Michael premiered his Shakespearean solo show, Frequently Asked Questions, at the New Zealand International Festival in Wellington in March 2012.  It has now been renamed Bard Day's Night. 

He will perform it in Auckland at The Basement (21-26 May; click here to book), in Hamilton at the Fuel Festival (5-7 July; click here to book), and in Canberra, Australia at The Street Theatre (10-21 July; click here to book).  Written by Michael Hurst, Natalie Medlock and Dan Musgrove; directed by Natalie Musgrove, assistant directed by Dan Musgrove; produced by Royale Productions.  See the Bard Day's Night website.

The show is over, the audience has left, and Hamlet comes home to his dingy flat to face the final curtain.  But can he make up his mind to do it?  Hilarity follows when Macbeth, King Lear, and Othello arrive to help the hapless prince decide whether or not to be or not to be... or not.

In BARD DAY'S NIGHT, Michael joins forces with two of New Zealand's freshest writing talents for an outrageous and at times profound view into one actor's attempt at self-destruction.

Michael's debut solo performance melds his mastery of the Shakespearean form with an irreverent comic edge.

BARD DAY'S NIGHT:  absurdity, schizophrenia, and blank verse.

RADIO INTERVIEW

Michael was the guest on 8 Months to Mars on 14 May 2012 on Radio NZ National.  He talked about the upcoming season of Bard Day's Night at the Basement, and about the show's future touring locations, his rehearsals for Tribes, directing Spartacus, plus what coming to New Zealand as a child meant to his life, and how he became an actor.  He also talked about the music, people, and books he would take along on a trip to Mars.

Reviews

Dominion Post:  " . . . the fourth and funniest and most outrageous Shakespearean offering of the festival.  . . . In a comic tour de force Michael Hurst plays all the roles with relish, sending up styles of Shakespearean acting, poking fun at the language, and providing some gloriously funny physical comedy when Hamlet and Macbeth fight each other.  But miracuously he can also turn the comedy on a sixpence and change the mood almost withut one being aware that he is doing so as he releases the emotional power of the poetry in some of the most famous speeches in the English language".

Theatreview:  " . . . something more than watching an excellent actor at work.  And so Hurst is, an excellent actor, but to a purpose greater than a mere display of talent.  Beyond the metaphysical swirls the physical highlight in the fight he manifests between Hamlet and Macbeth.  That is it not staged to elicit applause (although we want to applaud) confirms there is more to the purpose".

JENNIFER IS MARGRETHE BOHR IN COPENHAGEN

Jennifer will play Margrethe Bohr in Michael Frayn's award-winning play Copenhagen for Northern Lights Theatre Company at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, Wednesday, 30 May thru Sunday, 10 June 2012.  Also starring Bruce Phillips and Simon Kane with direction by Alex Bonham and design by Rachel Walker. Copenhagen is winner of the Evening Standard Best Play Award (London), the Tony Award (New York) and the Prix Moliere (Paris).

Click here for more info and to book.

Copenhagen, September 1941.  A year after the Nazi invasion, Denmark's most eminent scientist Niels Bohr, a Jew, invited the head of Hitler's atomic research programme, Werner Heisenberg, to dinner.  But as the two nen stepped outside for some air, Bohr realized that Heisenberg had an agenda so ambitious, so terrifying, that he must be stopped at any cost.  The betrayal ended their friendship and changed the course of history forever.

Michael will play Christopher in Nina Raines' Tribes for Silo Theatre, 8-30 June 2012 at Maidment Theatre.  Also featuring Catherine Wilkin, Fern Sutherland and Jodie Hillock, directed by Shane Bosher.

From the press release: 

"The importance of those who are deaf having their own language and identity comes under the microscope as we watch the central character (who is deaf) struggle with the prejudices and social mores of his wonderfully dysfunctional contemporary family unit.

A truly unique play, blending spoken word, sign language and surtitling into its framework, Tribes will leave audiences speechless.  Filled with the sort of one-liners you wish you were quick enough to come up with in real life, this play oozes intelligence, robust humour and profound pathos.

'Funny and moving--this is as good as theatre gets.  Don't miss it '- The Australian

'the best-written, best-plotted, deepest, most daring--and funniest--new play in recent years' - The Wall Street Journal"

Click here to read the full press release; click here to book.

MICHAEL GUEST STARS ON THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS

Michael has a recurring role in season 2 of The Almighty Johnsons playing the god Kvasir. 

He first appeared in episode 2.1 on 28 February on TV3.  See more screen grabs from the episode, plus other information, on our Almighty Johnsons page (warning: contains spoilers!) 

Kvasir will be back for the final episodes on Wednesday 23 May, 

Jennifer will perform her Marlene Dietrich cabaret, Falling in Love Again, at Concert for the Birds, a fund-raiser for Ark in the Park, on 15 June 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Playhouse Theatre, Glen Eden, Auckland.

The show features an exquisite recreation of one of Miss Dietrich's famous gowns, vividly capturing the style and glamour of a time gone by.  Jennifer will sing 23 of her most memorable songs including highlights from her films, concerts and recordings, featuring songs by Cole Porter, Edith Piaf, Frederic Hollander and Pete Seeger.  Jennifer will be accompanied by Grant Winterburn on piano and Aaron Coddel on double-bass.

"The audience laughed, swayed and got moist in the eyes.  . . . Jennifer Ward-Lealand's performance was scintillating".  (The Press)

This concert is organized by the Waitakere Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society to raise funds for returning threatened native birds, including the kokako and the yellow-crowned kakariki, to the Waitakere Ranges. Ark in the Park is a partnership between Forest & Bird and the Auckland Council, supported by Te Kawreau a Maki.

JENNIFER AND MICHAEL ON THE GOOD WORD

Jennifer will be on the panel for several episodes of The Good Word on Fridays at 9:05 p.m., TVNZ7. 

Ep. 4.13, 25 May: Discussing World's End by T.C. Boyle
Recent episodes available to watch online:

Ep. 4.7, 13 April: Michael talks about his favorite book.
Ep. 4.1, 2 March: Discussing Bligh by Anne Salmond
Ep. 4.4, 23 March: Discussing Atlas of Remote Islands by Judith Schalansk

FIVE NEW CAST MEMBERS FOR SPARTACUS

Starz has announced five new cast members for season 3:  Australian Todd Lasance (Crownies) has been cast as a young Julius Caesar; British Simon Merrells (The Wolfman, Family Affair) will play Marcus Crassus, the richest man in Rome; New Zealander Anna Hutchison (Cabin in the Woods, Shortland Street, Go Girls) will play Laeta, the privileged wife of a Roman dignitary; Australian Jenna Lind (Underbelly II, Burning Man) will play Kare, a loyal slave to Marcus Crassus; and New Zealander Gwendoline Taylor (Go Girls) will play Sibyl, a beautiful young slave rescued from the Romans.

Season 3 of Spartacus began filming in New Zealand in late April 2012; Michael will direct two episodes.  It will begin airing on Starz in late January 2013.

In 2011, Michael was a producer of Spartacus: Vengeance and directed ep. 1 'Fugitivus' and ep. 6 'Chosen Path'.  He also had a very brief cameo in ep. 9 'Monsters,' playing a Roman soldier.  See screen captures here.

Michael previously directed Spartacus: Blood and Sand ep. 5 'Shadow Games', ep. 9 'Whore', and ep. 12 'Revelations', and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena ep. 3 'Paterfamilias'.  See our pages for 'Shadow Games', 'Whore', and 'Revelations'.