Raymond Hawthorne / Director

Raymond is one of New Zealand’s most senior practitioners in the Performing Arts arena. His impressive repertoire (now spanning fifty years) commenced in 1955 when he became a member of The New Zealand Players (New Zealand’s first major professional theatre company under the direction of Richard Campion) with whom he toured for two and a half years. In 1957 he was granted a NZ Government Bursary to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London (RADA).

On his graduation from RADA in 1959 he pursued a career in the UK as a singer, actor and dancer but became aware that his interest in the performing arts was moving towards directing for theatre and to the teaching of acting. A career change into these areas was successful and he remained in England for the next 13 years, returning to RADA to teach and direct.

Raymond returned to New Zealand in 1971 and joined the Mercury Theatre (then under the directorship of Anthony Richardson) and within two years had instigated the formation of Theatre Corporate (a Community Theatre/ Theatre in Education / Resource Centre) in Auckland. He was Director of Theatre Corporate for eight years until 1981.

In 1982 he was Director of the National Opera for New Zealand. He directed two landmark operas for the company, Brecht/Weills’ THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY and Benjamin Britten’s THE TURN OF THE SCREW.

In 1985 Raymond was appointed Director of Mercury Theatre. This was a major position he held for seven years. During his tenure there he directed 12 major operas, numerous musicals and a wide variety of classic and modern plays.

In 1992 he established his own acting studio, THE ACTOR’S SPACE. This recessed in 1997 but resumed classes in June 2005. In November of 1997 he became the Head of Major in ‘Directing and Writing for Theatre and Screen’ at UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts. At the end of his sixth year involvement, he was made Head of School.

Raymond directed the first Auckland Theatre company production LOVELOCK’S DREAM RUN and has acted and directed for the Company in the last 16 years. Highlights include performances in SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, THE JUDAS KISS, WAITING FOR GODOT, WHO WANTS TO BE 100? and THE CRUCIBLE.

Other directing credits include ANGELS IN AMERICA, THREE TALL WOMEN, THE HERBAL BED, JULIUS CAESAR, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, CABARET, INTO THE WOODS, TRAVESTIES, HIGH SOCIETY and OLIVER!.

In the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Raymond was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for Services to the Theatre.

Andrew Grainger / Actor

Andrew’s career as an actor began in the 1980’s and was born out of a love of musicals. The much celebrated shows SOUTH PACIFIC, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, all performed on London's West End, were amongst his first professional productions. For Auckland Theatre Company, he appeared in OLIVER! and LE SUD.

Originally from Britain, Andrew immigrated to New Zealand 3 years ago, and has rapidly built up an impressive collection of credits, having appeared in local television programmes SHORTLAND STREET, OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, THE MILLION DOLLAR CON MAN, LIFE’S A RIOT and THE CULT. Highlights from the UK include roles in THE BILL, ROSEMARY AND THYME, HEARTBEAT, BAD GIRLS and EASTENDERS; appearing with footballer Vinnie Jones in the feature film MEAN MACHINE and working alongside Robert Redford in SPY GAME.

Andrew featured in Silo Theatre’s 2009 production RUBEN GUTHRIE and has a cameo role in THE LOVELY BONES directed by Peter Jackson.

Colleen Davis / Actor

Colleen last appeared for Auckland Theatre Company in Lionel Bart's OLIVER!. Her other works include the sold out show BURLESQUE AS YOU LIKE IT: NOT A FAMILY SHOW singing and performing a dance apache for Dust Palace Productions at the Basement. In 2008 she appeared in MR. MARMALADE at Bats in Wellington directed by Sophie Roberts and as Caliban in the Peripeteia production of THE TEMPEST at the Cox's Bay Scout Hall.

Colleen is a founding member of Almost A Bird Theatre Collective till recently based in Wellington. She has performed with Almost A Bird directed by Willem Wassenaar in DELICATES, ANTIGONE, ANGELS IN AMERICA and JEFF KOONS.

Glen Pickering / Actor

This is Glen's second appearance for Auckland Theatre Company following last year’s production of OLIVER. His other performance highlights include ENSEMBLE PROJECT (Silo Theatre), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Peach Theatre Company) and OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER (A Lethal Set).

Glen is the Artistic Director of The National Youth Theatre Company, a coach in corporate presentations, acting tutor and co-creator of Toi Trade Theatre Company which devised and toured their first show last year.

Glen graduated from the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts in 2004. During this time he worked with Raymond Hawthorne on THE CRUCIBLE, and played in MACBETH, MEASURE FOR MEASURE and VICTORY. Glen is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Hera Dunleavy / Actor

A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Hera has worked at all of New Zealand’s professional theatres. Auckland Theatre Company productions include STEPPING OUT, OLIVER!, THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, GOD OF CARNAGE, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, UNCLE VANYA, SERIAL KILLERS, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, EQUUS, DISGRACE, THE CRUCIBLE and HONOUR.

Highlights for other theatres include the original cast production of NGA TANGATA TOA, THE MASTER BUILDER, PROOF, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, TOP GIRLS, Victor Rodger’s plays SONS and RANTERSTANTRUM, DOUBLE BEAT, THREE DAYS OF RAIN and BEAUTIFUL THING (for which Hera won the Chapman Tripp Award for Best Female Newcomer).

Film and television appearances include AMADI, MANUREWA, A SMALL LIFE, BLESSED, FOR GOOD, WAITING FOR YOU, RUDE AWAKENINGS, KORERO MAI and AROHA.

Hera is a member of NZ Actors Equity.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand / Actor

Since she first trod the boards at the age of seven, Jennifer has become one of New Zealand’s leading actresses. In 1982, she trained at Auckland’s influential Theatre Corporate and has since then worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio.

In 1989/90, she toured New Zealand and internationally with THE FRONT LAWN, performing to sell-out houses. In the mid 90s she moved to Australia to appear in the comedy television series of FULL FRONTAL and played Viola in the Adelaide International Festival’s production of TWELFTH NIGHT. She has performed to sell-out houses in BERLIN and THE GOAT (Silo Theatre), TWELFTH NIGHT (Auckland Theatre Company), DECADENCE (Licentious Productions) and most recently appeared in LE SUD for ATC and in THAT FACE for Silo Theatre.

Jennifer has devised and performed two cabarets FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN featuring the songs of Marlene Dietrich, and THE LOOK OF LOVE which she has toured extensively throughout New Zealand, and most recently to Australia. Jennifer serves as a trust board member of Silo Theatre, is President of NZ Actors Equity and in 2007 was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Theatre and the Community.

www.jenniferwardlealand.com

Michael Lawrence / Actor

Michael originally trained as a stuntman and worked and performed as one until he chose to pursue acting, where he trained at the very influential Theatre Corporate (headed by Raymond Hawthorne) in the early eighties and from there moved to the Mercury Theatre.

His many theatre credits include CREDITORS, THE HOTHOUSE (Ford Transit Productions), TRUE WEST (Burn Toast Productions), DECADENCE (Licentious Productions), SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO (Greenwich Theatre, London), THE CHAIRS (in French and English language, AK09), THE HOMECOMING (AK07), MISS JULIE, OLD TIMES, THE CARETAKER, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY (Potent Pause Productions), OLIVER!, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, JULIUS CAESAR, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEANNE, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, THE HERBAL BED (Auckland Theatre Company), ASHES TO ASHES (Assembly Point Production), EAST (East Street Production), TWELFTH NIGHT, BURN THIS, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, SQUATTER, JUDY and KING LEAR (Mercury Theatre).

For television, RUDE AWAKENINGS, LONDONS BURNING, DUGGAN and OPEN HOUSE. Film appearances include KING KONG, LORD OF THE RINGS, TOY LOVE, FEATHERS OF PEACE, THE PRICE OF MILK, EAST END ROCKERS, CLOSER and CAME A HOT FRIDAY.

Mike Edward / Actor

For Auckland Theatre Company, Mike has appeared in OLIVER!, THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS, TRAVESTIES and HIGH SOCIETY. Other theatre highlights are LADIES NIGHT, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and THE COUNTRY WIFE (Court Theatre) and MACBETH and UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE (Silo Theatre).

A graduate of UNITEC’s School of Performing and Screen Arts, Mike’s television credits include XENA, SHORTLAND STREET, CITY LIFE, RIDING HIGH, PLAIN CLOTHES, TRUE LIFE STORIES, ONE WEST WAIKIKI and MERCY PEAK. He was a core cast member on TV3’s THE STRIP and recently has appeared in POWER RANGERS, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER and is currently filming on SPARTACUS.

His film performances include HIDDEN and AMAZON HIGH, A SOLDIER’S SWEETHEART (Paramount Pictures), and A STOLEN LIFE (Lifetime Network). Mike is a member of the theatre/ cirque company Co. Theatre Physical, who recently premiered OOH BABY BABY.

Mike is a proud member of NZ Actors Equity.

Peter Daube / Actor

Peter last appeared for Auckland Theatre Company in ROMEO & JULIET. He also featured in Auckland Theatre Company’s CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THE CRUCIBLE, SWEET CHARITY and CALIGULA, and was an actor/musician in THE DUCHESS OF MALFI. Other highlights include CABARET for Downstage, and MACBETH for Fortune Theatre. He won the 2000 Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Performer of the Year in THE BLUE ROOM at Circa Theatre.

Peter’s film credits include Taika Waititi’s cult classic JOHN AND POGO as well as TONGAN NINJA, STICKMEN, LORD OF THE RINGS and THE IRREFUTABLE TRUTH ABOUT DEMONS. His recent work for television includes LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, SHORTLAND STREET, MADDIGAN’S QUEST and ORANGE ROUGHIES.

Peter has made music with various bands releasing under the Wild Side label and his own label Surge. He composed the soundtrack for the feature film THE RULES OF DOGS AND MEN, and the documentary DARK HORSE. Theatre and dance compositions include working with Wellington dance troupe STRIDENT and soundtracks for ROMEO AND JULIET and MANAWA TAUA (Theatre At Large) and for STORIES TOLD TO ME BY GIRLS, for which Peter won the Chapman Tripp Award for Best Soundtrack.

Sia Trokenheim / Actor

This is Sia’s fourth appearance for ATC, following performances in STEPPING OUT, OLIVER! and SWEET CHARITY. Sia's television and film credits include THIS IS NOT MY LIFE, SHORTLAND STREET, numerous television commercials and short films, and reporting live on HYUNDAI SPORTS CAFE.

Sia took her first steps on the stage as a child in Stockholm and moved to New Zealand in 2001. She is a graduate of UNITEC and her theatre appearances include Ulla in THE PRODUCERS and Elizabeth in SKIN TIGHT at the Court Theatre, and in JANE EYRE and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at the Fortune Theatre. Other theatre credits include HAMLET, THE LOVE OF THE NIGHTINGALE, BIG RIVER, JULIUS CAESAR and STOCKHOLMSBLOD for Stockholm Theatre Company.

Sia played Elizabeth in last year’s nationwide tour of SKIN TIGHT and recently featured as Jane Perry on SHORTLAND STREET and Helen on THIS IS NOT MY LIFE.

Sia is a proud member of NZ Actors’ Equity.

Tracy Grant Lord / Set and Costume Designer

For Auckland Theatre Company, Tracy has most recently designed OLIVER!, FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, THE CRUCIBLE and HIGH SOCIETY. Her earlier work for Auckland Theatre Company includes designing productions of ARCADIA, MASTERCLASS, THE HERBAL BED, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, WIND IN THE WILLOWS, VITA AND VIRGINIA, TRAVESTIES, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, THE JUDAS KISS, WIT and THE GRADUATE.

For Melbourne Theatre Company, she has designed costumes for HYSTERIA, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, ARCADIA, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, THE BLUE ROOM, THE HERBAL BED, INHERITANCE, THE GLASS SOLDIER and ROCK’N’ROLL. For Sydney Theatre Company, she has designed costumes for THE THREEPENNY OPERA and THE MISER. For the Royal New Zealand Ballet, she has designed ROMEO AND JULIET, ihi FrENZy, THE WEDDING, ABHISHEKA and CINDERELLA and for the Australian Ballet, RELIC.

Her designs for opera include LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, DON GIOVANNI, THE MAGIC FLUTE, CARMEN, THE PEARLFISHERS, LA TRAVIATA, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, and costume design for FALSTAFF for the Australian Opera.

Tracy is a Winston Churchill Fellow and has a Bachelor of Spatial Design. Her work has been selected five times for exhibition at the Prague Quadrennial and also at World Stage Design 2005. One of the highlights of her career is an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Dance Production in the UK (2005) for the RNZB’s ROMEO AND JULIET.

John Gibson / Sound Designer

For OLIVER!, John was the Musical Director

John has been composing original music for New Zealand theatre, film, dance and television since 1980. Since that time he has composed over 100 scores and sound designs for theatre.

This year he has composed music for two New Zealand International Festival of the Arts productions, 360 and MARK TWAIN & ME IN MAORILAND. He is currently working on a television documentary about Ngaio Marsh and a sound score for an installation for the Taupo Festival with his partner Shona McCullagh.

In 2009 he received a Qantas Film and Television award for his score for Vincent Ward’s film RAIN OF THE CHILDREN.

Previous works for Auckland Theatre Company include OLIVER!, THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, THE WIFE WHO SPOKE JAPANESE IN HER SLEEP, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WHO NEEDS SLEEP ANYWAY?, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED,THE BLONDE THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD, EQUUS, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI and the arrangements and musical direction of SWEET CHARITY.