Coaltown Blues is a moving and entertaining account of a young boy’s early years in a small West Coast mining town. The intimacy of The Te Aroha Little Theatre provides the perfect atmosphere for Chris Green to stage the local performances of his “Meteor at Large” Waikato season of this acclaimed revival of Mervyn Thompson’s play.

While Mervyn Thompson is one of New Zealand’s most significant playwrights, thirty years on many associate his name mainly with controversy. Until recently the play has been largely submerged under this controversy. However, Green believes whatever the truth is regarding this traumatic series of events in which he was embroiled, this one-man musical drama is an important New Zealand work which now needs to be seen. In 2013, Wellington audiences and critics agreed. ”One man play a kiwi classic” stated the Dominion Post. “Entertainingly insightful and timely revival” read the Theatreview headline for the BATS Theatre performance.

Provincial and rural theatre goers have responded in kind. In his Picton season, in 2014, Green was thrilled to receive validation from Mervyn Thompson’s sister Mary after she saw his portrayal of her family life. In Palmerston North from Theatreview: “This is a tour de force performance by Chris Green, who succeeds masterfully throughout the play. Green fits the part he is playing perfectly: he is a talented performer with a warm and engaging presence, a gift for capturing the key elements of character in voice and stance, and a fine, rich baritone voice. These things make it a pleasure to spend an hour and a half in his company.” Word has even spread overseas with Green invited to take the revival to The Edinburgh Festival.

Coaltown Blues depicts both the tragedy and comedy of poverty and politics; the struggles throughout Thompson’s childhood in a West Coast mining town. It is both a lively and comical celebration and a wrenching lament for the working class roots from which he sprang. Coaltown Blues resonates both for audiences who relate to the experiences of the play and to today’s audiences, as child poverty, and the necessary resilience of life in mining towns again fill our news screens on a regular basis.

Sunday 28th May at 2pm and Friday 2nd June at 7.30pm General Admission tickets (no seats allocated) Book on 027 311 4900 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

$25 adults and $20 unwaged