President's Report February 2024

TheatreFest 2024
A New Direction

TNZ announces a New Direction for our Festival.

Why the new direction?

Theatre festivals have been part of our landscape for over 50 years. This year, we asked for and received feedback on our current framework from local and regional festivals. TNZ has initiated some significant changes based on this feedback.

The benefits of TheatreFest have always been in the giving and receiving of professional adjudication to participants, and we see this as its continuing strength. In this changing theatrical landscape and in consideration of feedback received, we look at how we could best use this festival not only in a competitive environment but also as a celebration of community theatre in NZ.

For administrative purposes our membership has been divided into 6 Regions, each one the responsibility of a regional representative on the National Executive. Local Regional Reps are now your first contact point for Theatre New Zealand and TheatreFest.

Let me introduce your Rep on the National Executive

Region 1 Northland and Auckland: Deb Steele
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Region 2 Taranaki Waikato and Bay of Plenty: Ewen Coleman
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Region 3 Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne: Adrienne Hurley
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Region 4 Wairarapa, Wellington and Horowhenua: Linda Voice
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Region 5 Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury and West Coast: Maz Ollett
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Region 6 Otago, Southland: Blaise Barham
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Also:

Local TheatreFest:

Local TheatreFest continues as we have done for many decades, the chance to try out new ideas, get some new plays going, invite more people and have fun remain. The opportunity for feedback, travel and competition continues as a part of TheatreFest. There is no change to this model, the local Festival remains autonomous, hosted by local groups.
Current practices at Local Festivals will continue: the accredited adjudicated will provide adjudication from the stage (5 minutes) the 10-minute Green Room and the follow up written report. Support for getting the local festival in place will be provided by your Regional Representative, and the TheatreFest Advisor

The same categories will be awarded as with previous festivals.

Local Festivals & Dates

Regional Festivals & Dates

Regional TheatreFest are now considered to be a major regional celebration of theatre. At the regional level there will be no immediate adjudication from the stage, and no Greenroom discussion. However, within a week each adjudicator, as a theatre coach, will be available to have a 15+ minute follow up Zoom with the directors and / or teams that they have already seen in the locals TheatreFest. Following the Regional TheatreFest each team will receive written feedback.

Upper North Island Regional TheatreFest (Regions 1&2) – 17 & 18 August
Northland, Auckland, Waikato includes Taranaki and Bay of Plenty.
A two Adjudicator panel from regions 1&2 will give a reassessment on the presentations they adjudicated previously at a local level.

Lower North Island Regional TheatreFest (Regions 3&4) – 24 & 25 August
Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu/Whanganui, Wairarapa, Wellington.
A two Adjudicator panel from regions 3&4 will give a reassessment on the presentations they adjudicated previously at a local level.

Upper South Island Regional TheatreFest (Region 5) – 17 & 18 August
Buller West Coast, Top of the South (Marlborough/Nelson) and Canterbury
A two Adjudicator panel from within this region will give a reassessment on the presentations they adjudicated previously at a local level.

Lower South Island Regional TheatreFest (Region 6) – 24 & 25 August
Upper Otago, Otago/Southland, and Canterbury
A two Adjudicator panel from within this region will give a reassessment on the presentations they adjudicated previously at a local level.

On the evening of the Regional TheatreFest each team will be presented with a Certificate of Participation.

After the Final Regional TheatreFest, TNZ and the adjudicator panel meet to decide on the presentations to be invited to perform at SHOWCASE and the awards. It is expected that a minimum notice of three weeks prior to SHOWCASE will be given to enable performances to arrange travel and accommodation.

TheatreFest Regional Awards

Performances from regional levels will be considered for these awards, which will be announced at ShowCase and presented at the Theatre New Zealand AGM immediately following ShowCase.

Distinctive Emerging Talent
Jannat Aitchison Memorial Award Donated by: Joan Ford, Denise Walsh, Nannette Wright.

Bryan Aitken Summer School Scholarship (fee payment only)

APRA Award
Best use of soundscape and sound-effects, including recorded music.

Michael Norris Award
Donated by the Norris family. For use of Original and/or Live Music.

Creative Design Award
Total Visual Concept and Execution.

He Pito Aronui Award – The Seeding of Creative Potential
Donated by Education Perfect. This award is incentivising and acknowledging new writing and performance, which must be created by and contain Māori or Pasifika content, featuring a culturally apposite cast. Entries in this category, are also eligible for all other appropriate categories.

Excellence in Acting
Recognising excellence in acting.

ShowCase
(previously TheatreFest ShowCase)

A Celebration of Theatre

SHOWCASE becomes a standalone Festival presenting the best of Community Theatre throughout New Zealand as chosen by a team of Regional TheatreFest adjudicators. TheatreFest is about engaging with theatre and nurturing craft, and so there is an educative element in the adjudication process. Showcase will be held on the Saturday afternoon and evening. TheatreFest is the competitive levels, while SHOWCASE is the celebration of the art.

We are presenting a SHOWCASE of theatre in New Zealand; the SHOWCASE performances will be celebrated as being at the highest level. Groups will have already received an adjudication from the stage (Local TheatreFest) as well as a Green Room and Zoom discussion, and 2 written reports. SHOWCASE is more a festival and an opportunity to present theatre at the highest level, there is no further adjudication element.

SHOWCASE will be compered by an MC, linking the audience and the performances, and providing a commentary on theatre.

All SHOWCASE performances from the evening of theatre, will go into the Book of Honour and receive a certificate of participation, and a Drama Development Trust presentation. Awards decided at the Regional TheatreFest will be announced at ShowCase and presented at the TNZ AGM, the following day.

PAUL PERCY 
President - Theatre New Zealand
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 Summer School - Timaru 2024

National Adult Summer Theatre Intensive

The Playhouse Theatre Timaru became a hive of activity this past January. For five days, three nationally recognised theatre practitioners/tutors brought their expertise to thirty-six Summer School participants. Bryan Aitken, Lara Macgregor and Julian Southgate brought the Playhouse alive by focusing the groups on three inter-twined aspects of theatre: directing, acting and design. And what a week it was:

• 'Generous professionals giving their hearts and souls to the week'.

Click Here: for the Timaru Herald Report

• 'Highly experienced tutors, accessible and very switched on'.

Work with acknowledged professionals as they Impart life-long theatre skills! Incentivise yourself – to incentivise others! Join us in Timaru Jan 2025.

• 'I am grateful I got to attend, and that I was treated with so much respect, aroha and manaakitanga throughout the whole week'.

The call goes out for 2025. TNZ executives have locked in dates for next year in Timaru (Jan 5th to 11th, 2025) for the National Adult Summer Theatre Intensive (watch this space!)

News articles:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350146342/summer-theatre-school-hopes-make-timaru-centre-stage-trainin

https://www.timarucourier.co.nz/arts-entertainment/dramatic-turn-as-city-hosts-theatre-summer-school/

Click on the image for a larger version.

Congratulations to Ewen Coleman QSM

Ewen has been involved in theatre as a director and producer for more than 40 years.

Ewen has served on several committees in various positions including secretary, president and treasurer. He has been a member of the Wellington District Theatre Federation since the 1970s and has held all executive committee member positions. He has been a member of the Wellington Repertory Theatre since 1976, was made a Life Member in 1989 and is the current Secretary. He has been involved in the executive committee of Theatre New Zealand and the Association of New Zealand Drama Adjudicators. He was made a Life Member of Theatre New Zealand in 1996. He travels to direct shows for societies and runs technical workshops to help hundreds of actors. Ewen has also been a trustee a of Theatre Archives New Zealand since 2007 and is the current Treasurer.

Presently Ewen is the National Co-ordinator of TheatreFest. We thank him for his long service and dedication.

Here pictured at a recent planning meeting of the National Executive in Masterton.

Kia ora Theatre NZ whānau!

He mihi tēnei ki ā koutou e hāpai i te kaupapa nei, ā ko ngā mahi ā Tāne Rore, ko Hine Rēhia hoki. Tēnā koutou katoa!

I was absolutely blown away by the talent, enthusiasm and energy that I experienced at the 2024 Summer School! How amazing to be surrounded by such wonderful people all with common goals in mind. Mīharo! I was even more amazed at the pūkenga (skill) shared by our three lecturers, Bryan, Lara and Julian, nei rā te mihi kau ana ki ā koutou, nui te aroha.

As the new cultural advisor for Theatre NZ I was stoked when Bryan gave me the opportunity to speak to our summer school participants about Tīkanga.

WHAT IS TĪKANGA? The word is taken from TIKA which means correct, as in; what is correct for us? What are our principles founded upon? And what are our correct ways of doing things? It is obvious that most of us know tīkanga in some form or another, things like, don’t sit on the table, don’t sit on pillows, take your shoes off in the house etc. My main goal for my presentation was to try and give us our own “Theatre Tīkanga” that can be easily implemented every time we meet to plan, rehearse and perform a production. We may already be doing these things in our own theatre companies and spaces.

I've created a little printable that you may like to print and display to help you remember these kupu (words) and their meanings. You can call these your TĪKANGA and I encourage each of us to use them as we move forward.  Click on the image below to view the full size version.

In a world of uncertain turmoil and craziness, our tīkanga will help us to show kindness, love and and support for those we surround ourselves with. I wish you all the very best and a wonderful 2024.

Kia kaha tātou katoa.

Kiri

Kiri Riwai-Couch
UCOL Lecturer Performing Arts, Maori & Pasefika/Te reo Wairarapa

From TNZ Showcase to Toi Whakaari

Theatre NZ congratulates George Long on his acceptance into Toi Whakaari.

Having been on the community stage since the age of 14, George performed in his first ever Theatrefest play last year, playing Julian in a 2-hander ‘No Present Like the Time’ and enjoyed the experience immensely. He found the adjudication extremely valuable and the fact that the play went on to be performed at the National Showcase, an added bonus. He states ‘There is no doubt this whole experience increased my confidence in preparing for my Toi Whakaari auditions’.

He was coached in his audition monologues by the director of that play, and newly appointed TNZ executive committee member, Marilyn Ollett. She states ‘Theatrefest is about learning, growing and supporting’ and she is delighted to have helped George achieve his goal.

 On The Boards

On the Boards February, March and April 2024

 To be included in this list send information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Celebrations at Napier Rep - 90 years old and their 100 year old member

In December 2023 Napier Repertory Players celebrated 90 wonderful years of theatre at 'The Little Theatre' Napier.

We were lucky enough to have 100 year old Catherine Downes with us. She is seated on the right of the photo.

Catherine has been involved with theatre for many years and she is a Life Member of Theatre New Zealand.

Catherine spoke about her experiences in theatre.

Also in the photo, is Paul Percy (TNZ President) at the back and on the left is Gillian Davies, who also is a long time Napier theatre practitioner and supporter.

Gillian also spoke during the evening.

Adrienne Hurley
(President of Napier Repertory Players and TNZ executive member)

A quirky approach; seize the opportunity and follow up!

From: Peter Cordwell <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: George Orwell musical

Dear Theatre New Zealand,

A somewhat unusual email from London, England...I would like to donate my 'proletarian' George Orwell musical - script and nine original songs - to any theatre/theatre group in New Zealand that might be interested, especially as Orwell's words become more relevant than ever.

The show is called One Georgie Orwell and played at Greenwich Theatre in 2012, followed by a week in New York (way off Broadway!) two years later.

(I have never been to New Zealand but became very attached to the country after the amazing sportsmanship demonstrated after the unlucky cricket final defeat against England a few years ago.. plus the beauty of your democracy as well!).

Very best wishes,
Peter

 Playwrights Association of New Zealand (Inc)

AN INVITATION FOR THEATRE GROUPS

Playwrights Association New Zealand is keen to partner with a theatre group to produce a festival of the 10-minute prize-winning plays from this year’s playwriting competition. See details below.
If your company would like to explore this idea for a festival in late 2024 or 2025, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PLAYWRIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (INC)
10-MINUTE PLAY COMPETITION 2024

RULES:

1. Only members of PANZ may enter the competitions. Membership is open to any person who lives in New Zealand or is a New Zealander. The annual membership fee is $25 (aged 23 and over) or $15 (aged 22 and under). To join: https://newzealandplaywrights.wordpress.com/join-us/
2. There is no additional entry fee for the competitions.
3. A member may submit one or two 10-Minute Plays (7 to 10 minutes running time)
4. The name of the author(s) and/or their contact details must not appear anywhere on the script.
5. The play must not have been performed in front of a paying audience before the play was submitted.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Entries open 1 April 2024 and close 30 April 2024.
Send entries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the script as an attachment.

PRIZES:

1st prize: $100
2nd prize: $50
All entries will receive brief feedback.
We hope to arrange a production of the winning plays in partnership with a New Zealand theatre group.

Adjudicator: James Wenley

 Playmarket Scripts

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTS

SHOWS WITHIN SHOWS:

Two Houses by Elizabeth Robertshaw (9f, 5m)
Two down on their luck playhouses who are faced with losing funding from their local council are given an ultimatum: collaborate or close down. They are polar opposites: Barrington Dramatics is ‘real’ theatre, run by the snobbish Olivier Pencarrow while Seaside Minstrels is run by the colourfully eccentric Cassandra (Sandy) Hooker with an “all abilities welcome” motto. Hilarity ensues as they attempt to put on a show together: Romeo and Juliet – The Space Rock Opera. Will Romeo and Juliet fall in love? Will the show go on? Or will there be a plague on both their houses...
“[a] heart-warming comedic tribute to the artistic ambitions and dreams of often quite ordinary people.” - Alan Powdrell, Hawkes Bay Today

48 Hours to Put on a Show by Lindsey Brown (5f, 3m)
The Theatre Outstanding Competition, a major theatre event that offers its winners not only a national tour, but this year, a television special and international access as well. So it's no wonder that teams will find ways to give themselves the edge. Even if that means breaking rules and sabotaging others in the process. Up and coming director, Leah Harris, is bearing the brunt of these attacks, but she is still determined to fight fair. However, as an added distraction, she's also dealing with dueling stars, divorcing crew members, and a team liaison who barely knows his stage right from his stage left. And she only has 48 hours till show time! It's going to be the longest, and shortest, 48 hours of her life.

Broadway or Bust by Paul Kalburgi (5f, 3m)
In the storeroom of a carpet store, a community theatre company, The Plush Pile Players are spitting tacks! When resident director Jan trips on a toaster and breaks her ankle, all hopes of staging the Off-Off-Broadway flop, Broadway Glitz – the company’s last-ditch attempt to save their theatre – seem impossible. That is until a lifeline comes in the unlikely shape of bonafide Broadway director; Percy Scott. However, Jan’s eccentric ensemble soon learn that their new messiah may not be all he seems. They must unite to save the show… and the theatre. It’s Broadway… or Bust!

The Rehearsal by Anders Falstie-Jensen (3f, 5m)
A group of actors under the dubious directorship of an up-and-coming star director are working on a drastic reimagining of Moliere’s meta masterpiece The Rehearsal at Versailles. The technicians are not impressed, the French accents are over the top (but clearly necessary) and the clock is ticking because Bob, the high profile producer is going to pop in to see how things are going.

THRILLERS:

The Raft by Carl Nixon (2f, 3m)
A strong drama that gets to the emotional nub of a family dealing with a deep personal tragedy. The play is set over a rainy weekend in a West Coast bach where a family try to pick up the pieces and wrestle with the things have remained submerged for too long. Published

“an intense journey that is judiciously modulated with naturally-occurring islands of humour and humanity.” – John Smythe, Theatreview

Pictured left - The Raft, Court Theatre, 2007

Yellow Hut by Ella West (2f, 4m)
Husband and wife, Grant and Donna arrive at Yellow Hut, a small tramping hut high up in the New Zealand back country. Donna, on her first tramp, is exhausted. As they prepare to stay the night, two university students arrive. As the weather worsens, they tell of how the hut got its name. Long ago, two teenage boys had got caught out in a snow storm. One had made it to the hut but was too afraid to go back and find his friend who, lost, died in the snow. The hut is named after his cowardliness and many people believe it is still haunted by the dead boy’s ghost. They had laid his body out on the table in the hut to thaw and the drip drip of the body melting can still be heard on wild, stormy nights.

Cradle Song by Albert Belz (5f, 1-2m)
Set in the South West of Ireland 1999, at a nunnery near the fictitious village of Sibeal(County Kerry), two young women are on their big OE when they come face-to-face with the super-natural force of Briar Faith.

Pictured right - Cradle Song, Te Rēhia Theatre, 2018

PLAYS ON IDENTITY:

Butterfly by Marion Rosner (3-5f, 4-6m, 1 transgender, 1 non-binary)
Rose Travers is a teenage girl with a big secret. She is really a transgender boy. They have to tell their parents, sister, school friends and a whole host of other people about who they really are. Their parents, meanwhile, have to deal with the marriage break-up of their best friends of over 25 years, while her sister is an unknown quantity – will Violet speak up for her now-brother and defend him, or throw him to the wolves? Will Rose tell their very traditional grandmothers about their transition, and how will they react? Will anybody make a faux-pas navigating the minefield of a non-binary person’s pronouns, and how will Rose choose their new name?

Creature Comforts by Bruce Clyde Thomson (2f, 2m)
Veronica and Ashley are a couple living a life in Ponsonby which would be the envy of many an aspirational Aucklander. Ashley’s generous merchant bank salary funds Veronica’s stimulating life of multiple personal and spiritual growth workshops, as well as a thriving social life. Though their son Darcy is handsome and personable, Veronica and Ashley do worry he has not quite managed to find his direction in life. When he visits and announces an astounding change to his personal identity, he sets in motion a rolling wave of intra- personal realisations that shake the family to their core. Ultimately this releases them all to embrace radical new perceptions of their sense of self.

8 Reasonable Demands by Joni Nelson (2f, 1m, 1 transgender, 2 non-binary)
In a damp apartment somewhere on the fringes of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, six friends, roommates and comrades are in crisis. While on the surface they have similar political values, a protest action at Big Gay Out has left them divided, furious and unsure of what to do next. As political divisions are brought to a boil, so too are their personal lives, as this eclectic collective fights to make themselves heard.

Pictured left - 8 Reasonable Demands, Auckland Theatre Company, 2019

With a subscription to Playmarket, most manuscripts of plays are available for free download from our website.  A subscription costs only $45 annually for full access to download unlimited different scripts: Subscribe here. 

Published scripts must be purchased in hardcopy from our bookshop.

To request any plays and/or musicals, contact Isaac Martyn
Script Coordinator / Kaiwhakahaere Whakaari: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 TNZ Executive Planning Weekend

 Membership Renewal

Membership forms for the 2024 year are now online!

By joining Theatre New New Zealand you are supporting the growth of Community Theatre.

TNZ is an umbrella organisation so you will have access to a wide range of theatre expertise from advice on funding avenues and copyright to advice on technical issues associated with theatre. A nation-wide TheatreFest is held annually, giving you the opportunity to receive informed adjudications that will help directors and actors alike.

Quarterly, you will receive Backchat a newsletter that will keep you up to date as to what members are doing around the country.

By clicking here you can find the membership forms for Individuals and Groups.

Hāpai/Backchat, February March April 2024, Volume 47 Issue 1
Copyright © Theatre New Zealand 2024

Compiled by Mark Perry
Editor Margaret Robertson

Deadline for Autumn/Winter edition of Hāpai/Backchat
30 April 2024

Communications to
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