Kicking Up a Storm

With the right people around you following the same dream, can you really change the world? The sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll frenzy of the counterculture movement is brought vividly to life in this often hilarious, uncensored account of a hippie theatre troupe in 1970s Aotearoa New Zealand.
In their gaily painted old bus, the 'troupies' brought their disruptive, sometimes scandalous, brand of performance to parks and theatres, streets and beaches. The Living Theatre Troupe story, told by the people who made it happen, embraces political satire, psychedelic rock circus, nudity and an innocent optimism based on peace, love and flower power. But it also shows how theatre, as part of the anti-war protest movement, challenged social attitudes and helped change the politics of the time.
Drawing on diary excerpts and interviews, this inspirational book gives a startling glimpse of Kiwi culture, 'can do' spirit and ancient Maori traditions set against a backdrop of The Lord of the Rings landscapes. The bigger story resonates beyond theatre. It concerns the importance of belonging; how we build on what has gone before us and how we pass on a powerful legacy to those who come after us - as captured in the Maori concept of whakapapa (genealogy)

Ken Rea, who was the Living Theatre Troupe's director, is now an internationally renowned acting teacher and coach. As Professor of Theatre at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, he has trained some of Britain's most exciting actors of stage and screen.

List of Illustrations
Preface: The Arrival
PART ONE: Our World
Chapter 1: The Beginnings
Chapter 2: The Counterculture
PART TWO: What We Did
Chapter 3: Birth of the Troupe
Chapter 4: Life Style
Chapter 5: Tours and Shows
Chapter 6: On the Road
Chapter 7: Back on the Road
Chapter 8: The Turning Point
Chapter 9: Our Moment in the Sun
PART THREE: What We've Become
Chapter 10: What We Shared
Chapter 11: Making Sense of It
Chapter 12: The Departure
Postscript
Appendix 1: List of Shows
Appendix 2: List of the Troupies
Further Reading
Index