Heartbreak Hotel
Created by EBKM, Performed by Karin McCracken & Simon Leary
This one's for the young hearts, the old hearts and the broken hearts.
Story, science and a synth combine in an exhilarating performance that examines what happens in our bodies when we're bereft. From acclaimed company EBKM (Yes Yes Yes; Gravity & Grace), Heartbreak Hotel tracks a woman's broken heart in a wrenching and relatable journey that's studded with classic break-up songs and razor-sharp observations on the physiology of love.
Accessible performances
Live Streaming, Captioning, and Audio Description are thanks to the ANZ Staff Foundation.
Audio Described (Touch tour 1.15pm ) - 2pm, Sat 22nd June
Online Livestream/ captioned performace - 7:30pm, Tues 18th June
“Poignant, funny - and fantastic...at the heart of the show are the compelling performances of Leary and McCracken...hilarious, heart-warming and moving - often all at once.”
Creative team
Created by EBKM
Writer - Karin McCracken
Director - Eleanor Bishop
Production & Light Design - Filament Eleven 11
Sound Designer - Te Aihe Butler
Show Operator - Peter Davison.
Producer - Melanie Hamilton
Photo Credit - Rebecca McMillan Photography
Graphic Design - India Worsnop
With thanks to Natasha Thyne.
The development of Heartbreak Hotel was supported by Creative New Zealand, Hawkes Bay Arts Festival, Hannah Playhouse Trust, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and Playmarket.
About EBKM
Company bio: EBKM are an award winning partnership of theatre makers from Aotearoa-New Zealand who make socially minded, formally innovative, contemporary performance.
Eleanor Bishop and Karin McCracken have been working together since 2017 when they toured 'Jane Doe', a theatre show that examined rape culture in our communities, throughout New Zealand and internationally, including a successful run at Edinburgh Fringe 2017 and Sydney Fringe 2018.
'Jane Doe' was the recipient of the Auckland Fringe 2017 Social Impact Award, Sydney Fringe Critics Choice Award, Sydney Fringe Melbourne Tour-Ready Award, and Wellington Theatre Award for Most Original Production in 2018.
In 2017 Eleanor and Karin created 'Body Double' alongside Julia Croft for the STAB commission at BATS Theatre, a show that looked at desire and sex from a femme perspective. 'Body Double' was the recipient of Production of the Year at the Wellington Theatre Awards 2017, and was subsequently co-presented by Auckland Arts Festival and Silo Theatre in 2018.
In 2023 they premiered a new work 'Heartbreak Hotel' about the phenomenon of heartbreak; and in 2024, premiered 'Gravity & Grace', based on a work of autobiographical fiction by acclaimed feminist writer Chris Kraus, at Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and Auckland Arts Festival.
