Wow! Productions

Last updated
Wow! Productions
Formation1996
TypeTheatre group
Location
Membership
Lisa Warrington, Cindy Diver, Martyn Roberts, Alison Finegan, Hilary Halba, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, Liesel Mitchell
Website https://wowproductions.nz/

Wow! Productions is a professional theatre co-operative based in Dunedin, New Zealand. They produce theatre in non-theatre spaces, described by one reviewer as "weird and wonderful venues". [1]

Contents

The co-operative began in 1996 and is run by a charitable trust, whose membership is Martyn Roberts, Cindy Diver, Alison Finigan, Hilary Halba, Lisa Warrington, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, and Liesel Mitchell. [2] Productions have been mounted in pubs, clubs, art galleries, community halls, an accountancy office, a hairdressing salon, a cathedral crypt and a railway station, where the production included use of a real train. [1] [3]

Their 2020 production of New Zealand theatre classic The End of the Golden Weather was described as a "gift to the community". [4]

Production history

DateProductionAuthorDirectorVenue
Sept 1996 Saving Grace (NZ) Duncan Sarkies David O'Donnell Fortune Studio Theatre [5]
Nov 1996 Dancing at Lughnasa (Ireland) Brian Friel Lisa WarringtonTransport Gallery, Otago Settlers Museum. [6]
May 1997 Twelfth Night (England) Shakespeare Lisa Warrington Allen Hall Theatre [7]
October 1997Unidentified Human Remains & the True Nature of Love (Canada) Brad Fraser Richard Huber Manhattan Theatre space, Moray Place [8]
November 1997Tzigane (NZ) John Vakidis Hilary Norris Otago Settlers Museum foyer [9]
June-July 1998 Arcadia (England) Tom Stoppard Lisa WarringtonDunedin Public Art Gallery (as part of Science Festival). [10]
August 1998 Two Weeks With the Queen

(Australia)

Mary Morris/

Morris Gleitzman

Hilary NorrisMary Hopewell Theatre, Dunedin College of Education. Featuring Danny Still, Richard Carrington, Sara Connor, Julian Wilson, Gemma Carroll. [11]
October 1998Goldie (NZ) Peter Hawes David O'DonnellRehearsed reading in Dunedin Public Art Gallery during Goldie exhibition. [11]
March 1999One Flesh (NZ) Fiona Samuel Lisa WarringtonFortune Theatre. Cast included Cindy Diver, Ronn Kjestrup, Richard Huber, Rachel Wallis, Patrick Davies, Sarah Entwistle, Edwin Wright. [11]
June-July 1999Whaea Kairau: Mother Hundred-Eater (NZ) Apirana Taylor Richard HuberOtago Museum  Special Exhibitions Gallery (in partnership with Kilimogo Productions). Cast included: Hilary Norris, Anya Tate-Manning, Patrick Davies, Julie Edwards, Rangimoana Taylor, Martin Phelan, Keri Hunter, Richard Huber, Maaka Pohatu. [11]
February 2000 The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Ireland) Martin McDonagh Richard HuberFortune Studio Theatre, with Hilary Norris, Karin Reid, Danny Still and Ronn Kjestrup [11]
May 2000Horseplay (NZ) Ken Duncum Gary Henderson Fortune Theatre, with Peter Hayden, Simon O'Connor, Hilary Norris and Sara Connor. [11]
October 2000An Unseasonable Fall of Snow (NZ) Gary Henderson Rachel MoreRuby in the Dust, Octagon, for the Inaugural Otago Festival of the Arts. With Lloyd Edwards, Matt Dwyer and Nick Dunbar. [11]
September 2001 Collected Stories (USA) Donald Margulies Patrick DaviesCarnegie Gallery, Moray Place. With Hilary Norris and Mel Dodge. [11]
September 2001Autowalk (NZ)Barbara Carey, Antony Partridge & Stayci TaylorDirected by the devisorsArc Cafē [12]
Nov- Dec 2001Blue Smoke (NZ) Rawiri Paratene & Murray Lynch Lisa WarringtonRuby in the Dust, Octagon [13]
September 2002Hitting 50 (NZ) Sue McCauley Tony McCaffreyCourt 2 Christchurch & Fortune Studio Theatre. [14]
April-May 2004 Miss Julie

(Sweden/NZ)

 August Strindberg, translation by Ted NyeHilary NorrisPlayhouse Theatre Dunedin [15]
Sept-Oct 2004Cherish (NZ)Ken DuncumLisa Warrington Dunedin Public Art Gallery, for Otago Festival of the Arts. [16]
Sept–Oct 2006Lines of Fire (NZ)Gary HendersonLisa Warrington Dunedin Railway Station, for Otago Festival of the Arts & 10th anniversary WOW! celebration. Featuring Barbara Carey, Sara Connor-Best, Cindy Diver, Hilary Halba, Sarah McDougall. [3]
December 2007Hairway to Heaven (NZ)Sarah McDougallLisa WarringtonOtago Polytechnic Hairdressing salon, with Barbara Power (a trained hairdresser), Sara Georgie Tunoka, Julie Edwards, Simon O'Connor and Phoebe Smith. [17]
March 2008Tracey and Traci (NZ)Hilary Halba, Barbara Power, Clare AdamsClare AdamsPolson Higgs Accountancy Offices [18]
October 2008The Cape (NZ) Vivienne Plumb Simon O'Connor Playhouse Theatre, as part of Otago Festival of the Arts. Producer Clare Adams. Cast James Lee, Luke Agnew, Matt Johl, Johnny Appleby. [19]
Sept/Oct 2009Glorious (NZ)Richard HuberPatrick DaviesFortune Theatre Studio [20]
October 2010Backwards in High Heels (NZ) Stuart Hoar Richard HuberSundry community halls around Dunedin for the Otago Festival of the Arts, including St Martins Hall, Northeast Valley; Waitati Community Hall, St Mary's Church Hall, Mosgiel; Burns Hall, First Church; Port Chalmers Town Hall; Coronation Hall, Portobello; and Maori Hill Community Centre. Choreographed by Karyn Taylor, cast Dunedin actors Patrick Davies, Anna Henare and Clare Adams. [21]
March 2014Milk Milk Lemonade (USA)Joshua ConkelAnna Henare & Patrick Davies St Paul’s Cathedral Crypt, Octagon. Part of the 2014 Dunedin Fringe Festival. [22]
28 Aug/6 Sept

2015

Farley’s Arcade: The Wildest Place in Town

(NZ)

Richard Huber & othersRichard Huber/Lisa WarringtonSundry spaces in the Athenaeum Building, Octagon. [23] Won 2015 Promotion of the Year at the Dunedin Theatre Awards. [24]
Jan 2018 and ongoingJourney of the Jura

(NZ)

 Emily Duncan (dramaturg, with cast)


Anya Tate-ManningHeld in ‘Across the Ocean Waves’ exhibit at Toitu [25]
April to Nov 2019Party with the AuntiesErina Daniels (devised with the cast)Erina DanielsVarious venues in Paekakariki, Wellington, Feilding, Nelson, Thames, Paeroa, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin. [26] "Skilful, heartwarming entertainment". [27]
July 2019 The Flick Annie Baker Lara MacgregorAt Allen Hall Theatre [28]
Nov 2020The End of the Golden Weather (NZ) Bruce Mason Lisa WarringtonStarring Matt Wilson. At various locations around Dunedin, Oamaru, Mosgiel, Waitati [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortune Theatre, Dunedin</span> Former theatre company in Dunedin, New Zealand

New Zealand's Fortune Theatre laid claim to being the world's southernmost professional theatre company and sole year round professional theatre group in Dunedin, until its closure on 1 May 2018, citing financial difficulties. The company ran for 44 years. The theatre regularly produced local shows and hosted touring performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Globe Theatre, Dunedin</span> Theatre and theatre company in Dunedin, New Zealand

Globe Theatre is a theatre located in Dunedin, New Zealand, and the amateur theatre company that runs it. The theatre was built in 1961 by Patric and Rosalie Carey as an extension of their house. The building to which it is attached, at 104 London Street, was designed by architect William Mason as his own house and built in 1864. Ralph Hotere designed both sets and costumes for the theatre productions. The foyer area was also used for exhibitions, notably the Waterfall paintings of Colin McCahon, paintings by Michael Smither, and pots by Barry Brickell, Len Castle, and Doreen Blumhardt.

Rangimoana Taylor is an actor, theatre director, storyteller from New Zealand with more than 35 years in the industry. He has performed nationally and internationally and was the lead in the feature film Hook Line and Sinker (2011). He was an intrinsic part of three Māori theatre companies, Te Ohu Whakaari and Taki Rua in Wellington and Kilimogo Productions in Dunedin.

Robert Lord was the first New Zealand professional playwright, and one of the first New Zealand playwrights to have plays produced abroad since Merton Hodge in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunedin Fringe Festival</span> Annual 11-day festival in New Zealand

The Dunedin Fringe Festival, or Dunedin Fringe, is an 11-day fringe arts festival held each March in Dunedin, New Zealand. Initiated in the year 2000, Dunedin Fringe aims to bring experimental contemporary art to a wider audience and to support the work of emerging artists, attracting artists from throughout New Zealand and overseas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry MacTavish</span> Actor and drama teacher in New Zealand

Terry Isobel MacTavish is an actor and teacher from Dunedin, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin</span> Theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand

The PlayhouseTheatre is a theatre in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was converted from a lodge into a 100-seat theatre by the Southern Comedy Players in 1962. Since the late 1960s it has been home to the Dunedin Repertory Society, who regularly perform youth productions for children.

The Dunedin Theatre Awards are annual theatre awards in Dunedin, New Zealand. The awards were established in 2010 by director and actor Patrick Davies, and the winners are selected by a panel of theatre reviewers. The winners are selected by the Dunedin Reviewers Collective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute</span> Private lending library in Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute is an adult education institute based in a heritage building in Dunedin, New Zealand. The private organisation provided classes and a library for members. Presently it operates a subscription lending library, and includes a basement theatre that has been operated by the Dunedin Collaborative Theatre Trust since 2016. The Athenaeum building is one of the oldest athenaeums in New Zealand still used for its original purpose, and is classified as a "Category I" historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, previously known as the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Warrington</span> Academic, director, author in New Zealand, b. 1952

Lisa Jadwiga Valentina Warrington is a New Zealand theatre studies academic, director, actor and author. She has directed more than 130 productions, and established the Theatre Aotearoa database. In 2014 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Dunedin Theatre Awards, and was three times winner of a New Zealand Listener Best Director award, including one for Tom Scott's The Daylight Atheist.

Martyn Roberts is a New Zealand lighting and set designer and photographer, and founder of the arts collective afterburner theatre productions. Roberts has won 14 theatre awards. The afterburner production Dark Matter, conceived and created by Roberts won Best of Fringe at the 2017 NZ Fringe Festival Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Diver</span> Actor in New Zealand, founder of TheatreWorks

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilary Halba</span> New Zealand actor, theatre director and academic

Hilary Halba is a New Zealand actor, theatre director and academic. She is the head of the performing arts programme at the University of Otago.

Hilary Norris is a New Zealand stage, film and television actress.

Lara Macgregor is an actor, director, dramaturg, photographer and performance coach in New Zealand.

Catherine Patricia Downes is a New Zealand theatre director, actor, dramaturg and playwright. Of Māori descent, she affiliates to Ngāi Tahu. Downes wrote a one-woman play The Case of Katherine Mansfield, which she has performed more than 1000 times in six countries over twenty years. She has been the artistic director of the Court Theatre in Christchurch and the director of Downstage Theatre in Wellington. She lives on Waiheke Island and works as a freelance actor, director and playwright.

Wednesday to Come is the first play in a trilogy by New Zealand playwright Renée. The second play in the trilogy is Pass It On, and the third is Jeannie Once. The play follows the women of a family during the Depression in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Huber</span> Actor, director, playwright in New Zealand

Richard Huber is a playwright, actor and director based in Dunedin, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Bolwell</span> New Zealand playwright, choreographer and dance teacher

Jan Patricia Bolwell is a Wellington-based New Zealand playwright, choreographer, director, dancer and teacher of dance. She established the Crows Feet Dance Collective in 1999 and remains its director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David O'Donnell (actor-director)</span> New Zealand theatre academic and theatre director (1956- )

David John O'Donnell is a theatre director, actor and academic based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has been a full professor at Victoria University of Wellington since 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 MacTavish, Terry (4 December 2007). "Hairway to Heaven - Ordinary people made fascinating". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "About | Wow Productions". Wow Productions | Premiere Dunedin Theatre. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: LINES OF FIRE - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Harwood, Brenda (1 November 2020). "Original version of classic play gift for community". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  5. ↑ Halba, Hilary (October 1996). "Evangelising the X-Generation". Theatre News. p. 14 - 15.
  6. ↑ Eggleton, David (2 November 1996). "Critics' Choice". NZ Listener . p. 45.
  7. ↑ Scott, Lynda; Davis, Holly (22 May 1997). "Superb performance at Allen Hall Theatre". Otago Daily Times .
  8. ↑ "Top Dunedin cast in play". Otago Daily Times . 9 October 1997.
  9. ↑ Smith, Charmian (11 November 1997). "Playwright puts family on stage". Otago Daily Times .
  10. ↑ Smith, Charmian (16 June 1998). "Stoppard family at home in art gallery". Otago Daily Times .
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Theatre Aotearoa database". University of Otago. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  12. ↑ Harwood, Brenda (12 September 2001). "City's arts scene alive with contrasting events". Star (Dunedin).
  13. ↑ "New twist to the festive season : Musical comedy opens". The Star. 28 November 2001.
  14. ↑ "Play examines life after 50". Otago Daily Times . 29 August 2002.
  15. ↑ "Modern look at Swedish classic". Otago Daily Times . 16 April 2004.
  16. ↑ Frame, Barbara (24 September 2004). "Cherish". Otago Daily Times .
  17. ↑ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: HAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  18. ↑ Benson, Nigel (28 February 2008). "City office building plays host to cleaner characters". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Benson, Nigel (4 October 2008). "Cut out for play role after visit to the hairdresser". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Glorious - Glorious, like that woman in that film with Katherine [sic] Hepburn". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  21. ↑ Benson, Nigel (13 October 2010). "Dancing backwards around the suburbs". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "MilkMilkLemonade - Bizarrely original, darkly edged comedy". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. ↑ "FARLEY'S ARCADE: The Wildest Place in Town - A truly remarkable achievement". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  24. ↑ Harwood, Brenda (10 December 2015). "Theatre awards given on 'night of the stars'". The Star.
  25. ↑ "1862 'Jura' ship trip experience". Otago Daily Times Online News. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  26. ↑ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: PARTY WITH THE AUNTIES - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  27. ↑ "Party with the Aunties - Skilful, heart-warming, entertainment". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE FLICK - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

Facebook page

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.