directors | Writers | Producers | Technicians | Animators | Advertisers | Marketers Learn how to: Incorporate VP into story development & preparation Understand practical uses for small-scale production Hear from those already doing it in NZ What to Expect: A walkthrough of Massey's purpose-built Virtual Production Stage Two expert panels covering feature films and short-form projects Networking with fellow creatives, collaborators, and VP professionals A cash bar, light refreshments, and an after party at Havana Panel 1 – Short Form & TVC Moderated by: Nicci Lock | Strategic Advisor, Producer & Post Production Producer Nicci is Strategic Advisor, Producer and Post Production Producer with 30 years in screen, education, and government. Her expertise spans governance, production, and business development in VFX, post, animation, and tech. For 15 years, she has strengthened industry-education ties, advocated for investment, and expanded exports. She is an investor in genre film company Admit One Entertainment and Terror-Fi Film Festival and owner and CEO of of Goldilocks Productions. Richard Bluck | Cinematographer Richard Bluck, NZCS, is a New Zealand Cinematographer who has worked in the Screen Industry for 45 years. He has worked as a Cinematographer on Avatar: The Way of the Water, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, The Hobbit trilogies, Mortal Engines, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, The Monkey King 3: Kingdom of Women, Black Sheep and many other feature films. Matt Eastwood | Director Matt Eastwood's dry wit combined with imaginative visuals creates a subtle absurdity that makes his work distinct and entertaining. From the odd and offbeat to the dark and heartfelt, Matt's versatility spans genres. Drawing nuanced performances and striking visuals, he has established a body of work that is unified under his distinct conceptual eye. Adrian (Wookie) Hebron | Gaffer One of NZ's most experienced Gaffers, Wookie has worked on some of New Zealand's largest productions including Pete's Dragon, Krampus and Lord of the Rings. Over his 35-year career, he's seen the role of Gaffer transform alongside major advances in lighting technology. Jacob Luamanuvae-Su'a | Animator Jacob Luamanuvae-Su'a is an award-winning Samoan animator with 20 years at WētāFX and over 40 blockbuster film credits, including Avengers: Endgame, Deadpool, and Black Panther 2. He earned an Annie Award for animating Thanos and now leads Song of Sina, a saga retelling Samoan legends. He's currently working on Avatar sequels. Panel 2 – Indie Features Moderated by: Sharon Lark | VFX Producer Sharon is an independent VFX Producer, based in London for 30 years working on major international features: Prince of Persia, The Chronicles of Narnia and Casino Royale, among others. After relocating home to NZ, she has worked on co-productions: Thunderbirds are Go, The Luminaries, Australia's Cleverman TV Series, and A24's Mr Corman as well as many other NZ & Australian productions. She is passionate about advocating for the NZ VFX Industries' future and wahine in the workforce. Jonathan King | Director Jonathan King has written and directed feature films Black Sheep, Under the Mountain and Realiti. His graphic novel for kids, The Inkberg Enigma was published internationally by Gecko Press in 2020. He teaches Film in the Screen Arts programme at Massey University and is in pre-production on Black Sheeps – the sequel to his debut feature. Charlie Tait | VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor with over 30 years of experience in the visual effects industry, including more than two decades at Wētā FX. With over 60 major feature film credits, Charles has contributed to some of the highest-grossing and most iconic films of all time. His work includes multiple entries in the Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, and Marvel franchises — films that have defined modern visual effects and global box office records. Event Schedule: 5:30 PM – Tour of Massey University's VP Stage 6:00 PM – Networking (nibbles provided, cash bar) & Tours of Massey University's National Screen Arts Academy 7:00 PM – Panel discussions 9:00 PM – After Party @ Havana Bar Tickets: $25 Non- VFXG Members $10 Student (non-member) Free for VFXG Members, WIFT Members and Massey University's Students and Staff Venue: Massey University Screen Arts Academy – Virtual Production Studio Old Museum Building, Entrance D, Top of Tory Street, Wellington
NZ Herald
13-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay talent in national theatre show coming to Hastings in late July
When Anna Barker steps on to the Toitoi stage later this month, it won't just be another stop on a national theatre tour, it will be a 'full-circle' moment. Barker, who grew up in Hawke's Bay's theatre scene, is bringing the play The Ballad of Briar Gran t back to where
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Scoop
Tom Woodward Releases The 2nd Single From His Forthcoming New Album
has been writing and releasing his unique brand of baroque folk-rock, cosmic country psychedelia, and fuzzed-out lo-fi gems on numerous albums and EPs for the last two decades. With an enviable cache of songs that document his thoughts and experiences, he's already lived a fascinating life. Tom honed his craft in the thriving arts & music scene of Canberra and Melbourne in the mid-2000s before taking his original songs to audiences around Australia, Japan, and the USA. In 2023, Tom put down the guitar and embarked on a two month walk up the east coast of Australia, ending with a hospital stay and a hard-earned respect for the fragility of life. A year and a half later, he got deported as an illegal alien from the USA. Tom's first single from his forthcoming new album was the lively rhythmic bounce and Dylan-esque ' Termination Day ', a raised middle finger to the forces of tech feudalism and economic totalitarianism as they attempt to imprison our souls. Now, following a successful run of shows through VIC, NSW, and ACT, with his band The True Delusions, Tom releases single #2, the hypnotic folk meets indie rock sound of ' If You Wanna Stay Alive ', which premiered on Vital Bits on 3RRR. An opening filigree of fingerpicked guitar gives way to a weightier mood, bolstered by warm bass and dissonant electric guitar chords. The song is about survival, as Tom explains. " It's about how when you're broke and you want to stay alive you have to be dishonest. You lie on housing applications. You lie about how passionately you want to work at Woolworths. You lie just to keep breathing in an entire system that is built on bullshit. There's also a silver lining in all this subterfuge: if you survive long enough, you might just get surprised by a glimmer of love and humanity, glistening like an island in the mirage." Tom's mid-2010s album Beautiful Shadows received critical acclaim in publications such as For Folk's Sake and The Huffington Post and earned him a Canberra Critics Circle award. He has performed at the National Folk Festival, The Multicultural Fringe Festival, and racked up for supports for such luminaries as Abbe May, The Drones, Mikelangelo & the Black Sea Gentlemen, Cash Savage & the Last Drinks, Machine Translations, Steve Poltz, and many more. Tom's eclectic musicality and creative work ethic are proof he's in it for the long haul. Having been sentenced to a wandering life by a sardonic and hilarious God, Tom's been laughing, crying, and singing about it ever since.
