Kicking Up a Storm : The Living Theatre Troupe in 1970s New Zealand

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)