The return of Zen Dog

When an onstage heart attack is not a figure of speech.

Three years ago a season of ill health began for Mick Innes when he suffered an heart attack while performing his solo show Zen Dog at the Basement Theatre.

‘‘It was about 10 minutes before the end of the show and I’ve seen a video of that particular show and you can see it happen. I didn’t know what it was,’’ Innes says.

Despite feeling the impact the next day, the 62-year-old says he didn’t think it was anything serious.

‘‘I was buggered but I just thought it was over-work.’’

Two days later Innes had trouble breathing and a producer he was working with for a voice-over told him to see a doctor.

‘‘I had a blood test and that was about three o’clock by eight o’clock the doctor had rang me and said ‘there’s an ambulance on its way, you’re having a heart attack’.’’

Around the same time Innes suffered two strokes. But now after a period of recovery the Grey Lynn resident is returning to the very stage on which his ill-health began.

Zen Dog: Satori is an open and honest expression about Innes’ past. A zen buddhist word for sudden enlightenment, ‘Satori’ is a reference to a turning point Innes came to where he knew he had to change his way of thinking in life. In the show he reflects on his history which includes substance abuse, various marriages, rehab and psych wards.

A professional actor since 1983, Innes now wants to inspire people to run their own race in life.

Zen Dog: Satori November 1 to 5 at the Basement Theatre. The show aims to raise funds for a documentary being produced on Innes’ life by Zen Dog producer and director Roberto Nascimento.

Visit basementtheatre.co.nz for more information.