Millennials arrived at the party too late - our world is on the brink of environmental catastrophe, and we continue to deny it.

Bright Summer Night brings together a motley group of teenagers at a house party in the bewildering heat of New Zealand summer. Break-ups, new love, drugs, and amateur theatre all make this one chaotic event as the characters attempt to forget their issues, whether personal or global. The storyline is inspired by William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, but the modern setting re-contextualises the play's themes of escapism, environmentalism, sexuality, and consent. Just like the world they live in, we see some of the characters are determined to keep dreaming; putting off tomorrow to indulge in the night.

Director - Elsie Bollinger

Script writer - Elsie Bollinger with Sally Bollinger

Producers - Bevin Linkhorn and Minnie Grace

Director of Photography - Jess Charlton

1st Assistant Director - Jen Smith

1st Assistant Camera - Nicole Winer, Jordan Beresford

2nd Assistant Camera - Jordan Beresford, Blair Berg, Ross Dredge, Alex Marie, Alexandra Farley, Anne van der Pasch, Michael Young, Mark Papalii, Andy MacRae

Gaffer - Bret Saunders

Best Boy - Roger Awhimate

Sound Recordist - Jessi Golding

Boom Operators - David Quintern, Dylan Kelly

Production & Costume Designer - Claris Jacobs

Art Director - Nic Learmonth

Projection Design - Raylene Beals

Wardrobe Assistant - Hannah Truly

Costumes supplied by Nicola Luey, Tia Feng, and Jonnie Ribera

Puck’s shirt designed by Luther Thompson-Bailey

Script Supervisor - Robbie Nicol

Unit Manager - Sian-Marie Utton

Unit Assistants - Chloe Tweddle, Grace Pither, Daniel Robinson

Production Assistants - Anne van der Pasch, Alana Henderson, George Dyer

Casting Assistants - Anthony Crum, Bonnie Simmonds, Dylan Kelly, Eva Woodward, Harriett Maire, Ian Neilson, Jen Smith, Jessi Golding, Maxwell Apse, Pearl Kennedy

Safety Officer - Rodney Cook

Editor - Elsie Bollinger

Post Production Supervisor - Sally Bollinger

Colourist - Persephone Samuels

VFX - John Strang, Dusk

Sound Mix - Phil Burton, Underground Sound

Music Supervisor - Elsie Bollinger

Puck Goodall - Meesha Rikk

Lena Balavu - Kalisha Wasasala

Deme George - Dani Yourukova

Mia Selene - Maddie Adams

Zander Makau - Shane Murphy

Petra Quince - Thomasin McKenzie

Nicky Xing - Gala Baumfield

Frankie Piper - Nova Moala-Knox

Taylor Sutton - Brendan King

Bryn Alberich - Jack Buchanan

Awhina Parekura - Neenah Dekkers-Reihana

Poppy Hóu - Mouce Young

Thea Quince - Freya Milner

Thank you to:

Biz Dojo Wellington, Brenda Leeuwenberg, Caffe L’affare Coffee, Karma Cola, Jono Tucker Photography, Macartney-Paine family, Michelle Turner and Desray Armstrong, Noeline Anderson & Bruce Nicol, Portsmouth Rentals , Rachel Bullock Casting , Random Films, Rocket Rentals Wellington (David Morrison), Rutherford Fitness Hire Wellington (Croydon Rutherford and Michael Buys), Talavera Tennis Club, The Wireless - Marcus Stickley, Tony Spear, Underground Sound

And, with much love, to our families, friends, and flatmates

Thank you
Kickstarter Backers
NZ on Air
British Council