Bought to you by Basement Theatre, LatinX Makers Week is a vivacious and precious offering for Latinx communities to share space with creatives, experts, performers and activators. This will be for a week of intimate workshops that platforms Latinx knowledge sharing and creation, community building and unapologetic self-expression. Curated and created by Basement's own Producer Pal, China González, with intentions of fostering more creative havens for Latinx artists and our wider communities. This is a week that we warmly welcome you all to join. Light snacks & wai provided. Proudly supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.
The spots for these workshops are limited so a selection of applicants will be made for each workshop. The cut-off date to apply is Nov 3rd, any forms submitted after that will not be taken into consideration. Results will be announced on Tuesday November 5th. A waitlist will be active for all workshops. If you are unable to make the night(s) you express interest in, please let us know ASAP so we can offer the place to someone else.
There will be a photographer present during some of our workshops, should you not wish to be photographed, please flag that with us beforehand and we'll ensure our photographer is aware.
Any questions, contact:
china@basementtheatre.co.nz
amber@basementtheatre.co.nz
programming@basementtheatre.co.nz
Across the 5 evenings, we have:
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Tuesday 12th November (7-8.30pm)
Marketing - Lisa Garritty
Lisa Garrity (she/her) works in sales & marketing in the video production industry in Tāmaki Makaurau. She identifies as a Lebanese/ Kiwi, born in Auckland New Zealand, but with her heart firmly planted in Wellington where she lived for 16 years. She spent 10 years Producing, Marketing and performing with Waiheke Comedy, as Lisa Garrity and know Radical Peanut Gallery. She is renowned for delivering shows to sell out audiences for nearly every show. She brings a wealth of knowledge and has an active enthusiasm for the improv industry and the artists’ – both here and globally.
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Wednesday 13th November (7-8.30pm)
Lipsync - George Fowler
Hugo Grrrl is a drag king, a doofus and comedy and cabaret producer, creating smutty, rough-around-the-edges, politically-charged late-night theatre that’s bound to leave ya with a smile on your face and a bit of glitter in your hair. He won season 1 of NZ’s drag race (House of Drag) making him the first drag king ever to both feature in and win a televised reality competition. He has taught drag to beginners in various contexts for five years, and has been the Drag Tutor at National Youth Drama School since 2023.
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Thursday 14th November (7-8.30pm)
Storytelling to inspire the creative process - Matías Avaca
Matías Avaca: an Argentine improviser living in New Zealand. He co-founded Mabel Impro and the Auckland Improv Festival, and helps drive Laenye Productions, a platform for Spanish-speaking artists. Bridging linguistic and cultural divides with his improv style, Matías's influence spans 15+ countries, further solidifying his impact on the Improv community.
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Friday 15th November (7-9pm)
Improv workshop: Follow Your Joy (spontaneity and self-awareness) - Steven Lyons
Steven Lyons is a neurodiverse performer who has trained and performed comedy worldwide. Steven studied at renowned schools like Second City Chicago, The Annoyance, and The Loose Moose Theater. He’s performed with Second City Theatricals on Norwegian Cruise Lines and was part of the professional ensembles at ComedySportz Chicago and Laugh Out Loud Theater. Now based in Tāmaki Makaurau, he’s worked on 7 Days, Taskmaster NZ, and directed tv shows like The Block NZ and Drag Race Down Under. Steven’s passion is teaching and inspiring others to create engaging, joyful theatre.
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Saturday 16th November (7-8.30pm)
Script Annotation: Lorca - Esaú Mora
Media agnostic actor / writer / director / producer of boldy irreverent plays, television, short-film, and stand-up comedy. Esaú's work is inspired from his experiences as a queer first-generation Mexican-American expat. He most recently co-produced/performed in WINK by Jen Silverman at Basement Theatre, he adapted/directed DADDY UBU (from Ubu Roi) for the Youth Company at ATC, created/produced/performed CHOLO FUGUE at Basement Theatre, and is currently developing a television series. Esaú is committed to creating diverse work, free from virtue signaling, intent on challenging audiences. His aesthetics are influenced by his work in New York and training with SITI Company, Elevator Repair Service, The Mad Ones, the Actor Apprenticeship at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and BFA acting program at Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU.