ON— Vol. 1 No. 4 STAGE Apr 2015

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

FUNDERS PRINCIPAL

CORE FUNDER PARTNERS PRESENTING DIRECTOR'S NOTE Colin McColl

FUNDER Henrik Ibsen is widely regarded as the most influential playwright after PARTNER UNIVERSITY Shakespeare, yet performances of his work are rare in New Zealand. Why is this? Perhaps it has something to do with translation. Here we tend to rely on English translations of the original Norwegian plays. But the English have done Ibsen a great disservice, keeping his work corralled in a nineteenth century, old fashioned idiom.

However adept the English translations are, they still don’t sound right to our Kiwi ears. M A J O R Proud to be NZ’s Most Awarded Official Caterers of Official Telecommunications The English seem to disregard the big, bold, courageous, erotic, insightful radical

SUPPORTORS Winery and Sponsor of Auckland Theatre Company Partner Auckland Theatre Company that Ibsen always was. He was the master of modern theatre. What is so revolutionary about his mature work is that, for the first time, the theatre-going public were seeing people up on stage who looked and sounded like them. Prior to Ibsen there was a heightened way of acting and speaking onstage. But Ibsen's characters seemed as if

they were real. To this day, in Europe and Scandinavia, it is rare to see a production

MEDIA of an Ibsen play that isn’t presented in an absolutely contemporary way, including PARTNER PARTNERS

MAJOR VENUE updating the language. In doing so they are honouring Ibsen's intention of there being no barrier of understanding between actors and audience. That's why I was interested in commissioning a New Zealand writer to come up with a contemporary and unapologetic Kiwi response to A Doll’s House. Emily Perkins is the perfect person for the job. Emily is not known as a playwright (in

PARTNERS fact this is her first play!) but like Ibsen, she began her career in the theatre and SUPPORTING her writing, particularly Not Her Real Name and Novel About My Wife shows she is sensitive and attuned to the psychology of relationships, as well as the joys and

Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku irritations of modern family life. She hasn’t slavishly followed Ibsen’s plot, but she Q Theatre has been serious and scrupulous about following the spirit and intent of his work. Selwyn Theatre It’s a remarkable achievement and it's been a great pleasure for the cast and creatives PARTNERS

2 0 15 V E N U E SKYCITY Theatre to engage with her on this absorbing work. So, huge thanks to Emily and to ATC Literary Manager, Philippa Campbell, who has nursed this playscript over many months. Thanks to the many actors who workshopped the development of this play; to my stellar creative team - Tony Rabbit, Nic Smillie and John Gibson - and to this production’s fabulous and committed cast. Special thanks too to Madeleine, Zach, ATC Patrons and Supporting Acts

2 0 15 Emily and Cassidy, who are making their ATC mainstage debut with this production. BENEFACTORS

1 CAST Nora Helmer — LAUREL DEVENIE Theo Helmer — DAMIEN AVERY Christine Linde — NICOLA KAWANA Aidan — PAUL GLOVER Gerry — PETER ELLIOTT Billy — ZACHARY COX / CASSIDY SCOONES Bee — MADELEINE WALKER / EMILY ARCHER CREATIVE Director — COLIN McCOLL Dramaturg — PHILIPPA CAMPBELL Set Designer & Lighting Designer — TONY RABBIT Sound Designer — JOHN GIBSON Costume Designer — NIC SMILLIE PRODUCTION Production Manager — ANDREW MALMO Acting Company Manager — ELAINE WALSH Technical Manager — KATE BURTON Stage Manager — ELIZA JOSEPHSON-RUTTER Chaperone — VIRGINIA FRANKOVICH Technical Operator — ROCHELLE BOND Sound Effects Programmer — THOMAS PRESS Props Master — NATASHA PEARL Wardrobe Assistant — PENELOPE PRATT Set Construction — 2CONSTRUCT Production Intern — NICOLE ARROW

AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR HELP WITH THIS PRODUCTION: Anna Julienne, Stephen Lovatt, Cameron Rhodes, Robyn Malcolm, Roy Ward, Brooke Left Field wines, Williams, Adam Gardiner, Hera Dunleavy, Kevin Keys, Chelsie Preston- Crayford, Jared Turner, Peter Daube, Carmen Baxter, Louise & Timothy birthplace of Archer, Carol Brown & Russell Scoones, Sarah McDowall, Rik van Soest, Rachel & John Cox, Karl Maughan, Michael Hurst, Miro McColl, Felicity Letcher and Roger Murray of Main Reactor, Brigitte @ Hue, Maeve Chea @ the unexpected, Beauty Transformers, Maidment Theatre Staff. Pandas Manufactured by Yancheng Changdong Imp & Exp Co., Ltd. China. the weird and the A Doll's House is the second Auckland Theatre Company mainbill production for 2015 and opened on May 2nd at Maidment Theatre. A Doll's House is approximately 100 minutes with no interval. Please remember to switch wonderful. Enjoy Left Field responsibly. off all mobile phones, pagers and watch alarms. leftfieldwines.com 33 2 3

LF1504-861_atc_advert_210x148mm.indd 2 16/04/15 1:05 PM HENRIK IBSEN Playwright (1828–1906) SYNOPSIS Henrik Ibsen was born on March reading, painting and performing 20, 1828, in Skien, Norway. In 1862, he magic tricks. was exiled to Italy, where he wrote the At 15, Ibsen stopped school and tragedy Brand. In 1868, Ibsen moved went to work. He landed a position Nora and Theo Helmer are a the appearance of another face to Germany, where he wrote one of his as an apprentice in an apothecary lovely young couple, idealistic, from the past forces a series of most famous works: the play A Doll's in Grimstad. Ibsen worked there hard-working, and family-oriented: revelations beyond what even Nora House. In 1890, he wrote Hedda Gabler, for six years, using his limited free they have two small children, an knows to be true. The Helmers’ creating one of theatre's most notorious time to write poetry and paint. In ecologically sustainable house, and relationships with neighbours, characters. By 1891, Ibsen had returned 1849, he wrote his first play Catilina, a Theo is on the verge of confirming colleagues, and possibly their to Norway a literary hero. He died on drama written in verse modeled after May 23, 1906, in Oslo, Norway. one of his great influences, William his first major building contract. children, may be in jeopardy. As a child, Henrik Ibsen showed Shakespeare. When their old friend Christine Where to seek safety, where to little sign of the theatrical genius he Ibsen moved to Christiania (later shows up in need, the Helmers take risks, and whether romantic would become. He grew up in the known as Oslo) in 1850 to prepare for are in a position to offer support. love can truly provide shelter from small Norwegian coastal town of university examinations to study at But Nora has a secret - one she the storm are some of the questions Skien as the oldest of five children the University of Christiania. Living has been keeping from Theo for at the heart of this contemporary born to Knud and Marichen Ibsen. in the capital, he made friends with several years. Over the course of drama. His father was a successful merchant other writers and artistic types. One the three-day Christmas break, and his mother painted, played the of these friends, Ole Schulerud, piano and loved to go to the theatre. paid for the publication of Ibsen's Ibsen himself expressed an interest first playCatilina , which failed to get in becoming an artist as well. much notice. The family was thrown into The following year, Ibsen had poverty when Ibsen was 8 because a fateful encounter with violinist of problems with his father's and theatre manager Ole Bull. Bull business. Nearly all traces of their liked Ibsen and offered him a job previous affluence had to be sold as a writer and manager for the off to cover debts, and the family Norwegian Theatre in Bergen. The moved to a rundown farm near town. position proved to be an intense There Ibsen spent much of his time tutorial in all things theatrical and

4 5 even included traveling abroad to tackling such topics as incest and learn more about his craft. In 1857, venereal disease. The outcry was so Ibsen returned to Christiania to run strong that the play wasn't performed another theatre there. This proved to widely until two years later. His be a frustrating venture for him, with next work, An Enemy of the People, others claiming that he mismanaged showed one man in conflict with his CAST the theatre and calling for his ouster. community. Some critics say it was Despite his difficulties, Ibsen found Ibsen's response to the backlash he time to write Love's Comedy, a satirical received for Ghosts. Ibsen wrote look at marriage, in 1862. The Lady From the Sea (1888) and then Ibsen left Norway in 1862, soon headed back to Norway, where eventually settling in Italy for a he would spend the remainder of his time. There he wrote Brand, a five-act years. One of his most famous works tragedy about a clergyman whose was to follow, with Hedda Gabler in feverish devotion to his faith costs 1890. him his family and ultimately his In 1891, Ibsen returned to life in 1865. The play made him Norway as a literary hero. He may famous in Scandinavia. Two years have left as a frustrated artist, but later, Ibsen created one of his he came back as internationally masterworks, Peer Gynt. A modern known playwright. His later works take on Greek epics of the past, the seem to have a more self-reflective verse play follows the title character quality with mature lead characters on a quest. looking back and living with the In 1868, Ibsen moved to consequences of their earlier life LAUREL DEVENIE Germany. During his time there, he choices. In 1900, Ibsen had a series (Nora) saw his social drama The Pillars of of strokes that left him unable to Society first performed in Munich. write. He managed to live for several The play helped launch his career more years, but he was not fully and was soon followed up by one present during much of this time. Laurel Devenie is a graduate of Toi Laurel has also directed works for of his most famous works, A Doll's When Ibsen died in 1906 his last Whakaari: The NZ Drama School. She Northland Youth Theatre The( Party, House. This 1879 play set tongues words were "To the contrary!" in has worked with Downstage Theatre Thinning, Quarry, Odyssey, Empty a-wagging throughout Europe Norwegian. (Flagons And Foxtrots, The Graduate, City), Auckland Theatre Company for exploration of Nora's struggle www.biography.com Othello), Capital E: National Theatre For (Thinning, 1001 Mirrors, Giant Teeth), with the traditional roles of wife Children (Stealing Games), Peripeteia Tapac, Prayas and Unitec. In 2011 she and mother and her own need for Theatre Company The( Tempest, The trained in physical performance and self-exploration. Once again, Ibsen Three Sisters) and Auckland Theatre theatre making at The John Bolton had questioned the accepted social Company (The Importance Of Being Theatre School. She is also Co-director practices of the times, surprising his Earnest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, of a theatre collective called Company audiences and stirring up debate. On The Upside Down Of The World). of Giants (Odyssey, Giant Teeth, The Around this time, he returned to Last year she performed On The Upside Owl And The Pussycat). Rome. Down Of The World at the Edinburgh His next work, 1881's Ghosts, Fringe Festival with ATC as part of the stirred up even more controversy by New Zealand at Edinburgh contingent.

6 7 PETER ELLIOTT (Gerry)

Peter's professional career began Stops Falling, Rabbit, Ruben Guthrie, and in Christchurch at the Court Theatre The Threepenny Opera. in 1981. Plays include The Seagull, Peter directed The Scene and Thom Pravda, Cloud Nine, Macbeth, Glass Pain for Silo Theatre and most recently, Menagerie and Torch Song Trilogy. In Kings Of The Gym for ATC. a 35 year career he has also worked He has national awards for at The Mercury Theatre, Downstage, acting and presenting. He wrote Fortune, Auckland Theatre Company, and presented the documentaries NICOLA KAWANA Melbourne Theatre Co and Silo Jungle Rain and Revealing Gallipoli, and Theatre. presented Primeval Nz for Natural (Christine) Works for ATC include Equus, Art, History Unit and Captain's Log and The Tutor, God Of Carnage, The Bach, The Art Of The Architect series for TV One. Graduate, Noises Off, Take A Chance On Peter is a proud member of Actors Me and Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Equity New Zealand. Nicola has worked as an actress then CEO, snogged Martin Clunes on Dead. For Silo Theatre - When The Rain for over 25 years. In that time she has Bethells beach in The Man Who Lost graduated from Toi Whakaari / NZ His Head, worn Angelina Jolie’s sound Drama School, won a Chapman Tripp sock, and been stabbed by Temuera award for her role in Gary Henderson’s Morrison when playing his wife in the Mo And Jess Kill Suzie, been nominated filmFresh Meat. Nicola's many roles for best actress at the telly awards for include playing a chicken, a drag queen, include One Man Two Guvnors, Wild her work on Jacksons Wharf, toured the Lady Macbeth, an Auschwitz survivor, DAMIEN AVERY Bees, A Midsummer Night's Dream, entire length of the country performing and most recently a pill popping drunk The Slapdash Assassin, The Mikado, (Theo) school shows, toured overseas in Witi in Jess Sayer's Fix at Basement theatre. Postal and Snap! As well as some screen Ihimaera’s Woman Far Walking, been She is also a member of NZ Actors work on Field Punishment No.1 and blown up on Shortland Street as its Equity and a UNICEF global parent. Hillary. Theo Helmer in Emily Perkin's Damien is thrilled to be working version of A Doll’s House is Damien’s on this re-imagined classic with such second appearance for Auckland Theatre a wonderfully talented cast and crew. Company’s main bill, his first being the Damien is a proud member of New hapless victim Leo Irving in In The Next Zealand Actors Equity. Room (Or The Vibrator Play) in 2012. In between Damien has been traversing the country for theatre and screen work, both here in Auckland and for The Court Theatre in Christchurch, with a tour to China thrown in for good measure. His recent theatre credits

8 9 MADELEINE WALKER (Bee)

Madeleine is 8 years old and was 2 Classical exam with distinction. born in Chiswick, London. She has Madeleine is also learning both piano won numerous awards in Speech and violin by the Suzuki method and Drama, appeared in a recent and is a cheerleader with the All Star TV ad and was invited to perform in Cheerleaders based in Pukekohe. costume last year at the Golden Jubilee This production is not Madeleine's celebrations of the South Auckland first. Last year she was cast as Ramona PAUL GLOVER Performing Arts Festival. Madeleine is in Papakura Theatre Company's (Aidan) also a talented singer preparing for her Whistle Down the Wind, for which Grade 4 exam later this year. She won she won an award nomination, and her first vocal festival championship later this year will take the lead role at the age of 5. Over the past three of Annie in Annie Jr to be performed years, she has won the Under-10 in Pukekohe. As a 3-year-old in Paul Glover has been a regular face in the wonderful children's show The championships at the Hamilton, Te London she took part in Annie Jr and in film, television and on stage since the Owl And The Pussycat... as Owl. Awamutu and South Auckland vocal has appeared several times in various early 90s. He started his Film career More recently Paul toured 2011-2013 festivals. productions for the Majors 'n' Minors in cult horror film The Ugly. Other in the acclaimed play Beautiful Losers. Dancing is another passion of Music Studio in South Auckland. credits include The Fall Guys and The Last year he took a leap of faith when Madeleine's. Last year she passed both Locals. His role as a skinhead, Terry, he was asked to play Richard and sing her Tap Level 3 exam and Ballet Grade in filmSnakeskin earned him a finalist (debut) on stage with the formidably nomination in the NZ Film Awards, as talented cast of the Kila Kokonut Krew did playing Danny in the filmFracture . created musical The Factory, a show Paul also starred as Detective Sergeant which moved many audiences to ovation Paul Knox in award winning feature around Australia and at the Edinburgh the orchestra in two Majors n' Minors Fringe in 2014. EMILY ARCHER Out Of The Blue based on the true annual music concerts. She has also Paul has also enjoyed working on story of the Aramoana massacre. (Bee) appeared in TV commercials and done a various productions with ATC over the Years after playing Dylan Preston number of commercial stills modelling in Shortland Street, Paul now returns years including Julius Caesar, In The and runway shows. to SPP to work with an incurably funny Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play), Cat Emily is a competitive horse rider and talented lot of actors in . On A Hot Tin Roof and is relishing his 800 Words Emily is 7 years old. She has and swimmer. Not afraid of dirt or blood, Paul kept latest role as Aidan working with Colin participated in performance.net classes his clothes on, but got beaten up and alongside the fantastic cast of A Doll's and performed in two of their annual covered in blood (a lot) as Salvius in the House... he loves Emily's adaptation! productions. She has also participated in epic TV series Spartacus: Vengeance. In his spare time Paul has also Acting for Screen workshops run by LBF Stage highlights have included managed to hold onto the most Kids and Teens talent company. She is playing Dr Bruce Flaherty in Blue challenging role yet, in an unscripted currently studying for her Grade 1 violin Orange, and working with Amanda Rees improvisation called Life playing ‘Dad’. exam in May and has performed with

10 11 ZACHARY COX CREATIVE TEAM (Billy)

Zach is 7 years old. A keen drama son of Hector in Trojan Women, enthusiast, Zach has participated in performed by MARVELLOUS at Acting for Screen workshops run by Auckland Theatre Company’s studios in the LBF Kids and Teens talent company 2013. as well as Artz on Show workshops, a Zach is a purple belt in karate and Holiday Drama programme. enjoys horse riding, Minecraft and Zach played Astynax, the doomed climbing trees.

EMILY PERKINS Playwright

CASSIDY SCOONES Emily Perkins is the author of five Emily would like to thank: books, including Not Her Real Name, Colin McColl, Philippa (Billy) Novel About My Wife and The Forrests. She Campbell, Tony Rabbit, Eliza studied drama at Toi Whakaari and Josephson-Rutter, all at ATC, the creative writing at Victoria University crew and cast of this production of Wellington and the University of and those involved in earlier Cassidy Scoones is six; he has Besides dancing, he enjoys football, Auckland. Her books have won awards readings and workshops of this a brother Rafe who is eight and a aikido, cycling and playing the piano. in Aotearoa, the US and UK, and in play: Laurel Devenie, Damien Avery, greyhound called Boris. He has Cassidy attends Bayfield Primary 2011 she was made an Arts Laureate by Paul Glover, Peter Elliott, Nicole participated in Clare Battersby's School. the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. Kawana, Cassidy Scoones, Carmen creative dance classes and productions Emily lives in Wellington, where she Baxter, Chelsie Preston-Crayford, at TAPAC since he was three years convenes the MA in fiction writing Jared Turner, Peter Daube, Hera old. Cassidy's first professional at Victoria University’s International Dunleavy, Brooke Williams, performance was as 'boy' in the site Institute of Modern Letters. This Adam Gardiner, Kevin Keys, Anna specific work Tuna Mau as part of the adaptation of A Doll’s House is her first Julienne, Stephen Lovatt, Robyn Oceanic Performance Biennale (2013). play. She has relished the opportunity Malcolm, Cameron Rhodes and Roy Auckland Theatre Company has given Ward. her to respond to Ibsen’s classic.

12 13 TONY RABBIT Set and Lighting Designer

Tony Rabbit has designed sets Dream, Awatea, On The Upside-Down COLIN McCOLL and/or lighting for theatre, opera, Of The World, The Importance Of Director television and film and even, Being Earnest, The Pohutukawa Tree, according to one reporter, the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Where We radio. Once Belonged, End Of The Rainbow, His work was last seen by Hatch Or The Plight Of The Penguins, Auckland Theatre Company Disgraceand The Duchess Of Malfi. Colin has directed Ibsen Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, The Female audiences in A Midsummer Night’s plays for the Norwegian National Of The Species, Where We Once Theatre and the Dutch National Belonged, End Of The Rainbow, Theatre, as well as leading New The Crucible, Hatch Or The Plight Zealand and Australian theatre Of The Penguins, Doubt, Disgrace, companies, and is the only The Duchess Of Malfi, Equus, The Good Soul of Szechuan, Fallen New Zealand director to be Goldie, Waiting For Godot, Serial JOHN GIBSON Angels, Awatea, A Midsummer Night's invited to present his work at Killers, The Seagull, Rosencrantz And Sound Designer and Composer Dream, In The Next Room (Or The the official Edinburgh Festival. Guildenstern Are Dead and Vibrator Play), On The Upside Down Of His production of Hedda Gabler Uncle Vanya. The World, Poor Boy, The Wasteland, played there to great acclaim in Opera directing credits include Calendar Girls, Horseplay, Oliver!, 1990 and was also presented at the Quartet (New Zealand International John Gibson has been The Pohutukawa Tree, The Wife Who Ibsen Festival in Oslo, the Covent Arts Festival 2004), La Boheme composing original music for Spoke Japanese In Her Sleep, Cat On Garden Festival in London, and (Wellington City Opera), The Italian New Zealand theatre, film, dance A Hot Tin Roof, Who Needs Sleep the 1991 Sydney Festival. Colin Girl In Algiers, The Marriage Of Figaro and television since 1980. During Anyway?, Where We Once Belonged, has also won Best Director at the and The Prodigal Child for the NBR that time he has composed over The Blonde The Brunette And The Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards New Zealand Opera. In 2009 he 100 scores and sound designs for Vengeful Redhead, Equus, The Duchess several times — including for his remounted his production of theatre. In 2008 he received a Of Malfi, and the arrangements and Qantas Film and Television award Circa Theatre production of The Italian Girl In Algiers for the musical direction of Sweet Charity for his score for Vincent Ward's A Doll's House. Scottish Opera. and Chicago. His many productions for In November 2007, Colin film Rain Of The Children. In 2013 Auckland Theatre Company was honoured for his artistic he composed an eight speaker include: Anne Boleyn, Midnight In achievements and excellence at the sound design for 360: A Theatre Of Moscow, Lord Of The Flies, Awatea, eighth annual Arts Foundation of Recollections and has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, In The New Zealand Laureate Awards Edinburgh in a comedy he wrote Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play), and was made an Officer of the and directed called Gordon Six Pence Calendar Girls, On The Upside Down New Zealand Order of Merit in He Is Music. Of The World, Mary Stuart, August: June 2010. Previous works for Auckland Osage County, The Pohutukawa Tree, Theatre Company include:

14 15 The Metro judges have nished their work. — Best Restaurants. NIC SMILLIE On sale now. Costume Designer

Nic Smillie has a Bachelor of Winner of the Air New Zealand Design in Textiles and has worked Screen Award for Contribution in theatre, film and television as to Design for the television series a costume designer for the past The Insider's Guide To Love, Nic has thirteen years. Designs for Auckland also designed costumes for Rage, Theatre Company include: Midnight Tangiwai, Fish Skin Suit and Aftershock In Moscow, Awatea, A Midsummer (telefeatures) and The Insider's Guide Night's Dream, The Motor Camp, To Happiness, Seven Periods With Mr Calendar Girls, Cabaret, August: Gormsby, The Hothouse and Time Osage County, Romeo & Juliet, The Trackers (television series). Her Pohutukawa Tree, The Wife Who operatic designs include Quartet Spoke Japanese In Her Sleep, Cat On and The Italian Girl In Algiers. For A Hot Tin Roof and Where We Once film her works includeFresh Meat, Belonged. Turangawaewae and Stickmen. Nic has also costumed various, mainly Wellington-based, theatre projects which include Sex Drive, Rita And Douglas and Le Sud (Wanaka Festival of Colour), The Motor Camp, King And Country, Top Girls, Cabaret, Dracula, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd and Drawer Of Knives. PLUS DESSERT WITH EVERY COPY

16

ROTY Auckland Theatre company ad.indd 1 9/04/2015 3:03:44 p.m. committing suicide. The 1970s is in place, Rebecca Bunting sends hit filmKrāmer vs Krāmer told of money monthly to support her THE LAST TABOO? a middle-class woman, played by son. She was just 23 and a drama Meryl Streep, abandoning her young student in London when she became By Julia Llewellyn Smith son to 'find herself' and discovering accidentally pregnant. 'I'd never on her return that the child no dreamed about marriage or children longer wants her. Tony Parsons told a but I surprised myself and my friends similar story in his bestselling novel by feeling really positive about it,' Man and Boy, based on his experience she says. Her boyfriend found work in his home town of Tallinn so, seven Men do it all the time, so why do we still judge women who walk out of the of his wife, the writer Julie Burchill, months pregnant, she moved there family home so harshly? leaving him and their five-year-old son, Bobby. Burchill described public and married him. Rebecca Bunting is excited Yet public perception of women attacks on her as 'a load of pompous Almost immediately, however, about the weekend. She's flying from like Rebecca, who have chosen to cant, basically. Men do it all the time.' their relationship disintegrated. London to Tallinn, the capital of live away from their children, is that None the less, 30 years later she and 'Very quickly we lost any fibre of the Estonia, where a little boy will be they are at some level inadequate. Bobby are still estranged. Equally love we'd once had for each other.' waiting to greet her at the airport. In a society where maternal love vilified was Frances Shand Kydd who Rebecca wanted to return to London 'It's his fourth birthday,' she says, is revered, anyone who fails to put in the late 1960s left her husband, but was too pregnant to fly. She ended smiling. 'I haven't seen him for three their children before herself is seen Earl Spencer, and four children for up giving birth by caesarean section months and I can't wait to see how as unnatural. Whispers follow: another man. Her young daughter, in a hospital where none of the staff much he's grown, how much he's 'What's wrong with her? I could the future Diana, Princess of Wales, spoke English. learnt.' From the way she's talking never do that.' Sarah Hart is the always made it clear she had been 'My husband was working away you'd imagine Rebecca is going to co-chairwoman of Match, a charity forever scarred by the abandonment. from home, I was living with my visit a nephew or a friend's child. for mothers who don't live with their History largely chose to ignore mother-in-law, a London girl in a Instead, this tall, attractive 28-year- children, and author of A Mother the fact that Shand Kydd had in fact small town no one had heard of, old from London is going to spend Apart, a book for the 200,000 or so fought and lost a vicious custody where it was always cold and dark. a long weekend with her son, a son British women estimated to be in battle, an anomaly at a time when I thought, "How has this become whom she left two years ago when this situation. She says that there is courts virtually always awarded my life?"' She crosses her arms as if she walked away from him and her still a huge discrepancy in how we custody to mothers. But the Children cradling a baby. 'No one spoke my husband, and with whom she has no view mothers not living with their Act of 1989 stipulated that justice language and I was with this child I plans to live permanently again. children, as opposed to fathers. 'With must be 'gender neutral' and not had to feed and care for, 24 hours a 'He has a very good father and men we acknowledge it's very painful assume the mother was always the day, for ever. It was hard to feel much grandmother. I feel he's better off for them to be separated from their primary carer. joy.' living with them than with me,' kids but that this is just how things This, combined with increasing In such alien surroundings she says calmly. 'If my instinct was work out. But when a woman does numbers of women becoming Rebecca found it impossible to fall otherwise he'd be with me, but I just it our judgment is unforgiving,' she breadwinners and more and more in love with her baby. 'I found the can't be sure that that would work.' says. 'The assumption is that she must men 'house husbands', has led to a routine of being a mother deeply Drinking green tea in the bar of a have done something wrong, that in sudden, steep rise in women living unfulfilling. With the bond other London hotel, Rebecca comes across some way she must be unfit.' away from their children. Today the mothers seem to have it might have as a confident and focused young Fiction is full of admonitory Child Support Agency has 55,000 been bearable, but I just couldn't feel woman. An English teacher, she now stories about women who break women on its list of absentee parents it in me. My son was part of me, I lives in Brighton and when we meet this taboo. Anna Karenina leaves required to pay maintenance, about grew him, I breastfed him for a year, she's just been shopping for a dress to her husband and son to run off five per cent of its caseload. but that connection just wasn't there wear on a theatre outing. with another man, only to end up Although no legal arrangement and that was so difficult to live with.'

18 19 Only on occasional trips to had been, things would be different, home, he won. 'I was an absolute It doesn't get better. You think London did Rebecca 'feel the fog but as it is I know what it is to live mess but I never, ever expected to you're coping and then you visit lifting'. So when her son was two with a mother who doesn't take to lose my children. I was in unbearable the children and it just hits you. In she decided to return for a long stay it naturally and it's not very nice.' pain.' some ways it would be easier if I just while he remained with his father Two years on Rebecca talks to her Because she had left, few never saw them again, but of course I and grandmother. son regularly and aims to see him sympathised with her. 'People who'd couldn't do that because it would be 'Initially, we agreed it would just every three months. 'It's lovely now; known me before understood the so devastating for them.' be for the summer but I think I knew I enjoy him and learning about him. kids were my life. But people I met However understandable their I might not return,' she says. This I see having him as a wonderful thing later were so harsh. Once they found motives, all the women I spoke to suspicion was quickly confirmed. in my life and I'm looking forward to out I'd left my kids they didn't call were tortured with guilt about the 'As soon as I got home I just felt the future of it.' Are maternal feelings me back, they never went out for effect their actions would have on so full of life. I felt something had beginning to develop? 'We have a coffee with me again, they said, their children. Even Rebecca, who is returned, and it was me.' It sounds unique mother and son relationship,' "Over my dead body would I leave adamant she made the right decision, as if Rebecca had a severe case of she says firmly, avoiding the my children." They assumed it must has found it impossible to resume her postnatal depression. She nods. 'If question. be crime, drink or drugs related; former, carefree existence. I'd been in England that might have Sarah Hart stresses that women they didn't realise life was so bad. 'There was no way I could just been addressed and I might have like Rebecca who actively chose to My doctor saw what a state I was in revert to the lifestyle of a 23-year-old. thought, "Is there something I can leave their children are the exception but he just said, "You should have I had a sense that since I had done do about not bonding with my baby?" rather than the rule. Three quarters thought of that before you left." It this thing I needed to do something But in the circumstances my remedy of the women she counsels may have was such a lonely place to be.' with my life, to set a good example, to was just to leave.' walked out, but they intended their Sarah Hart says that, stripped of justify living apart from my child.' She shrugs. 'I had a bad time but absence only to be temporary. their main role as mother, many of Among other things, she is now women give birth in terrible places 'They are suffering terrible her clients are suicidal. 'Their entire involved with the Green Party and – in Iraq – and they cope and form a stress at home and leave in a hurry, previous identity suddenly vanishes. volunteers as a speech and language bond with their children. Even back thinking they will come back soon They're asking themselves, "If I'm not therapist. in England, where I felt so much to fetch the children and then they a mother, then who am I? How can 'I felt so trapped before, and now happier, I wasn't sure that I would find out with horror that this is not I carry on living?"' I really value being able to choose. feel 100 per cent with my son there. so easy.' Sally Smyth, 35, from Croydon, I've regained my freedom but I want I just couldn't guarantee stability.' Angela Harper, 50, who lives near Surrey, has not lived with her three to contribute it to bigger causes.' Despite her resolute air now, Glasgow, walked out on her three children, aged eight, six and five, for She is adamant she will never for a long while Rebecca was torn sons, then 15, 13 and nine, 10 years two years. In desperation, she sent have another child, both out of with self-doubt. 'I thought, "What ago, after 16 years in an unhappy them to live for what she thought respect to the son she already has and the hell is happening? I had a child marriage. would just be a couple of months because she is convinced she was not and I've left. People don't do this. 'I stayed all that time for the with her ex-husband when she found meant to be a mother. Meanwhile, her I must be a terrible person." I children's sake, but in the end I herself under intolerable pressure friends are starting to settle down. wouldn't say I was in turmoil but I couldn't do it anymore,' she says. as a single mother. Now, however, he 'Some of them can't wait to have couldn't quite balance myself. I had 'I ran away thinking that this would has custody and she can only visit babies. Great, good for them.' She to sit down and say, "This is who I jolt my husband into seeing how occasionally. pauses. 'There's a hype about getting am." In the end I had to think what miserable I was and we could sit and 'I have to avoid public transport married and having a baby, but it was more damaging: me leaving or talk, but then everything spiralled because the sight of mothers and wasn't for me. I want to do what I my son being with a mother who out of control.' their children makes me feel sick,' want to do and my life is going to be wasn't a happy version of herself.' She Instead, her husband applied for she says, near to tears. 'If something about other things.' adds that her own mother was not sole custody of the children. Largely to do with children comes on particularly maternal. 'Perhaps if she because Angela had left the family television I have to leave the house.

© Telegraph Media Group 2011 All Rights Reserved. Some names in this article have been changed

20 21 ASB WATERFRONT THEATRE

The commencement of the theatre The Moana Pacific Fisheries building being The ASB Waterfront Theatre foundations auditorium proscenium arch and fly tower (as dismantled (as seen from the ASB North Wharf The view from Madden Street once the being laid (as seen from the corner of seen from the corner of Madden Street and building). site was cleared. Madden Street and Te Wero Lane). Te Wero Lane). NOVEMBER 2014 JANUARY 2015 MARCH 2015 APRIL 2015

We are five months into the construction of the ASB Waterfront Theatre and the progress we have We are running to schedule looking towards our late 2016 opening date and as such our creative seen already is phenomenal. To recap, the Moana Pacific Fisheries building was dismantled late last team are already beginning to brainstorm ideas for our inaugural show. While this is an extremely year and by January the site was completely cleared. Throughout February and March the pilings exciting time for the company and our loyal (and patient) audiences it is important to note we aren’t were placed, some going as far as 18 metres into the ground, and work on the foundations began. over the finish line yet. While we have raised the $35 million needed to complete the construction Currently, the foundations are around 60% complete and the team are finishing up the under phase of the project we still need an additional $1million in order to cover the fit out items and slab drainage. deliver the project in its entirety.

As of late March, we began to see vertical progress as the structural steel work got underway. The If you are interested in donating to this world-class facility and helping us finish our much needed first phase of this, the inner section of the fly tower, is now complete and the second section will be home then we urge you to do so now. We have a number of donation options available and truly underway shortly. The blockwork and concrete walls for the ground floor are also under construction appreciate any and all help given. For more information on the project or how to give please visit this month. our website www.asbwaterfronttheatre.co.nz

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS OF THE ASB WATERFRONT THEATRE

Founding Benefactors, To find out more or for information on how to donate visit Patrons and www.asbwaterfronttheatre.co.nz or call 09 309 0390 Donors

22 23 AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL Book now for five days of award-winning good times and JOIN THE great ideas with 150 of the world’s best writers and thinkers. NEW THEATRE’S CAROL ANN DUFFY FIND HARUKI MURAKAMI FOUNDERS CLUB DAVID WALLIAMS DAVID MITCHELL C.K. STEAD THE HELEN GARNER The Founders Club is a group of AMY BLOOM TIM WINTON highly committed people who are PETER FITZSIMONS RIGHT ALAN CUMMING passionate about securing this new theatre for Auckland. In recognition of their investment in this visionary WORDS project, members are afforded: 13 – 17 MAY 2015, AOTEA CENTRE • Name recognition in the WRITERSFESTIVAL.CO.NZ new theatre in perpetuity Tickets on sale NOW. Earlybird discounts available • Invitations to the Gala Ticketmaster.co.nz or 0800 111 999 Opening Night and Champagne Reception • Invitations to special events

Joining the Founders Club offers you a unique opportunity to be involved with creating this world- class performing arts venue as a We would be delighted to welcome legacy for Auckland. The levels you into this select group of of investment for this exclusive supporters playing a vital role in membership are as follows: ensuring the success of this project. If you are interested, please contact FOUNDERS CLUB Linden Tierney on 09 309 0390 ext. 272, [email protected]. RECOGNITION INVESTMENT The Waterfront Theatre Trust is a Platinum Member $50,000 + turns to crime! registered charity and donations Gold Member $25,000 + are eligible for a tax rebate. Donations can be paid in Silver Member $10,000 + installments over a period of time Loyalty, betrayal, murder Bronze Member $5,000 + to assist financial management or to maximise tax effectiveness. and more twists than a corkscrew... The author of the bestselling novel, The Keeper of Secrets, turns to crime! For more information on the project, or to make a donation, please visit www.asbwaterfronttheatre.co.nz “A captivating storyteller”

24 24   WHAT’S ON IN THEATRES AROUND THE COUNTRY? GOLF: A LOVE CONSTELLA- MAMIL STORY TIONS by Greg Cooper by Nick Payne by Roger Hall Fortune Theatre Court One Centrepoint Theatre 2 – 16 May 11 April – 23 May 2 – 16 May He’s a stressed out, self- No matter how badly you Boy (an easy going bee- medicating, self-loathing play, it's always possible to keeper) meets Girl (a arse, killing himself to get worse. Despite spending sophisticated quantum increase his bank balance ENLIGHTEN- EIGHT A SERVANT OF most of his retirement on physicist) and so begins a while decreasing his golf deeply absorbing romantic MENT GIGABYTES OF TWO MASTERS the golf course, Bill's days score. When his business of early mornings, lessons journey which explores the and life fall apart thanks to by Shelagh Stephenson HARDCORE by Carlo Goldini from an over-priced South infinite possibilities of their the global financial crisis, he Maidment Theatre PORNOGRAPHY Circa African, weekly rounds relationship, where each joins a men’s cycling group to by Declan Greene 28 May – 20 June 2 – 30 May with pompous brother- path they take shapes an relieve stress and get healthy. Q Theatre - Loft in-laws, and copious entirely different future. Ultimately faced with his Five months since the dis- Goldoni’s much-loved comic amounts of painkillers The Court Theatre | own mortality, he makes a appearance of their back- 18 June – 11 July classic is a masterpiece are over... because Bill Christchurch few startling discoveries in packer son, Lia and Nick He’s addicted to porn. starring a wily servant needs a new knee. But various cracks and crevices. are unsure who to turn to, She’s addicted to spending. whose cheeky, inventive before his operation, Bill A show that knows no or even whether he's alive She’s self-conscious about trickery gets the best of his is determined to break a geographical boundaries or dead. They frantically her breasts. And so is he. masters, in a merry mix-up hundred, something he has (it is a universal truth that seek clues, comfort and A tale of desperation and of mayhem and mistaken never done before, and is everyone has an opinion of strength. Out of the blue, the lengths we’ll go to find identity. Truffaldino, the not likely to do again. the MAMIL) this is a sharply their lost son seemingly For the leading news, satisfaction, Australian scheming and perpetually comical look at one of the materialises. But is he the Centrepoint Theatre | reviews and coverage hungry servant, concocts Palmerston North most polarising of species – real thing? As the couple seek theatre-maker Declan of Auckland Arts and a zany scheme to double the Middle Aged Man enlightenment, a dark truth Greene uses his signature Entertainment, see his wages (and his meals) in Lycra. emerges which challenges wit to create a wincingly by simultaneously serving their world view and plays on hilarious and awkwardly Fortune Theatre | Dunedin two masters – the lovelorn every parent's deepest fear. recognisable portrait of Beatrice (disguised as a man) Intense, intelligent, and shot contemporary life crisis. and her lost lover Florindo. through with humour, this Silo Theatre | Auckland is contemporary theatre at Circa Theatre | Wellington metromag.co.nz its best. Auckland Theatre Company

26 27 AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY AUCKLAND THEATRE Artistic Director – Colin McColl COMPANY BOARD OF General Manager – Lester McGrath DIRECTORS PRODUCTION SUPPLIERS Associate Director – Lynne Cardy Gordon Moller ONZM (Chair) Literary Manager – Philippa Campbell Karen Fistonich BLACK PMS 382 Youth Arts Co-Ordinator – Whetu Silver Ross Green Participation Co-Ordinator – Tanya Muagututi’a Scott Kerse Production Manager – Andrew Malmo Derek McCormack Acting Company Manager – Elaine Walsh Patricia Watson Finance Manager – Kerry Tomlin Company Administrator – Jan Pitout SET BUILDERS ■ STAGING ■ BUILDING SERVICES Development Manager – Linden Tierney Development Co-Ordinator – Alex Little www.2construct.co.nzmatt munford 021 554 078 Marketing & Communications Manager – Michael Adams Marketing Campaigns Manager – Natasha Gordon 143A TARGET ROAD, WAIRAU VALLEY, NORTH SHORE CITY 0627, AUCKLAND www.xytech.co.nz POSTAL ADDRESS 71 SMALE STREET, PT CHEVALIER, AUCKLAND 1022 Publicist – Siobhan Waterhouse TEL 09 443 3099 EMAIL [email protected] www.2construct.co.nz Graphic Designers – Wanda Tambrin and Claire Flynn Ticketing & Sales Manager – Jesse Hilford Ticketing & Sales Co-Ordinator – Rosalind Hemmings AUT Work Experience Students – Tayla Broomfield, Nicola Brown, Presshini Lawerance

SET BUILDERS ■ STAGING ■ BUILDING SERVICES ATC PATRONS ATC 2015 SUPPORTING ACTS chook birch www.kelpls.co.nz Margaret Anderson Ross and Paulette Laidlaw 021 776 105 John Barnett Philippa Smith-Lambert Our Standing Ovation 143A TARGET ROAD, WAIRAU VALLEY, NORTH SHORE CITY 0627, AUCKLAND Betsy and Michael Benjamin and Chris Lambert Supporter POSTAL ADDRESS 71 SMALE STREET, PT CHEVALIER, AUCKLAND 1022 TEL 09 443 3099 EMAIL [email protected] Greg Blanchard Sara Lunam and Peter Williams Sandy and Alan Bulmer www.2construct.co.nz and Carol Weaver Dayle and Chris Mace Rob Nicoll Adrian Burr and Peter Tatham Andrew Mackintosh and Hilary Liddell Our Curtain Call Supporters John and Stephanie Clark Peter Macky and Michael Best Pam and Brian Stevenson Paul and Barbie Cook Jackie and Phillip Mills Trevor and Jan Farmer Michael Moore and Andrew Gelonese Our Take A Bow Supporters Stephen and Virginia Fisher Christine and Derek Nolan Lisa Bates Cameron Fleming Denver and Prue Olde and Douglas Hawkins Michael Friedlander Hon Dame Judith Potter Shane Compton BEAUTY AND PRODUCT SPONSOR Dame Jenny Gibbs Maria Renhart Denise Dalziel Michael and Stephanie Gowan Fran and Geoff Ricketts Graeme Edwards Ross and Josephine Green Mark and Catherine Sandelin Rosemary Langham Stuart Grieve and Antonia Fisher Mike Smith and Dale d'Rose Jocelyn Lowe Sue Haigh Joanne Smout Louise Mountfort Rod and Penelope Hansen Gilli Sutton Robert Narev Allyson and Paul Harvey Lady Tait Joanne Smout Anne and Peter Hinton Julie and Russell Tills John and Robyn Spooner Michael and Dame Rosie Horton Kit Toogood and Pip Muir Thomas and Mahrukh Stazyk OFFICIAL MAKE-UP SPONSOR Rod and Julie Inglis Simon Vannini and Anita Killeen Ted Van Arkel M.A.C. Cosmetics offer a large selection of Peter and Sally Jackson Susan and Gavin Walker makeup, skin care products and nail care items. Robert Johnston Visit Smith & Caughey’s, St Lukes, Britomart or Botany Downs. Sir James Wallace and Stella McDonald Ian Webster and Jianni Felpas Len and Heather Jury Annemarie Yannaghas Jan and Brian Keene

28 29 RACHEL NASH STEPHEN LOVATT CATHERINE WILKIN DAVID ASTON ANNA JULLIENNE JORDAN MOONEY

EN— LIGHT— ENMENT

28 MAY — 20 JUN MAIDMENT THEATRE BOOK 09 308 2383 atc.co.nz