Beth Kayes trained in traditional theatre, circus, and contemporary physical theatre. From 1991-1995 she worked with Australian company Legs On The Wall and toured with them nationally and internationally, performing in the award-winning show 'All of Me' and in aerial work 'Homeland' on the sides of skyscrapers.
In 1995, Beth formed Co Theatre Physical, co-creating 'Miss Havisham’s Dream', commissioned by Melbourne International Festival 1995. 'Miss Havisham's Dream' then toured to European Summer festivals with Frans Brood Productions in 1997 and 1998.
Over the years Beth has instigated numerous shows by creating the concepts, producing, and co-devising the works: 'A House Across Oceans'(2000-2005) directed by Christian Penny, 'OH BABY' (2009-2010) directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins. Solo show 'Once There Was A Woman' (2017-19) created and performed by Beth Kayes, premiered at Auckland Fringe ‘17 winning ‘Judges Special Commendation for Performance’ and at NZ Fringe ’19, Beth was nominated for ‘Best Performer’.
Summer at Q has hosted shows 'Get Out of My Letterbox' (2020) created by Katie Burson and Beth Kayes and 'Wheel Head' (2023) directed by Beth Kayes.
Beth also writes plays for young people which Co Theatre Physical tour into schools in NZ and in Australia. Two of Beth's plays have won the Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young' competition in the 8-12 year old's category: 'Monarch' in 2021 and 'Wild Feelings' in 2023.
Organisation/Company
Name: Co Theatre Physical Ltd
My Role: Producer, director, writer, performer, administrator, costume washer, prop fixer.
Co Theatre Physical, formed by Beth Kayes in 1995, creates original theatre for diverse audiences and settings. Our first show ‘Miss Havisham’s Dream’ commissioned by Melbourne International Festival ‘95, toured Australian festivals and Europe with Frans Brood Productions. 'A House Across Oceans' (2000-2005) directed by Christian Penny, premiered in Sydney’s B Sharp Belvoir St Theatre and toured to NZ arts festivals 2004-2005. 'OH BABY' (2009-2010), directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins, funded by Creative NZ, toured NZ arts festivals in 2010. Solo show created by Beth Kayes 'Once There Was A Woman' (2017-19) was presented at Auckland and NZ Fringe Festivals.
'Get Out of My Letterbox' (2020) co-created by Beth Kayes and Katie Burson, premiered at ‘Summer at Q’/Auckland Fringe. In 2023 Katie Burson, Irasa Siave, Lucas Haugh and Beth Kayes presented ‘Wheel Head’ for Summer at Q, 2023.
Co Theatre Physical have performed 'Road Cone Activation'- an outdoor, wandering performance. Funded by Albert-Eden for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), the performance took place on the streets and public places across the suburbs of Albert-Eden local board.
Co Theatre Physical have toured shows into schools and kindergartens for the last 23 years, starting in NSW in the year 2000 with management Young Australia Workshop. Two recent touring school shows written by Beth Kayes 'Monarch' and 'Wild Feelings' have both won the Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young' competition in the 8-12 year old's category.
Iwi affiliation
Pākehā
Rohe
Auckland
How I got where I am today.
Supportive generous colleagues and family. A love for creating and performing theatre.
Whānau
Colleagues, friends, family.
Something cool
I am turning 60 this year! Maybe I could call myself a veteran theatre-maker.
Beth Kayes trained in traditional theatre, circus, and contemporary physical theatre. From 1991-1995 she worked with Australian company Legs On The Wall and toured with them nationally and internationally, performing in the award-winning show 'All of Me' and in aerial work 'Homeland' on the sides of skyscrapers.
In 1995, Beth formed Co Theatre Physical, co-creating 'Miss Havisham’s Dream', commissioned by Melbourne International Festival 1995. 'Miss Havisham's Dream' then toured to European Summer festivals with Frans Brood Productions in 1997 and 1998.
Over the years Beth has instigated numerous shows by creating the concepts, producing, and co-devising the works: 'A House Across Oceans'(2000-2005) directed by Christian Penny, 'OH BABY' (2009-2010) directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins. Solo show 'Once There Was A Woman' (2017-19) created and performed by Beth Kayes, premiered at Auckland Fringe ‘17 winning ‘Judges Special Commendation for Performance’ and at NZ Fringe ’19, Beth was nominated for ‘Best Performer’.
Summer at Q has hosted shows 'Get Out of My Letterbox' (2020) created by Katie Burson and Beth Kayes and 'Wheel Head' (2023) directed by Beth Kayes.
Beth also writes plays for young people which Co Theatre Physical tour into schools in NZ and in Australia. Two of Beth's plays have won the Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young' competition in the 8-12 year old's category: 'Monarch' in 2021 and 'Wild Feelings' in 2023.
Organisation/Company
Name: Co Theatre Physical Ltd
My Role: Artist, producer, director, writer, performer, props maker, wardrobe person, driver.
Co Theatre Physical, formed by Beth Kayes in 1995, creates original theatre for diverse audiences and settings. Our first show ‘Miss Havisham’s Dream’ commissioned by Melbourne International Festival ‘95, toured Australian festivals and Europe with Frans Brood Productions. 'A House Across Oceans' (2000-2005) directed by Christian Penny, premiered in Sydney’s B Sharp Belvoir St Theatre and toured to NZ arts festivals 2004-2005. 'OH BABY' (2009-2010), directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins, funded by Creative NZ, toured NZ arts festivals in 2010. Solo show created by Beth Kayes 'Once There Was A Woman' (2017-19) was presented at Auckland and NZ Fringe Festivals.
'Get Out of My Letterbox' (2020) co-created by Beth Kayes and Katie Burson, premiered at ‘Summer at Q’/Auckland Fringe. In 2023 Katie Burson, Irasa Siave, Lucas Haugh and Beth Kayes presented ‘Wheel Head’ for Summer at Q, 2023.
Co Theatre Physical have performed 'Road Cone Activation'- an outdoor, wandering performance. Funded by Albert-Eden for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), the performance took place on the streets and public places across the suburbs of Albert-Eden local board.
Co Theatre Physical have toured shows into schools and kindergartens for the last 23 years, starting in NSW in the year 2000 with management Young Australia Workshop. Two recent touring school shows written by Beth Kayes 'Monarch' and 'Wild Feelings' have both won the Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young' competition in the 8-12 year old's category.
Iwi affiliation
I descend from English, Irish, Scottish and Swiss people.
Rohe
I grew up with lots of brothers and sisters in a large family in Auckland in the 1960's and 70's. I have lived for two years in London and ten years in Sydney but moved back to Auckland to be close to family when my daughter was born. Twenty-two years later I am lucky to be here amidst the beautiful volcanoes and oceans of Tāmaki Makaurau.
How I got where I am today
Generous inspiring colleagues, hard work, and a realisation that doing anything else is not quite living.
Whānau
Colleagues, friends, family.
What grounds me?
Yoga, walking, reading, talking to family and friends.
'Wild Feelings'
Artform: Theatre for young people, comedy, physical theatre.
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Co Theatre Physical’s new show 'Wild Feelings', for years 1-6 (children aged 5-11 years), combines the curriculum areas of Science and Health through the characters of a jealous tūī bird and a famous bar-tailed godwit (kūaka). Co Theatre Physical mixes story, vivid characters, physical theatre and comedy.
Health: We dive deep into difficult emotions with the jealous tūī and surface with multiple ways to process and resolve uncomfortable feelings.
Science: We journey across the world with the kūaka and learn about her adventures and environmental challenges. ‘Wild Feelings’ examines the life cycles of the tūī and the kūaka, their interaction with other creatures including predators, the threats to their habitats, and the impacts that humans have on these creatures.
Synopsis
'Wild Feelings' features a jealous tūī bird and a marathon flying bar-tailed godwit (kūaka). When the kūaka lands in Thames after her incredible 12,000 km, 8-day flight, the media and scientists flock around her to capture her success. But Tūī is jealous and rude to her old friend the kūaka. Fed up with her life in Aotearoa- fighting off increasing numbers of rats and other predators- Tūī wants to gallivant around the world and be adored by scientists and media too. The Bird Fitness Inspector laughs at her dream and reminds her that Tūī birds are fit for breeding, pollinating and short flights near their trees, here in Aotearoa.
Tūī now has a heaviness inside her, angry, jealous feelings which she can’t escape. Desperate, she flies to see the Wild Feelings Bird. He is half ghost, half bird, 100’s of years old. Together they journey through Wild Feelings Land and Tūī learns many different ways to identify and deal with the storm of feelings inside her.
On her return, Tūī visits Kūaka to rebuild their friendship but finds her exhausted from nightmares-her chicks have not yet arrived from Alaska and she is haunted by the dangers of her last journey. Tūī is shocked to hear what Kūaka has overcome and concerned that if she doesn’t get stronger in her mind and heart, the Bird Fitness Centre will declare her unfit to fly on the next migration. Tūī helps her, using some of her training from Wild Feelings Land and in the Autumn Kūaka is strong enough to fly. Tūī farewells her friend and promises to welcome her back to Thames next Spring.
Co Theatre Physical's plays 'Monarch' and 'Wild Feelings', both written by Beth Kayes, have won the Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young' competition in the 8-12 year old's category: 'Monarch' in 2021 and 'Wild Feelings' in 2023.
Creative Team and Crew
Writer/director-Beth Kayes
Performer-Katie Burson
Performer-Beth Kayes
Costume Designer-Elizabeth Whiting
Drawing for show image and extra set painting-Niamh Maher
Set Painting-Mary Walby
Photos-Deane Cohen
Producer-Co Theatre Physical
Number of People in the Touring Party
2
Previous Seasons
In 2023 and 2024 'Wild Feelings' has toured to schools in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Napier, Gisborne and Wellington.
Reviews and Quotes
"It was fantastic! The children were absolutely fizzing! We loved your incredible performance! It was wonderful having an energetic and engaging show about growing our emotional literacy!"
Julia Nissen, Ponsonby Primary School
"Thanks very much for a dynamic, energetic and enjoyable show. Our tamariki were really engaged and enthralled from start to finish. The content was also directly linked to what we’ve been learning and discussing at school."
Jenn Moffat, Bayfield School
"The ‘Wild Feelings’ show was such a great experience for our tamariki. It was lots of fun and full of great learning that suited all age groups from Year 1s to our Year 6s. There was so much laughter and great interaction from our students. They were engaged from the start to the finish. Thank you yet again for providing wonderful entertainment with meaningful messages."
Joanny Beasley St Theresa’s Catholic School, Plimmerton.
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
'Wheel Head'
Artform: Theatre, physical theatre, comedy.
Development Status: Tour Ready (Full length video of the 50 minute show is available on request. Please email bethcotheatrephysical@gmail.com)
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
A dead cyclist tries to make sense of her departure date. Everyone has their own opinion…the fix-it mayor, the tūī, the greenie. The bus is not in service, the train abandoned, the cycleway unfinished. The only witness is the bar-tailed godwit but she is busy eating worms.
An absurd romp down the cycleway of cancelled buses, avian romance and death by road cones. Toot toot, your train to transport limbo awaits.
Beth Kayes, Katie Burson, Irasa Si'ave, Lucas Haugh return to Summer at Q Theatre with an absurd mix of clown and physical theatre.
Creative Team and Crew
Katie Burson
Irasa Siave
Beth Kayes
Lucas Haugh
Lighting Design Michael Goodwin
Photos by Deane Cohen
Number of People in the Touring Party
4-5 people (Lighting designer could travel and then also operate the show)
Previous Seasons
Premiered at Q Theatre Loft- February 22nd to 25th, 2023
Reviews and Quotes
"Absurd, playful, and freshly imagined."
"Even attempting to recount the events of 'Wheel Head' results in laughter. This delightful show was not to be missed."
"Co Theatre Physical have once again produced a comedic and engrossing piece. Mixing physical theatre, contemporary transport woes, live music, and light audience interaction, 'Wheel Head', written by Beth Kayes in collaboration with Katie Burson, is a surprising and charming 50 minutes."
Irene Corbett, Theatre Scenes.
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
'Monarch'
Artform: Theatre, physical theatre, children's theatre, environmental theatre.
Development Status: Tour Ready
Media Uploads
Trailer
Synopsis
Winner of Playmarket NZ 'Plays for the Young', 2021, in the 8-12 year old category, Monarch' is a theatre show that mixes vivid characters, comedy, and physical theatre. Performed by dynamic duo Katie Burson and Beth Kayes and featuring costumes by award winning designer Elizabeth Whiting, 'Monarch' is about butterflies, scientists and the environment.
The show follows Lea who is writing her speech for school about the importance of butterflies. Her Grandma is a butterfly scientist who works to protect and preserve monarchs in her area. Lea’s speech writing is interrupted by Carlo the caterpillar. He is claustrophobic and afraid to go into a chrysalis. Lea convinces him to overcome his fear of change by telling him incredible facts about butterflies and their central place in myths and legends.
Meanwhile a city planner announces her scheme to build a motorway that will destroy the butterfly winter home. Lea and her Grandma suggest a tunnel so that the city’s progress and nature, can co-exist. The city planner threatens Grandma. Lea is worried but her Grandma gives her a ‘Scientists from The Past’ Time Machine so she can learn about the courage of scientists. The madcap machine conjures up the courageous Marie Curie, Galileo and David Attenborough.
Lea is inspired and determined to help her Grandma to save the butterfly winter home. When the city planner and Grandma come to a deadlock Lea is called on to step into her Grandmother's shoes and speak up. She is terrified but overcomes her nerves and delivers her speech, just in time.
Scientific information, butterfly survival, intergenerational partnerships, societal change.
Creative Team and Crew
Performers: Katie Burson and Beth Kayes
Costume Designer: Elizabeth Whiting
Set Designer: Kathryn Jarvis
Sound Design: Beth Kayes and Katie Burson
Writer: Beth Kayes
Producer: Co Theatre Physical Ltd
Number of People in the Touring Party
Two people
Previous Seasons
Tour to 30 + Primary schools in 2020 in the North Island of New Zealand
Auckland Live 'Pick & Mix' November 7th and 8th, 2020- Concert Chamber and Bruce Mason Theatre.
Tours to 30+ primary schools in 2021,2022 and 2023 in North Island, Christchurch, Dunedin.
Reviews and Quotes
"Monarch contained all of the interwoven elements within Performing Arts, while presenting relevant curriculum concepts & information based on Science, Social Sciences, Writing, Environmental issues, and much more.
The set design and costuming was so creative and cleverly utilised. Who would have thought that a caterpillar could be this ‘lifelike’ creature telling a story!! Especially with the on cue sound effects – had the audience captivated and laughing along! We even got to meet ‘famous scientists’ from the past… mixing & mingling with the audience. Full of humour and pitched at a level for tamariki to access. What more can I say… fantastic."
– Angie Riggs, Assistant Principal, Don Buck Primary School, Auckland June 2021
“Thank you so much for sharing your performance with us. From the youngest pre-schoolers to the oldest Year 6’s as well as from the teachers, I have had only positive feedback. Please let us know if you are ever in the area with another show – we’d happily have you back.”
– Jacqui Larkan, Springbank School, Kerikeri, May 2021
"Thanks for the great show, terrific feedback from teachers and students. We will book again, please keep us informed.”
– Lance Coker, Mangawhai Beach School, 2020
“ You were amazing!! Thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Thank you for coming and we wish you the best for future shows..”
– Debbie Anderson, Marian School, Hamilton, 2020
“Thanks for a wonderful show, I received lots of positive comments about it. Your resources for teachers were excellent too..”
– Karen Davies, The Gardens School, Manurewa, Auckland, 2020.
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.