The hunt is on

Is Bigfoot real? The Hunt for the Canterbury Panther co-writers Anna Barker and Jack Ellison-Jones were discussing the age-old question when they pivoted to wondering what might be lurking in their own gardens.

“I grew up in rural Canterbury and have always heard the stories of the infamous big cat said to be roaming my backyard, so the idea came together quite organically – especially as a firm Bigfoot believer, he’s a vertical gorilla”, Ellison-Jones muses.

Who’s this infamous big cat, you ask? The Canterbury Panther is our very own feline Bigfoot. An urban legend in New Zealand, this cryptid creature is rumoured to have been sighted as early as the 19^th century and as late as 2020, but hasn’t been proven to exist… yet.

As rumour has it, Naomi Coleridge has caught the beastie! In Hunt for the Canterbury Panther, a heartfelt, cringey, and super silly TAHI New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance show, the young and young at heart are invited to the Shirley-East Cryptozoological Convention. Here, Aotearoa’s monster hunters are gathering to share their research into the creatures beyond the realm of ‘modern science’. Join Naomi (Barker) as she faces the trials and tribulations of our great outdoors in pursuit of something greater. But beware the growling coming from the side of the stage!

Directed by Zachary Klein, The Hunt for the Canterbury Panther fills the gap for theatre for tweens these school holidays. Prowl down to BATS and snare two shows on September the 18^th and 19^th at 11:30am and 1:30pm.