Barbarian Productions and Maverick Creative

Property Partner – Maurice and Kaye Clarke

Site: Public Trust Building, 131 Lambton Quay

5-8 September 2017, 10am - 4pm Tuesday-Saturday (until 6pm Thursday)

Images: Ebony Lamb

Media: Newshub film item

Stuff interview and Justin Lester visit

A highlight of the 2014 general election campaign returns for 2017 with Urban Dream Brokerage, New Zealand’s first political hair salon moves up from near the council buildings to the grand hall of the Old Pubic Trust Building, close to the seat of government and across the road from many of its workers.

Designed to endeavour more participation in politics, this collaboration between theatremakers and hairdressers offers cheap coffee and free professional haircuts in exchange for political discussion, with many high spirited encounters.

Barbarian Productions and Maverick Creative look to foster conversation in a space designed to capture the glory of 80s salons, complete with neon, mullets, and questionable fashion choices. Visitors can simply observe or can get more involved, by chatting with the hosts and each other, leaving thoughts on the wall, or ultimately receiving a free haircut – in exchange for a political conversation with the hairdresser.

Speaking to The Spinoff in June this year, Barbarian’s Head Clown Thomas Lahood asked: “What is the value of theatre? Who does it make a difference for? There’s a newfound social purpose that we really strive for.” Political Cutz embraces this social purpose, and has at its core a desire for genuine engagement across the spectrum, dispensing with political affiliations and looking for opportunities to connect, rather than disengage.

Political Cutz first took place in Wellington in September 2014. The salon was visited by 400 people engaging in political discussion, and a further 1800 followed the conversation via the project’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. Funding and support was provided by Wellington City Council, Urban Dream Brokerage and The McGuinness Institute.

“It’s important to us that the barrier to entry remain as low as possible,” says Maverick director and hairdresser Jason Muir. “We want to maximise the opportunities people have to engage, and make sure that communities who usually don’t find their voices counted see this as a place to go.”

Supported by Wellington City Council, UNICEF New Zealand , ‪KPMG, and Good Fortune Coffee co

About Barbarian Productions: Jo Randerson and Thomas Lahood are Barbarian, a company which writes, performs and makes media that is fierce, funny and counter-cultural. Theyt make work inside and outside of theatres, with groups and individuals, amateurs and professionals. Their work ranges from large scale theatre works (Yo Future, White Elephant) to smaller, interactive street experiments with an online component (Brides, Help Us Change, Dress Up Jam). They strive for a new economics in performance which allow a broader audience to participate in our work.

About Maverick Creative: Director Jason Muir has been involved in various interesting creative projects over his 20+ years hairdressing career, initially in industry specific events and fashion events/projects then evolving to theatre, street theatre & public art as a means to convey his trade in a unique context. Other collaborations with Barbarian include Political Cuts 2014, Grand Opening, and Rates Cuts.

A highlight of the 2014 general election campaign returns for 2017 with Urban Dream Brokerage, New Zealand’s first political hair salon moves up from near the council buildings to the grand hall of the Old Pubic Trust Building, close to the seat of government and across the road from many of its workers.

Designed to endeavour more participation in politics, this collaboration between theatremakers and hairdressers offers cheap coffee and free professional haircuts in exchange for political discussion, with many high spirited encounters.

Barbarian Productions and Maverick Creative look to foster conversation in a space designed to capture the glory of 80s salons, complete with neon, mullets, and questionable fashion choices. Visitors can simply observe or can get more involved, by chatting with the hosts and each other, leaving thoughts on the wall, or ultimately receiving a free haircut – in exchange for a political conversation with the hairdresser.

Speaking to The Spinoff in June this year, Barbarian’s Head Clown Thomas Lahood asked: “What is the value of theatre? Who does it make a difference for? There’s a newfound social purpose that we really strive for.” Political Cutz embraces this social purpose, and has at its core a desire for genuine engagement across the spectrum, dispensing with political affiliations and looking for opportunities to connect, rather than disengage.

Political Cutz first took place in Wellington in Sept. 2014. The salon was visited by 400 people engaging in political discussion, and a further 1800 followed the conversation via the project’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. Funding and support was provided by Wellington City Council, Urban Dream Brokerage and The McGuinness Institute.

“It’s important to us that the barrier to entry remain as low as possible,” says Maverick director and hairdresser Jason Muir. “We want to maximise the opportunities people have to engage, and make sure that communities who usually don’t find their voices counted see this as a place to go.”

About Barbarian Productions: Jo Randerson and Thomas Lahood are Barbarian, a company which writes, performs and makes media that is fierce, funny and counter-cultural. Theyt make work inside and outside of theatres, with groups and individuals, amateurs and professionals. Their work ranges from large scale theatre works (Yo Future, White Elephant) to smaller, interactive street experiments with an online component (Brides, Help Us Change, Dress Up Jam). They strive for a new economics in performance which allow a broader audience to participate in our work.

About Maverick Creative: Director Jason Muir has been involved in various interesting creative projects over his 20+ years hairdressing career, initially in industry specific events and fashion events/projects then evolving to theatre, street theatre & public art as a means to convey his trade in a unique context. Other collaborations with Barbarian include Political Cuts 2014, Grand Opening, and Rates Cuts.