Owls Do Cry

"The result is an extraordinarily brave, jaw-dropping performance that is simply faultless. There is not one wasted moment in the piece. It’s the best show I’ve seen this year." – The 13th Floor

Considered the first great New Zealand novel, Janet Frame’s Owls Do Cry follows the story of the Withers siblings, Daphne, Chicks, Toby and Francie, and their lives in small town New Zealand following a family tragedy.

Filled with fierce heart and visual splendour, Red Leap Theatre’s energetic response to Owls Do Cry is a surprising and moving experience delving in to the poetic world of Janet Frame and the Withers family.

Rather than creating a direct narrative staging of Owls Do Cry, Red Leap have taken inspiration from Frame’s rich imagery and poetry to create a multi-disciplinary dreamscape. This extraordinary tale is transformed into an exciting devised performance through Red Leap’s signature physical and visual styles, capturing and revealing Frame’s pertinent insights into society.

Created by a powerhouse creative team led by Artistic Director Julie Nolan and Directed by Malia Johnston.

"The show throws up a kaleidoscope of deeply evocative images which highlight the imaginative processes that take place in the minds of readers." – The New Zealand Herald