Relating in a virtual world
“I just found out they’re doing to do a C-section on Monday morning, which is four days before the opening. I had a deal with the baby to hold on until opening night, and I feel like she held up her side of the bargain, but the doctors have intervened and now she’s coming early,” laughs Lennart.
Lennart is directing Hearts Encoded, a first play by Aaron Alexander, and has been prepared for the possibility of interruption-by-labour for some time.
“The show’s in a really good place but it still breaks my heart. I’ve had this hope of being discharged from the hospital and yelling, “take me to the theatre!” But that might not end up happening,” she says.
She might be preoccupied with life, but Lennart says the running theme through all three plays this year is death.
As well as Hearts Encoded, the festival features coming-of-age drama For Johnny by Whiti Hereaka, and zombie thriller Disorder by Thomas Sainsbury.
Hearts Encoded explores, “the human experience set in a condensed world of Second Life-type computer games.”
Second Life is an online world where people create fictional avatars and then build entire virtual lives to suit.
“[The play] is about the idea that you can try to be someone else, but of course you can’t escape who you are in essence… And how two people can be so connected and important to each other, but in real life they wouldn’t recognise each other on the street.”
Lennart, who also teaches theatre at Victoria University, directed for the festival last year too.
“I work with young people a lot, and I really enjoy that passion they bring, and the exhaustible amount of energy. I like to help inspire them. It’s a big call to decide to go for a life in theatre, and I want to help pave the way a little bit.”
Lennart says she’s discovered a lot this year, but with labour looming one lesson stands out.
“ I’ve learnt that very, very occasionally there is something in life more important than theatre.”
Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre, Bats Theatre, July 22 – August 6.










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