Vernon God Little

"Willem Wassenaar and Sophie Roberts have pulled off a blinder with this production. Vernon is a modern day Hamlet in some ways and that's true also of the role on stage." Lynn Freeman - Capital Times

"It is the cast’s commitment and energy, along with the wise words of the script modulated perfectly through Wassenaar and Roberts’ directorial voices, that makes Vernon God Little the best show I’ve seen this year.” Uther Dean - Salient

by DBC Pierre, adapted by Tanya Ronder.

Downstage and WPAC present Long Cloud Youth Theatre.

Martirio, Texas. A town reeling in the aftermath of a horrific high school shooting. Vernon’s best friend has just massacred sixteen of their classmates before killing himself. With the murderer dead, there’s no one to blame for the tragedy, and the town, hungry for a scapegoat, turns its sights on Vernon.

“See what happens now I’m in trouble. See the awesome power of Trouble. Trouble f*cken rocks.”

The controversial winner of the Booker Prize in 2003, Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre is a biting satire of the America we love to hate: the media, the judicial system, obsession with food, religion and adolescent angst.

Produced by Downstage and WPAC in collaboration with Young and Hungry, Long Cloud Youth Theatre presents Vernon God Little as its first production for 2010. Long Cloud Youth Theatre is a unique training and production company for actors aged 16-21. With recent productions of Spring Awakening, The Crucible and Titus Andronicus, Long Cloud has been celebrated as a hothouse for New Zealand’s most exciting young theatre talent.

Directed by: Sophie Roberts & Willem Wassenaar

Cast:  Anthony Young, Anna Harcourt, Betty Chung, Corine Knorr, Michael Boyes, Michael van Echten, Michelle Ny, Felix Borthwick, Fran Olds, Freya Sadgrove, Hayden Frost, Ingrid Saker, Isabelle Stewart, Jack Buchanan, Richard Osborne, Ben Crawford, Tai Berdinner Blades, Joe Dekkers-Reihana, Nathan Mudge, Tim McDonald, Vanessa Cullen.

Musical Directors: Jack Buchanan & Richard Osborne
Set & Costume Design:  Andrew Foster
Lighting Design:  Glenn Ashworth
Sound Design: Thomas Press

Stage Manager:  Sonia Hardie
Technical Operator:  Marc Edwards
Publicity and production photos: Philip Merry
Producing Partners:  Long Cloud Youth Theatre, Downstage, Whitireia Polytechnic, Whitireia Performing Arts Company