Helios won a Summerhall Lustrum Award last year at the world’s largest performing arts festival and is written and performed by Yorkshire-based Alexander Wright, accompanied by an original recorded score by Phil Grainger.
The team known as Wright & Grainger’s show marks the return of the "childhood pals", who won Best in Fringe at the Dunedin Fringe Festival in 2019 with their retelling of Orpheus that toured 14 locations .
After winning at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Helios, performed solo by Wright, has since toured the United Kingdom, Perth, Melbourne and Canberra; and it was performed for a month at Adelaide Fringe before coming to New Zealand.
A coming-of-age story about the son of the god of the sun, Helios is an epic tale nestled within the everyday.
British theatre critic and author Lyn Gardner calls it "a shining little piece of theatrical alchemy.”
"It’s about growing up. It’s about the pride of young boys. It’s about the invisible monuments we plant in our landscapes", Wright said.
New Zealand was one of their "absolute favourite" places to "meet, gather and tell stories" and they were looking forward to sharing their new show with audiences.
"Our minds were blown and hearts were opened when we first came here in 2019, and every year we try to find our way back.
"We love the people, we love the communities, we love the places", Wright said.
The show had its New Zealand premiere at the Wānaka Festival of Colour’s Aspiring Conversations on Saturday and continues throughout the South and North Islands till April 28.
It will be performed at Settler Theatre in Oamaru on Wednesday.
— Staff reporter
