William Shakespeare / Playwright

Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist, William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon and died in 1616. His surviving works include 38 plays and 154 sonnets. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Between 1585 and 1592, Shakespeare began a successful career in London as an actor, writer and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men. The first recorded works of Shakespeare are RICHARD III and the three parts of HENRY VI, written in the early 1590s. ROMEO AND JULIET, his great romantic tragedy of sexually-charged adolescence, is thought to have been written in 1594 or 1595.

Few records of his private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs and whether the works attributed to him were written by others. Though revered as a playwright in his own time, Shakespeare’s reputation did not rise to its present heights until the 19th century.

Willem Wassenaar / Director

This is Willem’s directing debut for Auckland Theatre Company. Originally from The Netherlands, Willem has studied and worked as an actor, director and acting tutor. He holds a Master of Theatre Arts in Directing at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and Victoria University of Wellington, as well as having completed the Master in Theatre Studies at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (The Netherlands). His New Zealand works include directing productions at Te Whaea Theatre, Circa Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre, Downstage Theatre, BATS Theatre and the Basement Theatre.

Directing credits include THE GLASS MENAGERIE, ANTIGONE (for International Arts Festival Oerol in The Netherlands), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, SPRING AWAKENING, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, WOLF’S LAIR, BLOOD WEDDING, THE CRUCIBLE, TITUS ANDRONICUS, VERNON GOD LITTLE, BROKEN CHINA and ANGELS IN AMERICA; PART I MILLENNIUM APPROACHES, for which Willem won The Chapman Tripp Award for Most Promising New Director. He is Co-director of Almost A Bird Theatre Collective and Artistic Director of Long Cloud Youth Theatre.

Benjamin Farry / Actor

Benjamin also choreographed the fight scenes in ROMEO & JULIET

A graduate of Toi Whaakari : New Zealand Drama School and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London England, this is Benjamin's fourth appearance for Auckland Theatre Company, having previously appeared in THE SHAPE OF THINGS, THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY and THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.

His other New Zealand theatrical appearances include MACBETH, HAMLET, NOISES OFF, SEX WITH STRANGERS 1. London-based work includes WORK IN REGRESS, JOURNEY’S END, PRISONER’S DILEMMA and ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE.

For film and television, Benjamin featured in BRIDE FLIGHT, PEARL HARBOUR, LAST WORDS, DRIFTWOOD and THE CULT.

Brooke Williams / Actor

This is Brooke's fourth production with Auckland Theatre Company having previously appeared in THE CRUCIBLE, FEMALE OF THE SPECIES and THE PILLOWMAN since graduating from from Toi Whakaari in 2006.

Brooke's favourite theatre credits include THE CHERRY ORCHARD at the Court Theatre, Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST with the Peripeteia players at Hawke Sea Scout Hall in Cox's Bay (on the sea!) and MR MARMALADE at Bats Theatre for which she was awarded the 2009 Chapman Tripp Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer.

Screen work includes GO GIRLS, SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE and the upcoming feature films PREDICAMENT and ICE.

Catherine Downes / Actor

Catherine Downes has had an international career as actor and director spanning four decades. She has worked in theatre, film and television on both sides of the Tasman as an actress, director and playwright.

Catherine graduated from the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Drama School [now Toi Whakaari], after completing a B.A. in English, Politics and Drama at Victoria University. After three years professional acting experience in New Zealand, she travelled to Europe where she established two theatre companies, in Amsterdam and in London, and developed her acclaimed one woman Play, THE CASE OF KATHERINE MANSFIELD.

Catherine has played approximately 1,000 performances of THE CASE OF KATHERINE MANSFIELD in six countries over the last twenty years, winning awards in Britain, New Zealand and Australia. In Australia, Catherine worked for several years as a member of the Nimrod Actors Company in Sydney.

After returning to New Zealand, Catherine focussed on directing and won several Chapman Tripp Wellington Theatre Awards. She was Artistic Director of The Court Theatre for 5 years and Director of Downstage Theatre for 2 years.

Recent acting roles include Arthur Meek's COLLAPSING CREATION which won her a 2009 Chapman Tripp nomination for Best Actress, and Circa and Centrepoint's productions of Roger Hall's FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY. She has just directed Briar Grace Smith’s classic PURAPURAWHETU for the Auckland Maori Playwrights Festival.

In 1998 Catherine was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her Services to the Arts.

Ciarin Smith / Actor

In his final year of study at UNITEC School Of Performing and Screen Arts, Ciarin is currently on a professional experience secondment to the Auckland Theatre Company. His theatre experience includes roles in UNITEC productions of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, CHICKEN OR FISH?, LOVE PLAY and CLASS ACT. Other roles include A BEAUTIFUL THING, THE FULL MONTY and as Hysterium in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

Dan Musgrove / Actor

Dan graduated from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2007. Since then, Dan has co-written and performed in four original productions: two dramatic works BLINKERS and SPURS, and two comedies SONG FOR THE UGLY KIDS and THE GIANT FACE. He is also the co-writer of the Basement Theatre’s sell-out 2009 Christmas show CHRIST ALMIGHTY!.

Recent Auckland stage credits include LIFE IS A DREAM, BACKSTORY, HOLDING THE MAN and THE REINDEER MONOLOGUES.

Screen credits include PIECE OF MY HEART, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, PARADISE CAFÉ, and TIME HACKERS. Dan will appear in the upcoming feature film TRACKER.

Elena Stejko / Actor

The Russian-born actor and director studied at the University of Culture in Kiev from 1987 to 1991, and then worked as an actor and director for various theatre companies in Russia.

Since moving to New Zealand in 1995, Elena has had an active career both as actor and stage director, and casting director.

On screen she stars in the upcoming feature film, written and directed by Stephen Sinclair, RUSSIAN SNARK and Japanese television drama, THE PROMISE. For theatre, she has appeared in THE CHERRY ORCHARD, THE BEAR, THE MEEK and WE MAKE CHOICES.

Her screen performances include guest roles in SHORTLAND STREET, SPIN DOCTORS, MERCY PEAK and numerous short films.

For nearly twenty years, and in a number of countries including Brazil, Elena has been teaching acting techniques based on the works of Michael Chekhov and Constantin Stanislavsky. Her courses are now something of an institution in Auckland where Elena’s Actors Studio is establishing itself as a focus for further professional development and acting excellence.

Gareth Reeves / Actor

A graduate of The Hagley Theatre Company and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Gareth has worked in theatres throughout New Zealand. Auckland appearances include HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN, OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME, THE RETURN and PLENTY. For the Auckland Theatre Company he has appeared in ROMEO & JULIET, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THE PILLOWMAN, THE CRUCIBLE, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and CALIGULA.

Television productions include THE CULT, UNDERBELLY, GO GIRLS, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, THE MAN WHO LOST HIS HEAD and THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO LOVE (for which he won a New Zealand Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Television Series). Gareth has appeared in feature films A SONG OF GOOD, UNDER THE MOUNTAIN, I'M NOT HARRY JENSON and will be seen in the upcoming features TRACKER and ICE.

Geraldine Brophy / Actor

Geraldine Brophy has worked extensively as actress, director and playwright for theatres around New Zealand. Her memorable works include MEDEA, ST. JOAN, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, HAMLET, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THE CRUCIBLE, UNCLE VANYA, THE RIVALS, MIDDLE AGE SPREAD, ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, MOLLY SWEENEY and ARCADIA.

Geraldine’s company, Number 8 Theatre, has toured nationally with her one woman show, CONFESSIONS OF A CHOCOHOLIC and more recently the play LADIES A PLATE co-written and performed with her daughter, Beatrice Joblin.

Winner of the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance in BLOOD WEDDING at Circa Theatre and Best Supporting Actress in the Downstage production of TZIGANE, Geraldine also won the New Zealand Film and Television Best Actress award for the lead role in Fiona Samuel’s HOME MOVIE and the Qantas Film and Television Best Actress Award in Film for the Kiwi box office hit, SECOND HAND WEDDING.

Audiences will remember her most recently as celebrity contestant on DANCING WITH THE STARS, where she danced for Arthritis NZ, the charity for which she is ambassador. On stage she has also been touring with the sell-out stage show GRUMPY OLD WOMEN.

From 1997 to 2001 Geraldine played Moira Crombie on SHORTLAND STREET. Other television roles include SEVEN PERIODS WITH MR GORMSBY, SERIAL KILLERS, SPIN DOCTORS, MADDIGAN’S QUEST and INSIDERS GUIDE TO LOVE, OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, WELCOME TO PARADISE, TIME HACKERS and LEGEND OF THE SEEKER.

In the cinema she has appeared in MY FATHER’S DEN, KING KONG, THE WATERHORSE and UNDERWORLD THREE and the up coming HOOK LINE AND SINKER. Her play, MEAT about a celebrity chef will be produced in Wellington in 2011. Geraldine lives in Petone, with her husband Ross Joblin and two daughters, Zoë and Beatrice.

Kip Chapman / Actor

This is Kip’s third collaboration with Willem Wassenaar having worked with him on THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Almost A Bird) and THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Downstage Theatre).

Trained at UNITEC’s School Of Performing and Screen Arts, his theatre work includes PLAY 2.03, THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY and EQUUS (Auckland Theatre Company), HAMLET (The Large Group), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA?, LOBBY HERO (Silo Theatre), FLAGONS AND FOXTROTS (Downstage Theatre) and THE AMERICAN PILOT (Circa Theatre).

Kip is the co-creator of APOLLO 13: MISSION CONTROL which has toured throughout New Zealand and to the Sydney Opera House. He co-wrote ADVANCE IN ORDER: THE AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL FROM CENTENARY TO REORGANISATION 1971 – 1989 (which was workshopped by ATC in 2007).

Mario Faumui / Actor

ROMEO & JULIET is Mario's debut appearance for Auckland Theatre Company. Mario is currently studying at The Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, completing a Diploma in Pacific Performing Arts. For the past two years, his stage productions include YELLOWMAN, BLOOD WEDDING, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and OPHELIA THINKS HARDER.

Dance highlights include Pacific Dance Fono with Dance New Zealand, STRICTLY BROWN by Kila Kokonut Krew and ATC. Mario was also involved with the comedy festival featuring in PANI AND PANI: PHAT CHIX IN THE SETTEE. He also hosted the TVNZ’s Polyfest series 2009, for the Samoan episode.

Michael Whalley / Actor

This is Michael's second appearance for Auckland Theatre Company following last year’s production of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. After graduating from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2005, Michael won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer in Vivienne Plumb’s play, THE CAPE. For theatre, he has also performed in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (Opera House), THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA?, WEDNESDAY TO COME and I’M NOT RAPPAPORT (Downstage Theatre), as well as THE GLASS MENAGERIE and THE MAN THAT LOVELOCK COULDN’T BEAT (Circa Theatre). Michael also starred in Taki Rua’s production of TE KARAKIA for the 2009 Auckland Festival, and in Hackman's production of APOLLO 13:MISSION CONTROL for the Wellington Festival and the Sydney Opera House earlier this year.

Michael has appeared in the award-winning New Zealand films OUT OF THE BLUE and EAGLE VS SHARK and will be in the upcoming feature MATARIKI. His television credits include KARAOKE HIGH, KILLIAN’S CURSE, TIME HACKERS, PARADISE CAFE and LEGEND OF THE SEEKER.

Paul Fagamalo / Actor

Paul is currently in his second year at The Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (PIPA)/Best Pacific Institute of Training. His theatre experience includes PIPA productions of POLLYHOOD and OPHELIA THINKS HARDER, The University of Auckland’s Stage Two Productions of STIR FRIED PLAYS and TOMMY, as well as Auckland Musical Theatre's production of SHOWBOAT, as Joe, and RENT as Benjamin Coffin III. ROMEO & JULIET will be his debut performance with Auckland Theatre Company.

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.

Sam Bunkall / Actor

This is Sam Bunkall’s debut performance with Auckland Theatre Company. He graduated from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2008. Recent theatre credits include BATTERED, PIRATES VS NINJAS, A MIME TO KILL (also co-deviser), AoTERRORoA (also producer/co-deviser), and HIDEORAMA (also deviser). This is the third Shakespearean production Sam has been involved in, having previously appeared as Orsino in TWELFTH NIGHT and Lavinia in TITUS ANDRONICUS.

Aside from his acting work, Sam has worked as a lighting designer/operator and sound operator for Almost a Bird Theatre Collective in their recent productions of BROKEN CHINA and WOLF’S LAIR. In 2008 he wrote and directed his first short film DIAMONDS and has spent much of the last two years working on a feature-length screenplay.

Stuart Devenie / Actor

Stuart Devenie is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished actors with a theatrical career spanning over three decades, in which time he has directed and acted for every major theatre company in the country.

Stuart headlined Auckland Theatre Company’s hugely successful tour of HATCH OR THE PLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS at the Ten Days on the Island festival in Tasmania. This was soon followed with the tour of Roger Hall’s FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY.

Stuart’s previous works for Auckland Theatre Company include ROMEO & JULIET, THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, HATCH, DISGRACE, CALIGULA, THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, LADIES NIGHT, MIDDLE AGE SPREAD, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, COPENHAGEN, SERIAL KILLERS, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, UNCLE VANYA and MOLLY SWEENEY. Stuart has also directed THE ORDERLY BUSINESS OF LIFE and THE GOD BOY for the Company.

From 1983 to 1984, Stuart was the Artistic Director of Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North. Also, he was a senior tutor at both the New Zealand Drama School and Northland Polytechnic. In 2000, he established a theatre company, Playfair Ltd, in Whangarei and enjoyed successful runs of COLD TURKEY, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, THE GOD BOY, LADIES NIGHT and MIDDLE AGE SPREAD.

Andrew Foster / Set Designer

Andrew Foster has recently returned to New Zealand having lived in the UK working on various theatre projects and producing radio dramas for Channel 4.

A co-founder of the award winning Wellington Theatre Company ‘Trouble’, he has become known for his contribution to the development of new works. Collaborations with some of the countries most promising young writers (including Jo Randerson, Duncan Sarkies, and Oscar Knightly) have become contemporary landmarks.

Known for their innovation and cutting edge style, Trouble travelled to Scotland for two years in 1998 to work in collaboration with Scottish Theatre Company ‘Boilerhouse’, culminating in the site-specific production BLEACH at both the Edinburgh and Glasgow festivals.

In THE LEAD WAIT, they pioneered a cinema-like ‘surround sound’ system, and built a full scale, fully working house, which the audience peered into like visitors to a film set.

Andrew took his devising process to Radio New Zealand in 2002 and created a series of radio dramas, which were recorded using local events as their background. Most notably LIVE TO AIR which wove the events of the 2002 General Election against the very personal story of a family falling apart. Andrew was Head of Radio Drama in 2004 05 and during this time he was instrumental in bringing many of the new voices of New Zealand theatre to radio including The Flight of the Conchords, Te Radar and the Seeyd Trilogy (which won Best Radio Drama at the 2005 New Zealand Radio Awards).

He also directed include GOOD NIGHT THE END (Downstage Theatre), THE SECOND TEST (co-written with Jonathan Brugh – Pumphouse Development Project, 2009), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (Silo Theatre), LITTLE CHE (3 Pesos), The Humourbeasts’ THE UNTOLD TALES OF MAUI (Taki Rua Productions), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (Circa Theatre), DEAD FUNNY (Fortune Theatre) and BLACK MONK (Trouble/BATS Theatre).

Andrew’s design works are VERNON GOD LITTLE, THE VERTICAL HOUR, BLOOD WEDDING, THE RAFT, THE TRIAL, PENNINSULA and Duncan Sarkies’ SAVING GRACE.

Nic Smillie / Costume Designer

Nic Smillie has a Bachelor of Design in Textiles and has worked in theatre, film and television as a costume designer for the past twelve years.

For Auckland Theatre Company her designs include AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, ROMEO & JULIET, THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, THE WIFE WHO SPOKE JAPANESE IN HER SLEEP, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED.

Nic has also costumed various projects in Wellington including LE SUD, KING AND COUNTRY, TOP GIRLS, CABARET, DRACULA, PRIVATE LIVES, SWEENEY TODD and DRAWER OF KNIVES.

Winner of the Air New Zealand Screen Award for Contribution to Design for the television series THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO LOVE, Nic has also designed costumes for THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS, SEVEN PERIODS WITH MR GORMSBY, THE HOTHOUSE, TIME TRACKERS and AFTERSHOCK.

Her operatic designs include QUARTET and THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS. For film her works include FISH SKIN SUIT, TURANGAWAEWAE and STICKMEN.

Nathan McKendry / Lighting Designer

Nathan has been working professionally as a Lighting Designer, Technician and Manager in the Performance industry for the last 5 years. After graduating from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2008 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management), Nathan worked extensively in theatre and events around New Zealand including World of Wearable Arts, The International Arts Festival and recently returned from Shanghai where he was one of the technicians for the New Zealand Pavilion in the World Expo.

This is Nathan’s debut design work for the Auckland Theatre Company and he is thrilled to be working on such an exciting piece of theatre with such great cast and crew. Some of Nathan’s lighting designs include UP NORTH and AWHI TAPU (Centrepoint Theatre), TITUS ANDRONICUS (WPAC), INTERFACE, the Raymond Boyce Exhibition (Te Whaea); WOLF’S LAIR (Circa and Bats Theatres), THE MOUNTAIN (Katipo Café), GET CUFFED (Bats Theatre), LES MISERABLES (Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North) and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Regent Theatre, Pahiatua).

Thomas Press / Sound Designer

A graduate of Toi Whakaari : New Zealand Drama School with a Diploma in Entertainment Technology (2005) and New Zealand School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Composition (2009), Thomas works as sound designer and composer for theatre, film and dance.

His recent works include Taki Rua's production of MARK TWAIN AND ME IN MAORILAND for the NZ International Arts Festival and Taupo Arts Festival as well as an exhibition at Toi Poneke - The Wellington Arts Centre and NAG in collaboration with Marcus McShane.

Previous highlights include working as sound designer and composer for ‘a slightly isolated dog's’ production of DEATH AND THE DREAMLIFE OF ELEPHANTS (Bats Theatre), Almost a Bird Theatre Collective’s production of WOLF LAIR (which was nominated for a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for sound design), writing the music and designing the lights for Java Dance’s production of HOW BIG IS BLUE (Capital E) and sound mentoring for the Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre. He was also the composer and sound designer for the Capital E touring production of KIWI MOON.

Throughout 2006 Thomas was house technician and operator at Downstage Theatre, and composed the music and sound design for the Downstage production of DRACULA (which was nominated for a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for sound design).

Lori Leigh / Dramaturg

Lori Leigh has multiple qualifications including a MFA in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a BA in Dramatic Arts.

Originally from the United States, Lori has worked on productions and readings of plays both from Broadway and regionally, collaborating as a performer, puppeteer, writer, director, and dramaturg.

While in New York, she served in the literary department of Stephen Sondheim's Young Playwrights Inc., and her production of Lauren Wilson’s WEDDING DUET was a Samuel French Festival Finalist in NYC.

Last year, Lori worked on the world premiere of THE HISTORY OF CARDENIO – the “lost” play reconstructed by Gary Taylor (editor of the Oxford Shakespeare). Since moving to New Zealand, Lori has served as a script advisor for Playmarket, a theatre tutor and director for Victoria University of Wellington, a mentor for Young and Hungry’s Festival of New Plays (Wellington season) and as a workshop leader and guest director for Shakespeare’s Globe Centre New Zealand.

Holding the New Zealand Government's prestigious research scholarship, NZIDRS, Lori is currently a doctoral candidate in theatre at Victoria University where she researches Shakespeare, Early Modern English Theatre and Gender.