Cindy Diver

Last updated
Cindy Diver
Cindy Diver.jpg
NationalityNew Zealander
Alma mater University of Otago
Occupation(s)company director, actor, writer, theatre director
Known forverbatim theatre
Relatives Charles Diver (grandfather)

Cindy Diver is a New Zealand writer, theatre director, actor and owner/director of TheatreWorks Ltd, a company that provides casting services as well as acting classes. Diver is most notable for creating and producing verbatim theatre productions on themes such as family violence and dementia. [1] [2]

Contents

Biography

Diver completed a post graduate diploma in theatre studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She was a founding member of Kilimogo Productions. [3] In 1992, with Martin Phelan, she founded her company, TheatreWorks Ltd. [4] Under Diver's management TheatreWorks Ltd continues to provide actor casting services and acting classes. [4] Diver has also helped with the establishment of the Simulated Patient Development Unit at the University of Otago Medical School. [5] [4] The unit employs actors to play patients with whom medical students are trained to interact. [5] Diver also teaches drama to school children and adults. [6]

Verbatim theatre

In 2009 Diver collaborated with Hilary Halba, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still, and Stuart Young to create Hush, a verbatim theatre production about family violence. [7] [8] [9] Diver went on to star in the 2012 play Be | Longing, detailing the experiences of New Zealand immigrants. [10] In 2014 Diver co-created another verbatim theatre production The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia. [11] This latter play toured New Zealand with the assistance of Brain Research New Zealand. [11] [1]

Random Acts of Art project

In 2020, during New Zealand's first COVID-19 lockdown period, Diver launched the Random Acts of Art project. [12] This project was formed with the intention of lifting spirits though impromptu theatre events and productions. [12] During the 11 months of the project's existence it supported the creation of 33 events in and around Dunedin. [12]

As at 2021 Diver continues to run TheatreWorks Ltd and is a board member of Wow! Productions, a Dunedin-based theatre collective. [13]

Selected productions

Hush by Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still and Stuart Young. [9]

Be | Longing by Hilary Halba and Stuart Young. Cast: Stuart Young, Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Will Spicer, Alex Wilson, Karen Elliot, Julie Edwards, Anya Tate-Manning and Stephen Butterworth. [10]

The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia by Cindy Diver, Susie Lawless, and Stuart Young. [11]

Family

Diver's grandfather Charles Diver was the inventor of pineapple lumps. [14]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Winkless, Laurie (2019-10-10). "Bringing memory loss to life through theatre". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  2. ↑ Goodwin, Eileen (2014-02-12). "Dementia play planned". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  3. ↑ "Interact Drama". www.theatreworks.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  4. 1 2 3 Smith, Charmian (2013-08-29). "The show has gone on". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  5. 1 2 Callister-Baker, Loulou (27 April 2014). "The art of faking hypochondria". Critic - Te Arohi. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  6. ↑ Connor, Patrice (2 March 2016). "Drama with Cindy Diver". tahuna.school.nz. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. ↑ O'Toole, Emer; Pelegrí Kristić, Andrea; Young, Stuart (2017-06-06). Ethical Exchanges in Translation, Adaptation and Dramaturgy. BRILL. doi:10.1163/9789004346376_003. ISBN   978-90-04-34633-8.
  8. ↑ "Real words from real people take centre stage in Verbatim play, hush". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  9. 1 2 "hush: a Verbatim play about family violence". The Meteor Theatre. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  10. 1 2 "Be/Longing by Talking House Trust Collective from Major Plays". RNZ. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  11. 1 2 3 "Brain Research New Zealand supports ground-breaking play about living with dementia". Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  12. 1 2 3 Harwood, Brenda (2021-06-17). "Artistic project to lift spirits comes to end". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  13. ↑ "About Wow Productions". Wow Productions | Premiere Dunedin Theatre. 2021. Archived from the original on 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  14. ↑ "Family marks lolly's 60th". Otago Daily Times Online News. 2013-07-29. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
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