GROUP E Lucinda Hare Harriet. 25. Sunday. In our world the enhanced is idolised. I am interested in what is real and what is edited. I grew up watching comedy like Absolutely Fabulous and Mr Bean. Now the inescapable Kardashians and I feel like Harriet is somewhere in between the two. I mixed that with music videos, some people from my life, my love for clown and my dog to make this solo. Thank You….To Sophie, Leon and Anya you are the 3 musketeers. Betty Violet Borthwick, Sharon Hall, Nina Nawalowalo, Heather Timms, Miranda Harcourt and Holly Chappell. Ham, Phil, my stellar class. The tutors and staff of Toi Whakaari. My two best friends Nugget and Buster and to all the people who gave me nudges in the right direction. You know who you are. HUGE THANK YOU.
Jonathan Power On the Road (Again) On the Road (Again) is about displacement, growing up and being an artist. I left Christchurch at nineteen to train at Toi Whakaari and found myself in Wellington surrounded by creatives. Though I’ve struggled to understand the white collar world I was raised in, I don’t totally fit into this new bohemian jungle. It is my belief that theatre should tell the truth, so my solo aims to do just that. I’ve been playwriting all year and have used this project to work that muscle. The works of the late great Spalding Gray have been a big inspiration and I’d like to thank Sophie, Leon, Anya and my new class for holding me so well in this project. My parents, friends and flat-mates have been hugely supportive as I’ve worked through the subject matter.
Deborah Rea "Children, especially attractive, well-bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all." My solo is influenced by performance artists, riots, girls, poets, misfits, the women that walk ahead of me and those that will follow behind. Thank you to Jayesh, GinGin, Dave Gatfield for creating the sound and general awesomeness, RAZORWYRE, Monstermatics, Mum and Dad, Asia NZ, Rotary NZ, Ian Patterson, Dawn Sanders, Zoe Tuffin, Zen Zen Zo, Magdalena, Nyoman Sukerta, A3s, Sophie, Leon, Anya, Phil, Hamish, Donna, Kaarin, Johnny Cash, Arts-A-Go-Go and all my teachers in NZ and abroad.
Andrew Paterson My solo stems from the weird and wonderful people that occupy my hometown of Howick. I wanted to be looking at suburbia through the lens of lost dreams, and secrets. I have always been interested in what people choose to share and what people choose to hide. I have drawn inspiration from melodrama, Desperate Housewives and David Lynch to make my naughty little solo. I would like to thank Sophie, Anya, Leon, Hamish and Phil, all of my tutors, my beautiful class and of course my own odd bunch of family and friends who have always inspired and supported me.
Director’s note Coming up next at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Book online @ www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz
GO SOLO Directed by Sophie Roberts Production/Stage Manager Hamish Baxter-Broad
THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, On behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc New York.
By Stephen Adly Guirgis Directed by Brett Adam Thurs 25 Oct – Sat 3 November Schools’ matinee Wed 31 12.30 $22 / $15
Masterclasses Tue 27—Fri 30 November 4 days of professional development, offering a range of one-day and two-day courses in directing, devising, acting, design, movement, voice, costume, lighting and more! Share your experiences with others and refresh your skills.
To book email workshops@toiwhakaari.ac.nz
Technical Coordinator Phil Loizou Photography Philip Merry Stephen A’Court Publicity Ceridwyn Roberts Poster Design Hamish Baxter-Broad Box Office Priscilla Gough & Te Whaea Services Front of House Bette Cosgrove Jane Clink Special thanks to Anya Tate-Manning Leon Wadham
In this programme you are watching eighteen original short works in the solo form. These pieces are the outcome of the third year actors’ pursuit over six weeks of devising to articulate their passions and questions about creating theatre. This year sees a huge range of worlds created by these actors, ranging from the epic and fantastical to the familiar and prosaic. The way they have approached these worlds performatively is also hugely varied. Stories are told through physical score, clown, song, investigation of character or language. Creating this work encourages each actor to address how space, form, performance, and relationship to audience inform their individual way of making. As directors, our role is to follow each actor’s vision and to bring into focus their unique strengths and interests. It is a joy to see these actors so fully engage with the challenges of this process and start to develop confidence in themselves as theatre makers. The hope is that through this process, these students can begin to develop a way of making that can sustain them beyond graduation, allowing them the opportunity to share the kinds of stories and storytelling they would like to see on our stages. Several acting graduates have been attracted back to the School to observe and support the work this year. Thank you in particular to Anya Tate-Manning and Leon Wadham for their enthusiastic directorial support. Sophie Roberts Patrons are reminded that some performances may contain strong language and/or themes, bright lighting and smoke.
GROUP A Cameron Jones Meet Henry Lewis. Everything he touches turns to sold. My solo began a long time ago and has been a slow, evolving piece of work. I trained at the Stella Adler academy in Hollywood on my secondment and learnt a profound methodology of acting which I am excited to bring to this solo form. I was attracted to the world of the 1980's. My goal was to take the excess and ambition of the period and translate it into high-octane, athletic performance. Special thanks to Sophie, Anya and Leon; My tutor Milton Justice at the Stella Adler Acting Academy in Hollywood, Jim Pinson and Bill Leckie from Colliers International, Paul Cudby from Bayleys Real Estate, and my father for their help creating this world, and to my mother whose food packages fuelled me making my solo.
Manuel Solomon Before the last Tui drop falls Talofa Lava, Kia Ora, and uhhm. Words seem to piss off when I need to say something that matters. So instead I’m going to be using a style of dance to explore questions I have on Fatherhood. These questions were inspired from my own childhood memories and the layers I can see in them now. So I’m hoping that this exploration, using dance, will help start the conversation that I need to have for me, and for you. Huge Thank You to Sophie, Leon and Anya (AWESOME) Hamish and Phil (efficient) Carrie, Andrew, Awhina, Tom and my class (FUN) The REAL, Blueprint, and Seek (DANCE) Polyninja Palace (PARADISE) Bianca Batten (LOVE) Sola Luafale (MUM) Donald Emmett (DAD) (Thank you Mum & Dad). Dedicated to Marty Solomon. Catch you for a beer after. Your shout (I’M BROKE)
Awhina Rose Ashby Mean Maori Mean " Let us remember the gifts that have been handed down for there are great learnings therein" My solo is about my ancestor Hineamaru, who began the sub-tribe Ngati Hine, we follow her journey as she finds new land to settle. From her great leadership skills the culture of a small community is changed allowing woman to carve, we take a look at the meanings of the patterns on this great ancestor realising her qualities are alive in the locals today. I want to celebrate the uniqueness and strength of my community and I am working on how I am able to take something meaningful to me and share it with an audience. I would like to thank Sophie Roberts, Anya and Leon. Jade Eriksen, Tom Eason, my Mum and Dad for all you guys’ support. Nga mihi maioha kia koutou katoa mo to koutou tautoko i toku kaupapa.
GROUP B Alice Canton A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing “Vote or Die Trying” If history has taught us anything (proverbially speaking), it is that every ten or so years someone will do something really stupid (on a global scale), and that we will eventually forget, only to remember again (when it’s all too late). I am an angry disillusioned liberal, wrestling with pangs of working-class guilt that erupt periodically throughout my privileged drama school life. Sometimes I get so fucking angry with the world, I just want to get a big gun and shoot everyone in it. Then there wouldn’t be so many racists, or homophobes. Or fucking murderers. This solo as an investigation into the world of clown, cross-cultural storytelling, and political satire. It has been fuelled by my recent travels to Southeast Asia, my work with Jo Randerson earlier this year, and Gary Larson cartoons. Thank you: Sophie, Leon, Anya, Asia New Zealand Foundation, Steve at The Fabric Barn, Ria my Beauty, Tim, 428 Adelaide, Context and Practice team, Tony, Kaarin, Donna, and no one else.
Jacqueline Gwaliasi Devil Shark My solo is about self-identity and the creation of culture, especially as the result of periods of adversity. Although external influences may be seen as good or evil the changes they have on a culture over generations creates our heritage, our stories and our self-identity. The Lau, or salt water people from the Solomon Islands driven from their land, became stronger as a culture through building new islands up from the sea. Despite this, things have greatly changed through the arrival of Western influences. Living in New Zealand these stories have always been part of my life. I am interested in how to create and communicate with a physical score and how to move an audience on a physical level. Thank you Sophie Roberts, Anya and Leon. Mum and Dad. Steffan and Tameka for the support, Tom McCrory for guidance and the rest of my class. Couldn't have done it without you!
Kenneth Gaffney Knights of the Almafi Cross Here's a first aid kit, let's slay some Dragons. Over the course of this project, I have been exploring the journey, and what it means to be a hero. Something that has been an obstacle to this has been: How do I theatricalise this? I looked at my past as a member of St John Youth, and at the worlds of Epic Fantasy. I am trying to connect these two worlds where heroism can exist to tell the story of the rise of somebody ordinary to become a hero. It has been a challenge finding a home for these things I wanted to explore. "My heart is pure, I won't give up, for this is my destiny" Avis, King of the Elves - Vahirim 3 by Arkaneium Studios. Thanks to Sophie, Anya, Leon, Phil, Hamish, Wellington Musical Theatre and everyone in my class. Cheers to everyone to listening to my ever changing yarns about the solo I was making; The family, the real one, and the St John one.
Richard Munton Who’s the boss? - Those who work in glass offices shouldn’t throw stones - Who’s the boss? Who is the boss? Really? How do I raise ideas of faith and religion? This piece explores what happens when two different groups of people with very different sets of ideals are thrust into close proximity. Buried under the lens of Printing Plus is a comment on how religious groups can struggle find a mutual respect for one another. This is a disgruntled little firm where fights break out as primitive as the African jungle, and begs the question who can act as a facilitator to help them? Who is the Boss? A huge thank you to Sophie Roberts, Leon Wadham, Anya Tate-Manning and my class for pushing and pulling me through the process to create a piece I am proud to stake my name to.
GROUP C Alex Tarrant Welcome to 12D People do crazy things for money. It was the same at school. The only difference is food was the currency. My solo is inspired by my upbringing as one of the many children under the poverty line. I have been exploring the effects that food, teachers, and classmates have had on mine and others schooling days. It’s been a challenging journey for me. I've tried multiple ways of expressing such a touchy subject. This is a collection of stories, memories, and imaginings. Chur. A huge thank you to Sophie, Leon, and Anya for pushing me. Campbell Douglas, Karyn Porton, Mandy and Peter Faulkner, Wendy Hubbard and Mr Cox (my teachers) for seeing things in me that I couldn't. My best buddie for supporting me all the way. And to all my family, cuzzies and brothers....SHOT!! This is our story.
Sam Wang Ping-Pong Death Match 1987: Paris is hosting the World Table Tennis Tournament. On court, the balls fly fast......off court, a deadly spy battle ensues... If I had to sum up the spirit of my solo in one sentence, it would be ‘the romanticisation of disillusionment through absurdity, satire and other words I learnt in Liberal Arts College’. Armed with this sentiment, I embarked on creating a spy thriller set in the Cold War. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the result is almost as chaotic as the period itself. Special thanks to: Sophie, Anya and Leon, Phil & Hamish, Janis Cheng, Tom Knowles, Alice Canton, Carrie Green, Kate Robertson, Paul Tozer and Tony Toufexis, all the design students I've borrowed supplies off, my A3 classmates, my parents and my family.
Tameka Sowman Can you be more Pacific please? I recently encountered a little island called Niue. A half of my identity I had never met, but felt obliged to call ‘part of me’. Now I choose to call it so. Standing divided from a claim to place and people, and isolated from an understanding of what it means to be of Pacific Island decent, my solo is born of a need to understand the two cultures existing inside me. Looking into what time gives and takes away from true cultural traditions, that seem to fade, age and morph like the velvet paintings of the ‘Dusky Maiden.’ To all those who pay $8.60 for an 1/8 of a cabbage, my family, Sophie Roberts, Anya Tate –Manning, Leon Wadham, Jade Eriksen, Nina Nawalowalo, Nathaniel Lees, Jaci Gwaliasi, Gareth Farr, Phil, Hamish, Alexander Borgers and to my beautiful class, it’s been a pleasure.
Ria Simmons KEEP OUT! Science in Progress!
Only 4.5% of the whole universe is visible; atoms or matter, the things we’re made up of. A proton, neutron and an electron make matter, alone they are lonely but together they matter. I found myself drawn to the character of Drew as she was able to hold the content I wanted to explore; loner land. This solo draws on inspiration from my family and my fascination with the eccentrics in our society. Thanks to the shining stars supporting my piece especially Sophie, Leon, Anya, Helen Stanbridge, Sherryn, Priscilla, Tony, my lovely space-obsessed friend Baxter, my crazy supportive family, friends and classmates. Thanks for helping me through the moments of immense frustration and astronomical joy.
GROUP D Thomas Eason Grind 'The only way out is in. Pack up your soul' 5 coffees later. Deadlines approach. Paperwork is due. There is no time to think, let alone contemplate alternate planes of perception. I have been testing the relationship between mundane detail and surrealist metaphor in the hope of opening up space and time to search for what's gone missing as we evolve and 'progress'. Inspired by Murakami's short stories, Plato's Cave and Shakespeare's Timon of Athens. Thanks to Sophie, Leon and Anya. Ahwina, Manny and the A3s., the Context and Practice Team and Holly.
Tai Berdinner-Blades The Ballad of the Lonely Traveller On the southern edge of the American dust bowl, ghost town Ashville lays frozen in time with only a few remaining inhabitants. This project has been inspired by Southern Gothic literature, particularly by the works of writer Carson McCullers. I was drawn to this particular genre because it can hold stories with twisted characters and dark undercurrents. I wanted to create a piece that allows the storyteller and the audience to go to surreal and heightened places within the 'real' world. Thank you to Sophie Roberts, Anya Tate-Manning and Leon Wadham. To Matt Eller and Oliver Morse for your advice and ideas. To Holly Chappell for your time and your outside eye. To Tom Eason for helping me make the sound for my show. Luci Hare for keeping me on track and encouraging the birth of my creatures. To everyone who has worked on making this season happen. To my class.
Carrie Green Third Tavern Wench from the Left Les Miserables is coming to Pahiatua Repertory! Erica really wants to be Fantine. Will she get the part? Probably not... but she'll be the most amazing chorus member you've ever seen! This is a tribute to amdram and all the talented, quirky people who have so much passion and enthusiasm for musicals outside of their normal 9-5 day jobs. This is where I come from - I'm a 40-year-old gay man trapped in a woman's body. Thank you Sophie, Leon, Anya, Hugh and Phil for helping me get myself together, Andrew for being a musical theatre advocate with me (fight the snobbery!), Dad and Jan for the all the love and money and especially Jonty for having my back over the last 3 years. You rule. I dedicate this to my beautiful friends in Palmerston North and Pahiatua. Chookas!