Directing

Stagecraft Theatre Wellington

Information provided by Stagecraft Theatre

Necessary Targets
Author: Eve Ensler

Summary: 'When we think of war, we think of it as something that happens to men' Ensler (author of The Vagina Monologues) writes, 'but after the bombing, that's when the real war begins.'

In 1995, Ensler went to Bosnia and met women who were forced to deal with the aftermath of war. 'It was their community, their insane humanity in the face of catastrophe, their staggering refusal to have or seek revenge that fuelled me and ultimately moved me to write this play', she wrote.

In Necessary Targets, Melissa, a strident young disaster specialist and JS, a pampered urban psychiatrist, form an unlikely friendship when they go to Bosnia to help female war survivors cope with their traumas. However, in the refugee camp the 'normal' boundaries between therapist and patient become blurred and the relationships and experiences that are revealed unexpectedly challenge the interlopers: in the search for their stories, are the women still just 'necessary targets'?

Dates and times: Wednesday 25 March to Saturday 28 March 2009 at 8 pm, Sunday 29 March at 4 pm, Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April at 6.30 pm, Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 April at 8 pm

Cast:

JS - Loren Martin
Melissa - Tanya Piejus
Zlata - Dee Guja
Nuna - Emmy Wafer
Jelena - Kate Blackhurst
Azra - Christine Hunt
Seada - Eva Corlett


Crew: Claire Hewitt (director), Iona Anderson (production manager), Jan Lippert (stage manager), Stephen Fearnley (set construction coordinator, assistant stage manager), Sam Perry, Alec Rogers, Darrell Haddon, Peter Swain, Matt Todd (set construction), Tabitha Arthur, Matthew Leather (lighting design), Ross Foubister (lighting operator), Simon Boyes (sound design), Susan Page (sound operator), Louise Grenside, Paul Sadlier, Glen Wilkinson (props), Nan Sanders, Jenny Parkin, Sue Taylor (wardrobe), Leigh Cain (prompt), Tanya Piejus, Matthew Hodgman (photographer), Rodney Bane (opening night supper), Scenario Communications (poster and flyer design)

Ladies for Hire
Author: Alison Quigan

Summary: St Mary's Church Choir is the most well known and liked choir in Palmerston North. The heart and soul of the community, with a cup of tea and slice never far from hand, the ladies provide the congregation with life, joy and music. Until the new parish priest finds their humour a bit close to the bone and fires them.

Out of a home and a workplace, determined not to let Father Paul get the better of them, the ladies go it alone, becoming ladies for hire... choir hire, that is.

Alison Quigan has beautifully crafted this modern story of leadership and loyalty when faith is tested and you find out who your true friends are in times of crisis.

Dates and times: Wednesday 30 May to Saturday 2 June 2012 at 8 pm, Sunday 3 June at 3 pm, Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 June at 6.30 pm, Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 June at 8 pm

Cast: 

Harriet - Stephanie Gartrell
Mary McIntyre - Loren Martin
Mary O'Donnell - Kaaryn Cater
Marijka - Terry Binding
Shelley - Toni-Maree Westcott
Father Paul - Kiel Taylor
Father Peter - David Cox
Trina/Pallbearer/Family Friend - Emma Rose Luxton
Bride/Kindergarten Teacher/Farmers Employee/Police officer - Kerryn Donovan
Bridegroom/Pallbearer/Paul Fitzgibbons/'Roha' - Thomas Pepperell
Bridesmaid/Cecilia Fitzgibbons/Pallbearer/Concerned Parent - Gitta Majumder
Pallbearer/Colin Fitzgibbons - Barry Meyers

Crew: Claire Hewitt (director, set designer), Cherie Chapman (musical director), Sam Perry (production manager, set realisation), Barry Meyers (stage manager, sound designer, set realisation), Benjamin Haddock (sound operator), Rachel Upchurch (lighting operator), Matthew Leather (window lighting), Nan Sanders (wardrobe coordinator), Pam Alderton, Christine Gourlay, Ingrid Sage, Joan Foster (wardrobe assistant), Leigh Cain (rehearsal prompt), Stephen Fearnley, Simon Boyes, Alec Rogers, Rebecca Parker, Ross Foubister (set realisation), Susannah Donovan (props coordinator, centre window, front of house manager), Tanya Piejus (photographer and videographer), Iona Anderson (front of house manager), Rodney Bane (poster/flyer/programme design, opening night supper)


Globe Theatre Dunedin

Like all theatre addicts in Dunedin, there has been a time where we have all done our dash backstage and on stage in front of audiences. I have dotted through the spotlight between 1998 - 2007 and had a couple of opportunities to direct.

Through the ages

Fashion parade and auction of the costumes from the Globe Theatre Costume department 2006

I designed and presented this fashion show/auction.

 

Hamish and Greer

Written by Emily Duncan

 

Directed Claire Hewitt and Vincent Batt

Opening Night 23rd February 2001

This is the premiere of a locally written Hamish and Greer. It's a modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel set in New York City. Involving singing and dance, it will delight adults and children alike.

Look Left Again Dunedin

In 2004 alongside Danny Still and Rebecca Tapp, we created the theatre company Look Left Again as a theatre group for participants between the children's theatre in the adult theatre plays at The Playhouse Theatre.

Between 2004 and 2007 we created a theatre company called Look Left Again, we took our name from our first show. Our participants were inspired by the thought of looking back to see where you have been and to see who you are.  Scripted by Rebecca and I about the concerns of graduating from university and to employment in the Arts industry.

This was followed up with a sequel a year later

 following the lives of the characters 5 years later.

We also performed and created to pantomimes written by Danny Still,  Treasure Island and In Cahoots with Johnny Sunrise.

With supported by their members into writing her own play and presenting this as part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival

Alongside doing performances we have weekly workshops in developing skills for theatre and beyond.

We were grateful for the support of the committee at the Playhouse Theatre. In 2007 this project was put into a sleeping beauty face and we do hope that 1 day it can be woken up and continued on .

Devised Theatre: The Pride Awards

Devised theatre starts with a project idea; it could be a simple as a word, a feeling or a statement.

The devised theatre process is very flexible and can have both short and long term projects often resulting in a performance.

What you discover in yourself and you fellow participants as part of the process of devising makes it a desirable art form to work with.

It is highly creative, engaging and active way to create theatre.

This is the method of theatre we used for The Pride Awards in 2013.

We created an opening act and closing act in support of the awards ceremony

Voice Arts Trust Directing

D.I.Y Collective

Working in partnership with the CAP Team at City Housing, we have created a tenant theatre company – D.I.Y Collective: an open group for any city housing tenants with a burning desire for, or gentle curiosity about performance art.

Having worked over the years with a number of city housing tenants on various projects, we know there’s a huge wealth of creative talent out there and we intend harnessing that talent on and off stage. 

Who are we

The first half of this year we will be working with our Tenant drama group to create a performance exploring the theme “Who Are We!” We will be using spoken word, drama and song to capture stories that explore blood lines, ancestors, those who have gone before.  The group will be performing for the wider community as part of Matariki celebrations.

Stand Up Speak Up

This project is a series of workshops with community volunteers from City Housing.  The focus is on speaking publicly and presentation skills. For many volunteers speaking to groups of people is part of their role in the community, and it is a challenge for the best of us at the best of times. We will be building confidence, capacity and skills in this area, and preparing some participants to present at the annual Neighbours Day celebrations.

What Sustains Us

Our tenant theatre company – The DIY Theatre Collective – is embarking on their second devised theatre project, this time working towards a performance for City Housing’s Christmas celebrations in early December.  Their work will explore the question: What sustains us?

  • Community
  • Family
  • Hope
  • Children
  • Happiness
  • Hope

A devised show with live music and theatre 

He Aha Te Utu: The True Cost

A devised piece of work inspired by the stories of our participants and their families about the roles of women in WW1.

This project was supported by the British Council and the Goethe Institute in the foundation of the project. We were supported by Wellington City Council for taking the show on tour across the Wellington Region