• Cherry (Amy Arnold) and Doug (Nat Churches)
  • Zac (Paco Galvez)
  • Julie (Louisa Hutchinson), Lucy (Grace Rhynd), Doug (Nat Churches), Henry (Richard McFadgen) and Ruth (Christina Cie)
  • Lewis (Aidan Allen)

Chaos, comedy and opera collide in Così at The PumpHouse

With five Auckland Community Theatre Trust (ACTT) award nominations for their recent hit Call Girls, Phoenix Theatre is returning to The PumpHouse stage with the Australian classic comedy, Così.

Così tells the story of Lewis, a first-time director, who must manage a quirky group of psychiatric patients as they attempt to stage Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte, despite their complete lack of acting experience, singing ability, or knowledge of Italian. Utter chaos and comedy do indeed collide!
While the characters in the play may not have the skills to pull off an opera, the eleven-strong cast from the Shore and across Auckland have experience and talent in spades as they prepare to bring Così to life with sparkling brilliance. This production proves that even in the most unlikely places, music and art have the power to transform.
Inspired by playwright Louis Nowra's own experience directing a play at Melbourne’s Plenty Mental Hospital in 1971, Così unfolds against the backdrop of Vietnam War protests, while theatrical chaos brews inside the facility.
Also the basis for the 1996 film starring Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths, Così is theatre at its funniest and most poignant and is utterly irresistible.

Friendship, love and a dash of opera - what could possibly go wrong?

Così runs from Thurs 20 to Sat 29 March (including three matinees) at The PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna.
Tickets are available at pumphouse.co.nz/cosi
For a limited time only, apply discount code MOZART for early-bird prices for Channel Mag readers.


Issue 160 February 2025