Sacrilege Productions
Sacrilege Productions was a queer political theatre company founded in 2015 by Joshua Coles-Braun, Elena Berg, Maddie Woods and Kerry Lane. The eclectic production style integrated elements of cabaret, fetish performance, drag and burlesque with scripted theatre, and rapidly built a enthusiastic fan following.
The company’s first production, A Sanctimonious Celebration of Drag and S&M, was staged as part of the 2016 Dunedin Fringe Festival. Jasper Ririnui joined the company as a co-producer in 2017, replacing Coles-Braun, Berg and Woods. The company was active until 2020, during which time it staged ten original plays written by Kerry Lane, and produced the popular cabaret series Locked, Cocked and Ready to Rock! in addition to various standalone and festival events.
Praise for Sacrilege Productions
“…a stellar night out…a slew of amazing characters conveying every aspect and nuance of the gender and sexuality. Characterisation is flawless and you can’t help but love them all…The importance of such a production as a vehicle for LBGTQ+ representation is not lost on me, as the mother of a transgender son. As the performance ends, he turns to me with tears in his eyes and tells me, “I’ve found my people.””
Review of The Passion of the [REDACTED] (2019), theatreview.org.nz
“Does it all make total sense? God no. Does it matter? Certainly not. Do the audience love it? Undeniably.”
Review of So Long, Hold the Fish (2018), theatreview.org.nz
“This is the third Sacrilege show I have seen…the characters and performances grow with each outing. The overall mood of the show is light hearted and comedic, although Double Maths also contains some moments of beauty and profundity. The characters are eclectic and complementary, the writing smart.”
Review of Double Maths (2017), theatreview.org.nz
Photos from the company’s work can be found here.
Photo: Maddie May in Good Thing He’s Cute, 2018. Photo by Kerry Lane.
Little Scorpion Productions
Little Scorpion Productions was an independent theatre company founded and directed by Kerry Lane. The company was active between 2015 and 2019, and received critical acclaim for its large-scale, immersive productions in unconventional spaces.
The company also worked closely with local high schools, instituting an internship programme that offered teenagers the chance to learn from professional mentors while working backstage on productions.
Praise for Little Scorpion Productions
“Their costumes (designed by Kerry Lane) are an ever changing magnificent delight.”
Review of Marine Snow (2019), theatreview.org.nz
“Kerry Lane’s direction and production are immaculate. The story-telling is palpable, touching…”
Review of Wings (2019), theatreview.org.nz
”Lane is an extraordinarily courageous, innovative director … [who] has directed a powerfully emotional, intense production…”
Review of Hamlet (2018), theatreview.org.nz
“sheer magical beauty … utterly gorgeous, fabulous costumes … a production that disturbs and delights in equal measure.”
Review of The Skriker (2016), theatreview.org.nz
More information and photos can be found at the production pages for Wings | Women Like Us, Marine Snow, Hamlet and The Skriker.
Photo: Jacinta Compton as Girl with Telescope and Mac Veitch as the Spriggan in The Skriker, 2016. Photo by Miguel Nitis.
