Live at Six, directed by Conrad Newport, Bats Theatre, reviewed by Lynn Freeman

SURPRISINGLY few New Zealand plays have been written about the media, given the scope it offers for drama, politics, scandal and treachery. 
Live at Six takes up all these possibilities and more, pitting rival newsrooms TVNZ and TV3 against each other.
This is satire, often biting, even savage at times. Frequent references during the show to the “Veitch affair” remind us that this fictional story is not so very far fetched.
In this scenario, a TV newsreader is filmed acting in a way that suggests she’s under the influence of hard drugs. The video makes its way onto YouTube and all hell breaks loose.  Jane, the newsreader, finds the career she’s fought so hard for is looking shaky as Phil the PR Mr Fix-it strives to salvage the situation for the station. Sue, the hardcore chief over at the rival station, throws all the available resources into beating up the story to make it lead material. Both channels are equally unscrupulous. There can only be one winner though. The play follows the two hours up to the magic hour, 6 o’clock, newstime.
Dean Hewison and Leon Wadham have taken significant risks with this play and that’s what satire needs – fearless writers who do their research so that what you see is funny because it’s so close to the bone.
Great casting also makes this show rock.