Podcasts about Auckland Theatre Company

Mayen Mehta and Ryan O'Kane from Auckland Theatre Company joined Sofia in the studio to chat about Murder on the Orient Express, on at ASB Waterfront Theatre 22 April - 10 May. 

Toi Ora Live Art Trust, based in Auckland, has spent nearly30 years using art and creativity to support individuals facing mental health challenges. Originally founded by a group of peers from the Carrington Mental Health Institution, Toi Ora has grown into a dedicated space where people canexplore creative expression through painting, poetry, drama, and music. The organisation believes in focusing on strengths, encouraging artistic growth, and fostering social connections to promote well-being.Leading this initiative is Susanne Ritzenhoff, whosepersonal and professional journey has shaped her vision for Toi Ora. Originally from Germany, Susanne grew up in a large family influenced by her father, an entrepreneur and philosophical thinker. The post-war environment in Germany,along with ongoing national reflection, played a role in shaping her perspective on resilience and adaptation.After moving to New Zealand nearly 30 years ago, Susannebegan working in the arts with the Auckland Theatre Company before transitioning to the social sector. Her experience in fundraising and communications took her to organisations such as Youthline and PresbyterianSupport Northern. When the opportunity arose to lead Toi Ora, she saw it as a way to bring together her passion for the arts and her commitment to social change.Susanne's approach to leadership is informed by her ownexperiences with dyslexia, which she views as both a challenge and a source of strength. She values creative problem-solving and believes in the importance ofpersonalised care and community support in fostering mental wellness. Under her leadership, Toi Ora continues to provide a space where individuals can findbelonging and purpose through creative expression.One participant's experience highlights the organisation'simpact—struggling with chronic illness, she discovered that her art did not need to be perfect to be meaningful. This shift in perspective not only boosted her confidence but also transformed her outlook on life.Looking to the future, Toi Ora hopes to expand its servicesacross Auckland and beyond, with aspirations to secure funding for year-round operations. Susanne remains committed to ensuring that creativity and communityremain at the heart of Toi Ora's work, helping individuals connect with themselves and others through art.For more information about Toi Ora Live Art Trust and itsprogrammes, visit www.toiora.org.nz

For Stage Direction this week, Alice Canton joined Sofia in studio to chat with Jonathan Bielski about Auckland Theatre Company's 2025 season. 

Send us a textActor and Director, Simon Prast, joins Poxy and Ragan to discuss his career acting for television and film, his tenure directing The Auckland Theatre Company, and his recent work as ultra villain, Ernest Miller, in Ti West's film, MaXXXine.Support the show

Award-winning British playwright Dennis Kelly's work is both funny and confronting. His play Girls and Boys is being performed by the Auckland Theatre Company and opens next month.

Shortland Street has been running for an impressive 32 years, and Jayden Daniels played one of the most popular characters in its entire run.  After graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2014 Daniels picked up the role of Curtis in 2015, using that role as a stepping stone to enter the screen industry proper.  He starred as Gabriel in the 2023 film Evil Dead Rise, and Cyril in Whina, the biopic of Dame Whina Cooper.  Daniels' is now making the switch from screen to stage, going back to his roots and theatre training with Auckland Theatre Company's production of The Effect.  The play follows two people who meet during a clinical drug trial and fall in love, asking the question of whether the love is real or just a side effect of the medication, written by multi-award winner Lucy Prebble.  “There's love, there's sorrow,” Daniels told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame.  “She writes it way better than I'm explaining it now.”  A majority of Daniels' training was theatrical training at drama school, but since he's been working on screen since his graduation there's been a bit of an adjustment.  “The whole time I've been trying to pull down, be smaller and more subtle,” he said.  “If I'm on screen, I can drop right down and talk to you like this,” Daniels lowered his voice in example.  “Whereas on stage I'm having to project. Even if I'm talking to you close, I have to be big and loud.”  “That's been a challenge for me.”  Daniels has worked in both mediums, and while he used to think he had a preference, he's recently discovered that theatre has a lot to teach him.  The techniques he can rely on when acting for camera aren't applicable to stage performances, as audiences can't hear softspoken voices or see the minute expressions on actors' faces.  And while he doesn't prefer one over the other, he told Tame that there are benefits to working in theatre.  “You can take more risks in theatre. You're rehearsing for a very long time, which is a luxury in acting, especially on screen.”  “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on the product on screen because you get there, you don't have long to shoot the scene and its done. Whereas here you can try this, it didn't work, I'll just throw it to the complete other end.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stage Direction is with Villa Junior Lemanu, assistant choreographer of O le Pepelo, le Gaoi, ma le Pala'ai The Liar, the Thief, and the Coward, the work by Natano Keni and Sarita So. A collaboration between Auckland Theatre Company, Auckland Arts Festival and I Ken So Productions. It's on at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from today until 23 March. 

Patricia Highsmith was the brilliant, but notoriously prickly best-selling author of many psychological thrillers - including Strangers on a Train - adapted for screen most famously by Alfred Hitchcock - and her Ripliad series sparked by her novel The Talented Mr Ripley. A play imagining the her last few months living as a recluse in Switzerland sees a young man arrive at her door to convince her to pen a last Ripley book. But the reclusive author is living with lung cancer, done with the literary establishment and not inclined to oblige. And thus the scene is set for the play Switzerland, which is being performed by The Auckland Theatre Company, with Kiwi actor Sarah Peirse as Patricia Highsmith. Sarah Goodes directed the play's debut in Sydney back in 2014 and is bringing it to the stage in Auckland from September 19.

Jared Blakiston is in the studio to talk about Auckland Theatre Company's Switzerland, a fast-paced psychological thriller. Whakarongo mai nei!

Alex takes out a Second Guessing win, correctly guessing the Cocteau Twins' track Heaven or Las Vegas. On Isthmus'n That with Desley Simpson, the Deputy Mayor speaks to Rachel about council consultation being open for Aucklanders to have their say on the cost sharing agreement between central and local government for storm recovery, councillors hearing this week that the Auckland Council climate plan is not tracking to halve its emissions by 2030 and weather forecasting for a dry summer in Auckland. Leea Lamatoa from Girls Rock Aotearoa is in the studio to talk about the launch of the To The Front programme in Auckland. On Stage Direction with Alice Canton, Jared Blakiston is in the studio to talk about Auckland Theatre Company's Switzerland, a fast-paced psychological thriller. Jack Roberston, a PhD candidate at the School of Engineering is in the studio for Ready Steady Learn, to talk about his project investigating medicinal cannabis waste, and how to find a circular solution. Whakarongo mai nei!

Switzerland is a play written by Joanna Murray-Smith which fictionalises a part of real life author Patricia Highsmith. It is Auckland Theatre Company's final theatrical piece for 2023. To talk about the play is the wonderful actor Sarah Peirse who plays Highsmith in this tight thriller.

Author Emily Perkins has been brewing the concept of her new novel for a long time. And after many, many drafts, Lioness finally hit the shelves last week. It's her first new release in a decade, and one widely anticipated by the many followers of the award-winning contemporary writer. Perkins first won attention in 1996 with her first collection of stories, Not Her Real Name and Other Stories. Her other novels include The New Girl, Novel About My Wife, and The Forrests. Last year her play about AI - The Made - was produced by Auckland Theatre Company in 2022. She is also a teacher of creative writing , with connections to the Institute for Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington, and to Auckland University. Her new release Lioness, published by Bloomsbury, follows Therese, whose privileged world is shaken when her husband is accused of corruption.

Michael Hurst is one of our finest and most versatile actors, with a haul of awards for television and film both locally and internationally. He's directed more than 90 professional stage productions, and TV shows including Spartacus, West Side, My Life is Murder, 800 Words, The Brokenwood Mysteries and Power Rangers. Michael joins Jim Mora ahead of a spectacular Auckland Theatre Company production of King Lear, to mark its 30th anniversary. Playing the King, Michael is joined on stage by his wife Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Jim Mora talked to Michael ahead of the final rehearsals for the play, which opens this coming week.

Kiwi acting veterans Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand return to the stage to celebrate Auckland Theatre Company's 30th anniversary. The pair are set to star alongside an elite cast in Shakespeare's King Lear- working together again after 18 years. Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand still look back on their last project together, The Goat, as one of the 'best performances they've ever been in' and know each other's 'shorthand' in rehersals.  "We're at the mid-point of the rehearsals now, so what's coming will be the digging in a little bit. I think we'll get a little more gritty." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Auckland, Michael Hurst from the Auckland Theatre Company, is strongly identified with Shakespeare. In this track Michael discusses performing Shakespeare. This session was recorded live on First Folio Day, April 2023. You can view a digital copy of the Auckland Libraries' First Folio here: https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/rarebooks/id/12779/rec/1 or check digital comparisons: www.firstfolios.com Find out more about Folio 400 here: https://folio400.com/celebration-2023/ Check out King Lear coming to stage: https://www.atc.co.nz/auckland-theatre-company/2023/king-lear/ Read more here: http://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2023/05/readers-and-readings-traces-of-use-in.html "At the start of Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies, otherwise known as the ‘First Folio', there's a note from Shakespeare's former colleagues to the book's potential consumers. “To the great Variety of Readers”, it begins, before outlining the reasons people might want to buy – and read – this unprecedented collection of plays". Image: Michael Hurst presents at World First Folio Day, April 2023. Photograph by Jane Wild. Music Credit: Seringapatam composed by Bruce Paine played by Chris Everest at Auckland Libraries Heritage Concert 2023

The film North by Northwest was a spy thriller that was directed by legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in 1959. It is seen as one of the greatest films of all time. Now a theatrical version of the story is coming to Auckland from the 25th October 2022. It's the last major production of this year by Auckland Theatre Company. Directed by Simon Phillips, the shows stars are Ryan O'Kane and Antonia Prebble. It's a very innovative production, and this week, I sat down with two members of the cast - actors Michèle Hine, and Jono Martin to talk about the show.

It's been a rough couple of years for the arts sector, but things are getting back to normal - with the Auckland Theatre Company releasing its line-up for its 2023 season this morning. Kathryn is joined by the ATC's artistic director Jonathan Bielski.

The Made, is a new play by kiwi playwright Emily Perkins that Auckland Theatre Company brings to the stage mid September 2022. It's about a scientist played by veteran actor Alison Bruce who creates synthetic human beings with artificial intelligence. The play explores many questions, in particular can a robot with AI develop real emotions. Alison Bruce took time out of rehearsal to discuss this interesting new play with Andrew Whiteside.

Emily Perkins is acclaimed as a novelist and short story writer, but her career started as an actor graduating from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in 1989. In her playwriting debut In 2015 Perkins created a contemporary interpretation of Ibsen's A Doll's House with Auckland Theatre Company, who have now commissioned a new work from her.

She started a Twitter account for the Auckland Theatre Company, and within a few years was running social for one of New Zealand's biggest banks; thus becoming one of the first wave of social media experts in Aotearoa. Now she's largely abandoned the platforms in taking a new role as the author of the Bulletin – and now head of newsletters for The Spinoff. Anna Rawhiti-Connell explains her fascinating professional journey to Duncan Greive. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Auckland Theatre Company has a new production opening this month called Scenes from a Yellow Peril: Scenarios for the Assimilated Asian. It was written by Nathan Joe, a Chinese kiwi playwright and is described as a political stream of consciousness. In this interview with Andrew Whiteside, Nathan explains why he wrote the play.

Auckland Theatre Company has just announced they are beginning a Youth Programme. The initiative is free, and will be a year long training and performance programme for aspiring actors, directors, designers and writers aged 16-25 who are looking to develop their craft. Talking about the venture with Andrew Whiteside are Sam Phillips - Participation Coordinator for Auckland Theatre Company, and Gabby Solomona - who along with Sam is one of four leaders of the programme. www.atc.co.nz/participation/youth-company

Young aspiring actors, directors, designers, writers, and theatre artists are being invited to apply for a new Youth Theatre company in Tamakai Makarau. It's for 16-25 year olds, and it's the initiative of the Auckland Theatre Company. The aim is to give our next generation of theatre makers a head start in their careers, and the year-long programme is free. Ahead of auditions that will be held once Auckland moves to orange, Lynn Freeman spoke to two of the four artists leading The Youth Company programme - Keagan Carr Fransch, and from ATC, Sam Phillips. She asked Sam what will differentiate this initiative from other youth theatre groups, notably long-time Auckland company, Massive?

The live events and creative industries have been hit hard by the arrival of Omicron and the move to the red traffic light setting.  However, despite restrictions, Auckland Theatre company is forging ahead with its season opener.  Their new show Grand Horizons opens this week.   Director Jennifer Ward-Lealand joined Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVE 

Director, producer and writer Sananda (Sandy) Chatterjee talks us through her journey of becoming a full time Theatre-maker. From early days volunteering with community theatres to professionally working with the likes of Auckland Theatre Company, Sandy has an awesome story with great insight into the performance world.

Ruawai-raised actor Roy Billing has been gracing New Zealand screens since the 1970s.  Having returned to our shores after being based in Sydney for many years, Billing will soon be treading the boards in Auckland Theatre Company's production of Bess Wohl's Tony-nominated comedy Grand Horizons.

Auckland Theatre Company has announced its 2022 programme and it is full of delightful, quirky and thought provoking shows. In this Interview with Andrew Whiteside, the company's CEO and artistic director Jonathan Bielski talks through each of the plays.

It's a gutsy call but Auckland Theatre Company has just released a full season of plays for 2022, off the back of a frustrating two years of disrupted and cancelled productions. Artistic Director and CEO Jonathan Bielski tells Lynn Freeman he's confident the shows will go on, and has scheduled two comedies first up in recognition that Tamaki Makaurau audiences could do with some cheering up. Homegrown plays include work by Emily Perkins, Nancy Brunning, Oscar Kightley and Nathan Joe.. Lynn first asked Jonathan about the many ways the pandemic impacted on ATC this year,

It's been a tough secret to keep but we are delighted to announce the winner of this year's Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. The $10,000 prize goes to Chinese-Kiwi, Christchurch-based playwright Nathan Joe. The award hopes to encourage the winner to keep writing for the theatre and that's exactly what Nathan intends to do. It's a busy year for Nathan. He's also won a 2022 Grimshaw Sargeson Literary Fellowship, based at the Sargeson Centre in Auckland where he'll work on his new play called Personal Essays. Before then, Auckland Theatre Company is staging his provocative work Scenes From A Yellow Peril about racism and privilege in Aotearoa, as part of next year's programme. In addition, Nathan Joe's the 2020 National Poetry Slam Champion, but he won't be able to defend that title because it clashes with next year's Auckland Pride Festival that he's also involved with! Where does he find the time? Nathan talks to Lynn Freeman about how much of a morale boost winning the Playwriting Award has been for him.

When Anapela Polata'ivao was growing up she wanted to be a nurse because she felt the need to help people. Then she found drama at Sunday School. Now an actor, writer and director with numerous awards under her belt, Anapela is bringing the life and death stories from the hospital ward to the stage as director of the Auckland Theatre Company production of Things That Matter.

Composer John Gibson has set himself a pretty big task - conveying the power and dominance of the Catholic Church in Renaissance Europe through sound and music. Rather than relying on existing sound effects for the Auckland Theatre Company's upcoming production of Berthold Brecht's The Life of Galileo, John's been out recording bells and the Auckland Town Hall Pipe organ himself. He's also asked his friend, Clean guitarist David Kilgour, to come up with riff to play over a 1610 mass. Having composed the soundscape, John Gibson has taken it a step further. He's going to convert the ASB Waterfront Theatre into surround sound so the audience feels like it's in a cathedral. For more than 3 decades John's been composing for theatre, dance, TV and also film - most recently for upcoming NZ feature Coming Home in the Dark.

Adapted from an Australian play, Single Asian Female Kiwi-style tells the story of a first-generation Chinese immigrant and single mother living in Mount Maunganui. Pearl Wong is also a restaurateur and karaoke addict and actor Kat Tsz Hung is delighted to be one of three Chinese leads in a play with a Chinese director. Auckland Theatre Company is collaborating with Proudly Asian Theatre Company to present the New Zealand premiere of the work by Michelle Law.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand talks with Mike Williams about the play 'Two Ladies', presented by Auckland Theatre Company, and coming to Hamilton's Clarence St Theatre on March 5 and 6.

An imagined verbal battle between the first ladies of America and France is the premise of a play that's about to have its New Zealand premiere. Prize-winning Irish playwright Nancy Harris pits Sophia - an Eastern European model turned America's First Lady versus Hélène in Two Ladies. She says resemblances to Melania Trump and Brigitte Macron are no coincidence. Nancy can't be at the Auckland Theatre Company production, she's in lockdown in Ireland. Two Ladies has its New Zealand premiere at the ASB Waterfront Theatre on the 9th of February. Then it's on the road to Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth and Hastings.

Auckland Theatre Company announce their 2021 programme, we speak to Artistic Director Colin McColl

In 2009, as part of an afternoon celebrating Waitakere City and West Auckland, Going West guests heard the story of iconic New Zealand television series Outrageous Fortune and the fictional West family of West Auckland.  The multi-award winning creative team of Rachel Lang and James Griffin, along with actor Robyn Malcolm (Cheryl West), were joined in conversation by Auckland Theatre Company founder, actor and director Simon Prast. This session also celebrated the publication of Outrageous Fortune: the West Family Album, a book byhttps://www.fishpond.co.nz/c/Books/a/Lang%2C+Rachel ( Rachel Lang), James https://www.fishpond.co.nz/c/Books/a/Griffin%2C+James (Griffin) and Tim Balme, published by West Auckland publisher Peter Dowling of Oratia Media. Outrageous Fortune was created for Henderson-based South Pacific Pictures and ran on TV3 from 2005 to 2010. It is the longest running drama series made in New Zealand, and one of the few embraced by an Australian audience. It spawned a US and an English version, and even aired in Eastern Europe. Starting in 2015, TV3 screened a spinoff series, Westside. Set in the 1970s and 80s, the series followed the younger years of key characters Ted and Rita West. The final episode played on November 16 2020, bringing to a close the West family television saga.  Both Outrageous Fortune and Westside shamelessly championed New Zealand music, starting with its use of Westie favourite Gutter Black (by Hello Sailor) as its theme music.  Both series also featured buildings and locations across West Auckland, including the brick and tile West family residence in Te Atatu South.

The Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2020 recognise innovation and excellence in Pacific Arts and their contribution to the rich diversity of Aotearoa as a multi-cultural Pacific nation.   Eight Pasifika artists were acknowledged yesterday, across seven categories with an online video announcement, as well as an intimate celebration with the Arts Council of New Zealand. We’re joined now by Tanya Muagututi’a, recipient of the Special recognition Award for the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2020. This award recognises an individual whose work, influence and commitment have raised the standards, expectations and reputation of Pacific Arts and artists. Tanya has been an integral part of the award-winning arts company Pacific Underground since 1992.  From 2000 to 2010, along with husband and Music Director Pos Mavaega, the company presented the Christchurch Pacific Arts Festival developing multiple platforms for and by Pacific artists. After relocating to Auckland, Tanya worked on major events Pasifika, Diwali, Lantern and Auckland Arts and Christchurch Arts Festivals. She has also worked in theatre with Auckland Theatre Company, Mangere Arts Centre, continuing today with the Court Theatre, Okāreka Dance Company and No.3 Roskill Theatre. She was the recipient of an Adam NZ Playmarket Award, is a freelance Producer, still creating with the Pacific Underground family to nurture the next generation of emerging artists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2020 recognise innovation and excellence in Pacific Arts and their contribution to the rich diversity of Aotearoa as a multi-cultural Pacific nation.   Eight Pasifika artists were acknowledged yesterday, across seven categories with an online video announcement, as well as an intimate celebration with the Arts Council of New Zealand. We’re joined now by Tanya Muagututi’a, recipient of the Special recognition Award for the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2020. This award recognises an individual whose work, influence and commitment have raised the standards, expectations and reputation of Pacific Arts and artists. Tanya has been an integral part of the award-winning arts company Pacific Underground since 1992.  From 2000 to 2010, along with husband and Music Director Pos Mavaega, the company presented the Christchurch Pacific Arts Festival developing multiple platforms for and by Pacific artists. After relocating to Auckland, Tanya worked on major events Pasifika, Diwali, Lantern and Auckland Arts and Christchurch Arts Festivals. She has also worked in theatre with Auckland Theatre Company, Mangere Arts Centre, continuing today with the Court Theatre, Okāreka Dance Company and No.3 Roskill Theatre. She was the recipient of an Adam NZ Playmarket Award, is a freelance Producer, still creating with the Pacific Underground family to nurture the next generation of emerging artists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haanz Fa’avae Jackson is a versatile and passionate actor and father who hopes to inspire young Pasifika artists to rise and tell their stories. Since graduating from P.I.P.A. in 2014 he has been in constant demand for both stage and screen.  His roles include Stephen in the successful feature HIBISCUS & RUTHLESS, Ruben in the tele-feature IN DARK PLACES, Tomasi in Tongan drama series “Brutal Lives” to name a few.  Haanz has also appeared in the play STILL LIFE WITH CHICKENS for Auckland Theatre Company and more recently newly released film “Savage”.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Like other theatres around the country, Auckland Theatre Company has had its plans to put its actors back on stage disrupted after the long Alert Level One stretch came to a sudden end.

Theatres are learning to adapt to a world where rehearsals and productions cannot be carried out the way they once were. The Auckland Theatre Company have adapted by staging productions to stream online. After a sensational online season of Chekhov's The Seagull they are turning their eye to Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder. The production will premiere on Saturday the 8th of August and will be available for streaming from then until the 30th of August. Colin McColl is the director of the production and he joins Lynn to discuss staging and dramaturgy in the age of lockdown.

Stella Reid is a great example of how handy it is to work across theatre and screen, as a writer, performer, director or acting coach. Right now she should be reflecting on the Auckland Theatre Company's production of the Miracle Worker, having received a paid internship to work on it. But the play is in one of many disrupted by the corona virus restrictions. Now she's working on a film and looking forward to taking up Toi Poneke Arts Centre's Screenwriter's residency in Wellington.

One of the industries hardest hit by COVID has been the arts, and this week the government announced 175 million dollar package to try and save a predicted 11,000 jobs.But in the meantime, many artists have seen COVID as a challenge, how can they keep doing what they love despite lockdown? That’s what the Auckland Theatre Company did, presenting classic play The Seagull in four, 30 minute online segments over lockdown.And they’re all still on the company’s website for everyone to watch.One of the show’s leads, theatre legend and current New Zealander of the Year Jennifer Ward-Lealand joins Jack Tame.LISTEN ABOVE

Despite being in slightly strange times, theatre continues to push on and Zoë's here with her hot picks of what you can catch this weekend. Check out National Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire, Auckland Theatre Company's Chekhov’s The Seagull, and of course, a classic, The Sound of Music. 

Acting veteran Mark Hadlow has had to swap the stage for working on a building site in order to keep the cash coming in during the Covid-19 restrictions. The actor and comedian is best known internationally for roles in Peter Jackson's King Kong and Hobbit trilogy. He was starring in the Auckland Theatre Company's season of Winding Up, a new play by Sir Roger Hall. The play was in the middle of touring but had to be postponed. Eleisha Foon spoke to Hadlow about his desire to return to the stage.

Theatre companies will struggle to reopen during Alert Level 2. Restrictions on audience numbers undermines the financial viability of shows. Jonathan Bielski is chief executive of the Auckland Theatre Company.

Zoë's got plenty to keep you entertained this weekend, starting with Kura Forrester's Kura Shoulda Woulda, followed by Chekhov's The Sea Gull by Auckland Theatre Company, the National Theatre's Antony and Cleopatra, and for some wholesome listening, Harry Potter, read by Daniel Radcliffe, on Spotify. 

For the next four weeks the Auckland Theatre Company is putting on its first ever play designed to be watched online. 

The Auckland Theatre Company season of A Fine Balance is at Q Theatre from June 14 –July 06. Tickets are available at QTheatre.co.nz Sit down with Amit Ohdedar, the Founder of Prayas and Historical & Cultural Advisor for the show, and Lynne Cardy, Associate Director of Auckland Theatre Company who were very instrumental in bringing together these two companies to talk about the collaboration.

The Auckland Theatre Company season of A Fine Balance is at Q Theatre from June 14 –July 06. Tickets are available at QTheatre.co.nz Join Assistant Director Sandra Chatterjee, Gayatri Adi, Maulik Thakkar & Alisha Iyer for a discussion about how the history of the emergency was rewritten.

The Auckland Theatre Company season of A Fine Balance is at Q Theatre from June 14 –July 06. Tickets are available at QTheatre.co.nz A Fine Balance Assistant Director Sananda Chatterjee sits down with the creative team behind the Auckland Theatre Company and Prayas Theatre season to discuss how they are bringing the story and history to life on stage.

The Auckland Theatre Company season of A Fine Balance is at Q Theatre from June 14 –July 06. Tickets are available at QTheatre.co.nz Join Prayas' Assistant Director Sandy Chatterjee & Founder and Historical Adviser Amit Ohdedar discuss the history of the emergency.

On this episode we talk to this awesome trio. - Award winning actor and director Sophie Roberts graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2007. From 2008 – 2013 she free-lanced as an actor, director, dramaturg, producer, writer and teacher; creating work for many of Auckland and Wellington’s major theatre companies and venues. Her directing credits include BOYS WILL BE BOYS, PERPLEX, THE EVENTS, THE BOOK OF EVERYTHING, MIDSUMMER, THE PRIDE, I LOVE YOU BRO and SUNDAY ROAST. Her awards include- Standout Performer: Wellington Fringe Festival - Best New Director: Wellington Theatre Awards - Most Promising Female Newcomer: Wellington Theatre Awards – Production of the Year: Wellington Theatre Awards - and a nomination for Best New Playwright: Wellington Theatre Awards – Excellence In All Aspects Of Production: Auckland Theatre Awards Sophie is a graduate of the Future Auckland Leaders Programme and became Artistic Director for Silo Theatre in 2014. Dan Musgrove is an award-winning writer and actor based in Auckland NZ. He was the born and raised in Marlborough, before studying drama at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in Wellington. His stage acting credits include Angels in America, Midsummer, and Holding the Man for Silo Theatre, and Romeo and Juliet for Auckland Theatre Company. He currently stars in the popular TV3 drama Westside, which is about to enter its fifth season. Other screen acting credits include the lead role of Marty Johnstone in the NZ Underbelly series, Brokenwood Mysteries and Go Girls. As a playwright, he co-wrote the Michael Hurst solo show No Holds Bard, and two sell out comedy shows Christ Almighty and Toys. As a screenwriter, he has written for seasons 3-5 of Westside. He has a feature film in development with Four Knights Films. Currently Natalie is storylining and writing scripts for South Pacific Pictures and Australian channel 7’s 800 Words, season three. She also wrote on season 1. Prior to that she wrote for TV 2’s comedy Agent Anna (Nominated for best comedy episode at NZ’s prestigious SWANZ awards 2014). She has also storylined and written TV3’s third series of Almighty Johnson’s (Nominated for best drama episode at NZ’s SWANZ Awards 2013). Natalie began storylining and writing on Shortland Street. Natalie also has experience writing for kids TV, with Channel Four’s The Moe Show. She has also written NZ Film Commission funded comedy feature Shearing the Love, which is in production with preeminent Four Knights Films. She also has a feature Daisy Chain, in development with the NZFC’s program 48+. She wrote and directed NZFC funded short film Goodness Grows Here. Her latest short film, The Pact, was accepted into the prestigious Oldenberg Festival. Natalie was also short listed (from five hundred applications to six) with her series Exillium for Australian Freemantle’s Blue Sky Initiative Natalie also wrote and stared in NZ on air funded comedy webseries Yeti. Theatrically Natalie wrote sell-out hit Christmas monologue shows Toys, and Christ Almighty! (Nominated for best new play – 2010 SWANZ Awards). She also co-wrote and directed Michael Hurst’s solo show No Holds Bard. Her latest work was Near Death Experience which she also wrote and directed. Recorded and Edited - Matt Eller Theme Music - Ricky Simmonds

On this episode we are talking to Gabrielle Vincent, Programming Director at the Basement Theatre. - Gabrielle is a New Zealand based curator and is in her fourth year as Programming Director at the Basement Theatre in Auckland. Alongside Kee Hong Low (West Kowloon Cultural District) and Ira Brand (Forest Fringe), Gabrielle is a co-curator of the International Colab - a three year initiative that supports artists to exchange artistic skills, techniques and cultural knowledge and push their creative practice. Before taking on the position of Programming Director she worked across a variety of disciplines and in many roles within the live performance process: producer, stage manager, director. In 2014 she was offered the position of Producer in Residence at Basement Theatre before moving into her current role. From 2006 – 2008 she studied at UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in Directing for Theatre. During her final year of study she was co-producer for SmackBang Theatre Company. When leaving university Gabrielle went on to direct independent productions alongside freelancing as a stage manger around New Zealand, primarily with Auckland Theatre Company. Recorded and Edited - Matt Eller Theme Music - Ricky Simmonds

This episode we have a chat with The Basements Marketing Manager, Tim Blake - Tim Blake began his arts career selling tickets at Maidment Theatre in 2008 before becoming their Box Office Manager from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, Tim became the Marketing Manager at Silo Theatre, working on brand, audience development and event campaign marketing for over five years. While at Silo Theatre, he won a Best Newcomer award for marketing at the 2012 Auckland Theatre Awards. In 2017, Tim took up a one-year contract as the Marketing Advisor at Auckland Zoo. At the Zoo, he managed the marketing team and created visitation marketing campaigns as well as a major marketing campaign for Weta Workshop and Te Papa’s visiting exhibition, Bug Lab. In 2018, Tim returned to the arts as Basement Theatre’s Marketing Manager. Tim has also worked at Auckland Theatre Company, APRA and as an independent producer for various theatre productions. Recorded and Edited - Matt Eller Theme Music - Ricky Simmonds

The second in the series about Auckland Theatre Company's 2018 production of 1984. We look into the technologies used and talk a lot about projection, lights and sound.

Crooks and Bowers are joined by the brilliant Lucy Hayman-Brown. We discuss the Auckland Theatre Company production of 1984 for the L3 Live Theatre Exam. My favourite quote from HYB is "We are complicit in our own surveillance". Big Brother is watching us.

This week we chat to Ahi Karunaharan about all things theatre! Born in UK, Bred in Aotearoa, Ahi Karunaharan has worked in the arts sector for various shows, venues, production companies and festivals both nationally and internationally since graduating from Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari, New Zealand School of Drama as an actor, writer, director and producer. Ahi writing credit for stage and radio include The Mourning After, Anchorite, Light V’s Dark – The Adventures of Rama and Swabhoomi – Borrowed Earth. Directing highlights include ‘A Fine Balance for Prayas Theatre, The Interactive Outdoor Extravaganza ‘Bollywood Blockbuster’, ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’ for Auckland Theatre Company and The Immersive participatory experience ‘Samaroh- The Great Indian Carnival’ for the Auckland Arts Festival. Ahi has worked with the Internationally acclaimed Theatre Company Tara Arts and collaborated and performed with various artists across the globe from Germany, Australia, Norway, Canada, India and Malaysia. Ahi was also an associate producer for Tawata Productions working on numerus award winning productions and travelled with the company for planet IndigenoUS Festival at Toronto. The founder of Agaram Productions, which curated and produced the first ever South Asian Writers Festival here in Aotearoa, Agaram continues to be the one of the leading South Asian Development Theatre companies producing new works with a South Asian focus and ongoing artist mentoring, development and leadership opportunities for those within the Arts sector. Ahi is also the Artistic Curator for Short and Sweet Festival and freelances as a Dramaturg, tutor, musician and and currently works for Basement Theatre in the Programming Department. Recorded and Edited - Matt Eller Theme Music - Ricky Simmonds

In 1992 a sudden financial crisis forced the Mercury theatre to close in dramatic fashion. Auckland Theatre Company rose from its ashes. Actor/director Simon Prast was there and recalls the upheaval for Eyewitness producer Justin Gregory.

In this episode we make our first visit to a construction site - the new home for the Auckland Theatre Company - and talk with the architect, Gordon Moller.

This is a short episode but I hope you enjoy.  Our kitties are doing great and have made huge strides when it comes to strangers in the house. It's so nice to have pets again!  In this show I review episode 6 of Season 4.  Episodes Reviewed:  A TALE OF TWO MUSES First aired: November 2, 1998 Written by: Gillian Horvath Directed by: Michael Hurst  Xenaverse News:  Tickets to the upcoming Auckland Theatre Company's production of Chicago, directed by Michael Hurst and starring Lucy as Velma Kelly, can be found on the Q Theatre website. Q Theatre :: Chicago tickets.Marilyn Rucker :: Theme music written and performed by Marilyn Rucker.Whoosh :: A fantastic X:WP web resource.AUSXIP :: Another fantastic X:WP web resource.