Dave Armstrong / Playwright

Dave has emerged as one of New Zealand’s most prolific and popular playwrights.

His hit NIU SILA co-written with Oscar Kightley, played a sold out Auckland Theatre Company season at AK05 and won a Chapman Tripp Award for Best New Play.

Auckland Theatre Company also staged his adaptation of Sia Figiel's WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED in 2008 and acclaimed comedy THE TUTOR in 2007. He has also written KING AND COUNTRY, which has toured throughout New Zealand.

For television, Dave co-created and co-wrote the comedy series SEVEN PERIODS WITH MR GORMSBY and wrote for the satirical series SPIN DOCTORS.

Colin McColl / Director

One of New Zealand’s leading theatre directors, Colin co-founded Taki Rua Theatre in 1983 and was Artistic Director of Downstage Theatre in Wellington, 1984-1992. He has led Auckland Theatre Company as Artistic Director since July 2003.

Colin has directed for the Norwegian National Theatre and the Dutch National Theatre, as well as most leading New Zealand and Australian theatre companies.

Previous achievements include Best Director for Auckland Theatre Company’s 2001 production of ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD.

Colin has also won Best Director at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards several times - including for his 2002 production of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?.

His many productions for Auckland Theatre Company include THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED, END OF THE RAINBOW, THE CRUCIBLE, HATCH OR THE PLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS, DOUBT, DISGRACE, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, EQUUS, GOLDIE, WAITING FOR GODOT, SERIAL KILLERS, THE SEAGULL and UNCLE VANYA.

Opera directing credits include QUARTET (New Zealand International Arts Festival 2004), LA BOHEME (Wellington City Opera), THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO and THE PRODIGAL CHILD for the NBR New Zealand Opera.

In November 2007, Colin was honoured for his artistic achievements and excellence at the eighth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June 2010.

Goretti Chadwick / Actor

Goretti Chadwick trained at UNITEC'S Performing Arts School in 1995. Acting highlights include Auckland Theatre Company productions of STRICTLY BROWN (with Kila Kokonut Krew), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED, MY NAME IS GARY COOPER, DOUBT, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and WIT.

Acting highlights include PANI & PANI - PHAT CHIX IN THE SETTEE (Kila Kokonut Krew) at this year's NZ International Comedy Festival and THE MARKET (TVNZ). She has also featured in various Pacific plays, including FRANGIPANI PERFUME.

In 2004, she travelled to New York with 'Island Divas' to perform at PARADISE NOW? - an exhibition of New Zealand and Pacific Islands contemporary art.

Goretti is currently the Course Director for PIPA - Pacific Institute of Performing Arts/Best Pacific Institute of Education, based at UNITEC.

Tony Rabbit / Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Lighting design: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED & END OF THE RAINBOW

Set & Lighting Design: THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF & HATCH!

Tony Rabbit has designed sets and/or lighting for theatre, opera, television and film and even, according to one reporter, the radio.

His work was last seen by Auckland Theatre Company audiences in THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED, END OF THE RAINBOW, HATCH OR THE PLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS, DISGRACE and THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.

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.

Tony Rabbit / Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Lighting design: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED & END OF THE RAINBOW

Set & Lighting Design: THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF & HATCH!

Tony Rabbit has designed sets and/or lighting for theatre, opera, television and film and even, according to one reporter, the radio.

His work was last seen by Auckland Theatre Company audiences in THE POHUTUKAWA TREE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED, END OF THE RAINBOW, HATCH OR THE PLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS, DISGRACE and THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.

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.