My Best Dead Friend

Overview

Armed with a bunch of chalk, a set coated in blackboard paint and a soundtrack ranging from Bob Dylan to The Backstreet Boys, Anya Tate-Manning is going to tell you a story. It is a true story; one heavy with loss but buoyed by lasting friendship. My Best Dead Friend is a portrait of memories of two formative events in Tate-Manning's life — one night amongst friends on the streets of Dunedin in December 1998, and her best friend's funeral. She illustrates the events — quite literally throughout her one-woman show — candidly and with affectionate humour. Her tale is accompanied by the lyrics of musical greats and the rhymes of esteemed poetic talents.

My Best Dead Friend has already had three successful runs, including the Perth Fringe World Festival, where it was nominated for the West Australian Arts Editor's award. This time round it's appearing Wellington's Bats Theatre as part of NZ Theatre Month.

Image: Zanetti Productions.