This is the only theatre show cur­rently run­ning in Wel­ling­ton, we’re told, as Com­munity Notice­board begins. It’s a little sur­real to be back in a theatre – I’ve per­son­ally not been in one since like… June? – and it is espe­cially sur­real to be wear­ing masks and spaced out across a tra­verse in BATS Theatre’s Dome stage. What a fit­ting first night back – though – Com­munity Notice­board, expli­citly a show about con­nec­tions people make with strangers?

Using real-life notes found on the com­munity notice­boards at super­mar­kets through­out Wel­ling­ton, the show explores the needs, wants, desires, lives and rela­tion­ships behind the notice writers and read­ers, real­ising rela­tion­ships and cre­at­ing stor­ies bey­ond a few words on a piece of paper. Are the stor­ies true? We’ll nev­er know, but I’d like to think that some of them are.

Best on Tap has an excel­lent improv style that’s groun­ded and real, tak­ing the good moments with the bad. There were lots of ‘awws’ from last night’s crowd and a lot of heart­felt moments, as well as a scene about a fishtank that I won’t get out of my head for a long while.

The Best on Tap cast – Nic­ola Paul­ing, Mary Little, Geoff Sim­mons, Tim Croft, Barry Miskim­min – are very tal­en­ted per­formers with excel­lent chem­istry. Their work is delight­ful to watch – slick, clev­er, funny improv that res­on­ates deep in the chest.

If you’re keen on a good night out at Delta Level 2, I abso­lutely recom­mend this show. BATS is super strin­gent with their COVID-19 pro­to­cols, and everything feels really safe. Do recc!

 

Com­munity Notice­board is on at BATS Theatre in Wel­ling­ton until Sat­urday. Tix are very lim­ited, and also here.