Suitcase Show

A NOTE FROM THE COMPANY

Suitcase Show is a collection of short stories inspired by ideas of lone and lonely travellers, of carrying your home, and of odysseys of travel in a world that’s falling apart. We built it through a series of showings in site-specific venues (a bar, a photography darkroom…) then put the pieces together to premiere at NZ Fringe 2024. We were interested in working up material like a band and then shaping it like an album. A version of one of our stories was first told as part of our show The Devil’s Half-Acre (Aotearoa NZ Festival, 2016), and we’ve adapted another one from Chaucer (he’s cool with it). The show will continue to evolve and we’re always keen to hear feedback. Fill out the form at the end of this page, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky @trickofthelightnz. To find out more about Suitcase Show, visit our full show page here.

We’re taking Suitcase Show to Aberdeen at the end of July, to Edinburgh Fringe in August, and to Denmark in September. If you know anyone there who might be keen, spread the word.

P.S. Pre and post-show is by Delaney Davidson. Have a listen.

THANK YOU

Thanks to all the team at St Magnus Festival for bringing us back to Orkney and making this return season possible; thanks to Creative New Zealand for helping us get hereto Playmarket for the script clinic, and to Dan Bain for his script advice; to our brilliant assistant Sophie Helm for all her excellent work; to everyone who offered feedback along the way; to friends and whānau, flatmates + lovers – we couldn’t have made this without you.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Trick of the Light Theatre a company from Aotearoa / New Zealand founded by Hannah Smith & Ralph McCubbin Howell. Our works include The Road That Wasn’t There(Outstanding New NZ Play, Most Promising Director and Production of the Year – Wellington Theatre Awards 2013; Children’s Event Award – Fringe World, Perth 2016; Best Children’s Event – Adelaide Fringe 2016), The Bookbinder (Best of the Fringe – NZ Fringe 2014, International Excellence Award – Sydney Fringe Festival 2014, BDO Children’s Theatre Award – Fringe World, Perth 2015), and Tröll (Outstanding Theatre Award – Fringe Review, Edinburgh, 2019, Children’s and West Arts Editor Weekly Award – Fringe World, Perth, 2019). At the 2022 Wellington Theatre Awards, The Griegol was awarded Director, Composer, and Production of the Year.

GREEN THEATRE

We are in a climate crisis and we recognise that making and touring theatre comes with an environmental footprint. As a company we’re committed to adapting our work and ways of working towards environmental sustainability, and to using our platform to advocate better practices. We designed Suitcase Show to have a minimal footprint, with a small touring team and with freighting components forming our onstage design. There’s always more to do, and we’re always keen for ideas. Find out more about what we do, our green strategy, and links to resources we’ve found useful on our About page here.

Do you have feedback on the show and / or would you like to sign up to our mailing list? Send us a message below.