Blindness

Overview

The Auckland Writers Festival (Waituhi o Tāmaki) is recognised as one of the best literature celebrations in the world, with seven days of ideas, readings, debates, stand-up poetry, literary theatre, children's writers and free public events. For its 20th outing, more than 200 of the planet's best writers have been booked to bring a world of stories and ideas to the city from 11 to 16 May.

Direct from seasons in London and New York comes new major theatre production, Blindness. The work is an adaptation of Nobel Laureate José Saramago's 1995 novel of the same name, following the story of an unexplained mass epidemic of blindness afflicting nearly everyone in an unnamed city.

The sound installation and immersive theatre experience was written by Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens and directed by Walter Meierjohanna. It is delivered via headphones in a physically-distanced room under glowing fluorescent lights, with gripping narration by Juliet Stevenson.

Multiple performances per day are set to take place across Tuesday, May 11 and Sunday, May 16 at Auckland Town Hall's Concert Chamber. The production contains full blackout periods, bright light, loud noises and sensitive content.

Image: Helen Maybanks.