Based on real events, including the producer's own experience working in a factory, the stories weave a dark comedic tale about when reality crashes through on our dreams. In the mix is his brother's bizarre account of saving a gunshot victim's life before being offered a haircut by a nurse.
"It works quite well if people are chasing something or running out of steam, it's just a lot of fun to play with," he says, momentarily unaware that his treadmill is swiftly picking up the pace. "Whoa - I'll just ... " he wipes a now glistening forehead and reduces speed.
"They do sort of tie in," he says of the premise of each story, and the physical representation the treadmills enforce. "It's like people chasing different things and finding out whether they work or not, and it's just the struggle of getting there.
"I worked in a factory for eight months. We made machine parts and it was literally just a conveyer belt. We did the same thing every day. But every day at our lunch break we'd walk past this workshop for people who were handicapped.
"In that room they had the exact same machines, but ones that were faulty, and they were just tearing them apart," he says laughing at the memory. "That's where the idea came from, that 'oh my God, they're just taking apart everything I've been doing all day'."
Another story, about a runner, "is basically based on a transcript of the rejections I've had over the years".
Standstill was originally performed at the Auckland Fringe Festival and received rave reviews for its sharp observations of the human condition and the struggles of modern life.
"I did it as a bit of a laugh but it really got to some people. I was surprised with how people reacted to it. I kind of hope people will have a lot of discussions. I think one of the things that made people respond was, what does it all mean? ... Even with my brother, who's a surgeon and specialises in shoulders, that's all he does all day. It's sort of like no matter where you are in life, you can get stuck in a rut."
As we step off the treadmills, on which I've burnt a pathetic total of 17 calories in 15 minutes, cast member Stewart-Tewhiu takes to the rubber track. "I am getting fitter but I can imagine it would be really satisfying as an audience watching actors work really hard," she says.
"My central character gets sick. I'm meant to be really exhausted. But I think I genuinely will be, I won't have to sell it that much."
FAST TALK:
WHAT Standstill, three actors on three treadmills for 60 minutes
WHEN May 30 to June 9
WHERE Q Theatre, Queen St
HOW MUCH $30. $25 concession
WEB www.therebelalliance.co.nz
