MEDIA RELEASE | FORTUNE THEATRE 2014

40^th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

PENINSULA

Written by Gary Henderson

Directed by Patrick Davies

Featuring: Nick Dunbar, Rosella Hart, Julie Edwards, Phil Vaughan and Andrew Laing

Gary Henderson (recipient of the 2013 Playmarket Award) has crafted a beautifully funny, touching and bittersweet play about a small-town New Zealand community in the 1960’s.  

“Destined to become a classic…”- National Business Review

Ten year old Michael Hope sleeps on a volcano. This is his playground, his paradise. He becomes fascinated when his new teacher describes how his hometown on Banks Peninsula was formed millions of years ago and he begins a project mapping his tiny community.

As he prepares for the Christchurch Science Fair, unbeknownst to him, there are undercurrents of change and discontent slowly rippling through the adult world around him.

“A rare immersion experience, this slice of imminent nostalgia is fluent, intelligent, evocative, multilayered storytelling that effectually mirrors our present through our not so distant past.” - Evening Standard

Gary Henderson’s plays have been produced in New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the United States. Skin Tight won a coveted Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1998. It was also produced in New York in 2006, the United Kingdom in 2007 and Canada in 2008.

He received a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year in 2007 for Home Land and Best New Short Play in 1996 for Mo & Jess Kill Susie. More recent commissions include Stealing Games for Capital E National Theatre for Children and My Bed My Universe for Massive Company in Auckland. 

Peninsula was written in Dunedin while Henderson was resident at the Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage. Although the story of Peninsula is fictional, the places and some of the incidental anecdotes are real, the playwright says. It is an acknowledgement, a nod to a time and a place that was a step on the way to here and now.

Director, Patrick Davies, says, “When I first read Peninsula I knew I had to direct it. I consider it to be New Zealand’s best written plays, containing all the elements that make live theatre so enthralling; a great story, the magic of imagination, a huge heart and characters who could easily be your family. You will fall in love with this production, leaving the theatre with a warm heart and a huge smile.”

“Essential theatre in every respect, Peninsula is not to be missed.” - Theatreview

Patrick Davies - Director

Patrick is an award winning Director who grew up in Dunedin. He has worked as a Director, Actor and Designer for; Fortune Theatre, WoW! Productions, Talking House in Dunedin; and with Centrepoint, BATS and Circa in the North Island. In 2006 he relocated to Wellington to study for a Master of Theatre Arts (Directing) at Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School / Victoria University. In 2008 he returned to the school to teach restoration performance to the acting students. While training he took work to the INFANT Festival of Avant Garde and New Works in Novi Sad, Serbia; and the following year he was part of a group from Victoria University teaching and performing in Berlin, Glasgow, London and Romania.

Patrick returned to Dunedin, but still works around the country. His production company, PLan D has produced local playwright Richard Huber’s Glorious in Wellington and Auckland in 2010 and has created the Dunedin Theatre Awards. He currently teaches Shakespeare Performance at the National Youth Drama School in Havelock North and will be returning to Steamboat Springs in Colorado to direct Romeo & Juliet for GALSCO.

Patrick first started working at Fortune Theatre as an actor in 1995; he has recently appeared in A Shortcut to Happiness and The Motor Camp and directed The Pitmen Painters (Best Actor, Best Director, Production of the Year) The Tutor and Two Fish ‘N’ a Scoop. Patrick is proud to be a part of Fortune Theatre’s 40^th Anniversary celebrations by directing one of his favourite written pieces of New Zealand theatre.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CAST

Lynette/Valerie Julie Edwards 
Ngaire/Sylvia Rosella Hart
Michael/Bruce Andrew Laing 
Alex/Jack Phil Vaughan 
Mr MacIntosh/Pug Nick Dunbar

CREW

Writer Gary Henderson

Director Patrick Davies

Production Manager Lindsay Gordon

Set Designer Peter King

Set Build Peter King, Richard Clark

Lighting Designer Stephen Kilroy

Costume Designer Maryanne Wright-Smyth

Stage Manager Monique Webster

Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Master George Wallace

KEY EVENTS / DATES 

Lunchtime Bites / Thursday, 20 March, 2014 - meet at 12.15pm in the Dunedin Public Library, ground floor. The cast will perform an excerpt from Peninsula with an opportunity to win tickets. Reading will commence at 12.30pm followed by afternoon tea. This is a FREE event 

Peninsula Opening Night / Saturday, 29 March, 2014 7.30pm, Fortune Theatre.

Members’ Briefing / Sunday, 30 March, 2014 - meet at the Fortune bar at 3.00pm and join Director Patrick Davies for a lively informal chat about Peninsula.

Forum / Tuesday, 1 April, 2014 - join the cast and crew for an open question and answer session following the 6.00pm show.

Audio Describe Performance / Sunday, 13 April 2014 - an audio described performance offered in collaboration with Experience Access for visually impaired patrons and friends. Bookings essential.

Education Pack - a High School Education Pack will be available from Monday, 24 March 2014.

PENINSULA

Written by Gary Henderson

Production Dates 29 March - 19 April 2014

Running Time Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval)                                          

Venue Fortune Theatre Mainstage, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Directed by Patrick Davies

Cast Nick Dunbar, Rosella Hart, Julie Edwards, Phil Vaughan and Andrew Laing

Performances Tuesday, 6.00pm, Wednesday - Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 4.00pm (no show Monday)

Tickets Gala (first 5 shows) $34, Adults $42, Senior Citizens $34, Members $32, Tertiary Students $20, High School Students $15, Group discount (10 +) $34

Bookings Fortune Theatre, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin.  

Box Office 03 477 8323 or visit www.fortunetheatre.co.nz