Hayley’s whole life has always revolved around her best friend, Briar Grant. When their relationship abruptly combusts, Hayley finds herself unexpectedly shipped off to an orchard in the South of France. Stranded in the most beautiful place on Earth, the world seems to be playing a joke on her. The Kiwi woman she’s wound up working with is also named Briar Grant.

The Ballad of Briar Grant is a new dramedy by Jack McGee, presented by Squash Co. Arts Collective, about two very sad divas taking it out on one another amongst the apple trees. Together they’ll play out decades old conflicts that have nothing and everything to do with each other.

Squash Co. Arts Collective are a “good old fashioned theatre troupe.” We pride ourselves in making theatre that we’re proud to bring our mums to. Our previous productions include Boys and Girls at the Silent School Disco (2023, winner of Playwrights b4 25, nominee Best New Playwright Wellington Theatre Awards 2024), Long Ride Home (2023 & 2024), One Night Band (2023, Winner of the Most Original Production at Wellington Theatre Awards 2023) and Sandwich Artist (2024). Our members are emerging artists at the cusp of their professional careers, bright lights across their respective mediums.

Our kaupapa is tied heavily to ambition. We’re constantly challenging ourselves and each other as artists. Every new production is an opportunity; how can we make this bigger, more impressive, more exciting and just better?