Exclusive
Tenacious Women’s magazine journalist Carolyn Mann is writing a celebrity yarn expected to help magazine sales. The love story between a rugby star and his beautiful girlfriend seems like your run-of-the-mill Women’s magazine tale, until it’s revealed the sports star is violent towards his girlfriend. With her career on the line, Carolyn is torn between her desire to handle the ordeal in a sensitive manner and the demands of a relentless boss and an unforgiving industry. She’s also going head-to-head with a national newspaper, which is competing with Carolyn to break the story and be the first to seal the exclusive.
This play is an intimate insight into the world of celebrity journalism in New Zealand and the lengths the media will go to gain an exclusive, despite the story being about a subject matter as sensitive as domestic violence.
Script Workshop
(June 14 – mid July 2021)
KEY PEOPLE
SHARU DELILKAN
- The Tour-Makers Award for Travelling Hero at Auckland Theatre Awards for touring A Boy Wonder in Central Otago/Southland (2015).
- ART (Arts Regional Trust) Venture awardee for year-long creative enterprise accelerator programme worth $30,000 (2016).
- Named one of three international Game Changers for her contribution to the arts (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1732973003424446) (2018).
- Awarded CNZ First Timers Subsidy ($2,000 cash) to attend the Australian Performing Arts Market in February 2020
SHARU DELILKAN
Creative Producer
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND CNZM
Since training at Auckland’s Theatre Corporate, Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for 40 years. She is also a trained Intimacy Coordinator for stage and screen.
Jennifer was a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre and The Actors’ Program. She is President of Equity New Zealand (since 2007), Patron of Q Theatre, Te Manu Tīoriori Trust and Theatre New Zealand, and serves as a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund.
In the 2007 New Year’s Honours List, she was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to theatre and the community. In 2018 she was named SPADA Industry Champion and in 2019 New Year’s Honours List, she was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to theatre, film and television and presented with a Woman of Influence Award (for arts and culture) Most recently, Jennifer was honoured as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2020.Jennifer has been a keen student of te reo Māori since 2008, and in 2017 was gifted the name Te Atamira (The Stage) by Sir Timoti Karetu and Te Wharehuia Milroy.
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND
Te Atamira CNZM
Director
AROHA AWARAU
AROHA AWARAU
Playwright
HORI AHIPENE
Since graduating from Toi Whakaari 1989 Hori has worked extensively in Theatre,Film and television as an Actor, Director, Play wright, Casting director, Drama Turg and Acting Coach. His many credits include the award winning short film, ‘The World outside my window’ (Short film-Casting/Acting coach), ‘Hide n Seek'(Playwright/actor), ‘Frangipani Perfume’ (Director) Provacation(Actor) and most recently Feature film ‘Muru’ as Drama Turg (2020/2021).
HORI AHIPENE
Dramaturg
KURA TE UA
(Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whakatohea, Tuhoe, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri)
Kura Te Ua is the Artistic Director, Choreographer and Kaihaka Dancer of Hawaiki TŪ (Māori
performing arts company) and the Kaiarataki Māori/Producer at Auckland Live. With a BA
Performing Arts – Dance from The University of Auckland. She is a long-standing kaihaka
practitioner of the renowned Kapa Haka group, Te Waka Huia and has extensive
performance and travel experience representing Aotearoa on several overseas tours. Kura
was selected by Creative New Zealand for the residency in indigenous dance in Banff,
Canada 2014 and was the recipient of the prestigious Tup Lang Award in Choreography. She
is currently studying a Post Graduate Diploma in Māori Business Development at The
University of Auckland. Her passion to share Māori culture through performing arts is
motivated by the drive to positively evolve the global indigenous voice from a Maori
perspective with the world.
KURA TE UA
Kaiārahi – Tikanga Māori
CAROLYN SYLVESTER
Director, Story Producer, Camera Operator, Single Person Crew, Photographer
EXPERIENCE
- 2020: Director and producer “Mature Movement in Aotearoa”, short clips for National Symposium, Feature Documentary.
- 2019-20: Field director plus single person crew gathering stories for “Kea Kids News” on Stuff and Heihei. For Luke Nola and Friends.
- 2018-20: Single person crew/director content gathering for Lion’s Share agency,(Clients: Housing NZ and Kāinga Ora).
- 2018-19 Field Director and OPC content gathering for “Fanimals” Whitebait Media.
- 2017-19: Direct, story produce and shoot Rail safety videos for KiwiRail (“Primary Schools”, “Dan and Brian”, “Ngāruawāhia”, “Rangatahi and bridges” plus international award winning rail safety videos 2017)
- 2017-19: Direct, and Story Produce Field Insert Tracks For MTS Anzac Dawn Service Televised Coverage
- 2017-19: Direct insert clips and live crosses for MTS Waka Ama Sprint Nationals
- 2012-18: Direct, shoot, research, “Whānau Living”, series 1-5 for Adrenalin productions and TVNZ.
- 2010 – 18: “Thirsty Work” – produce, direct and shoot series 1-3 for Foodtv and international distribution, produce and direct series 4 for TV3 and international distribution
- 2015-16: Director, Camera, Story Producer “Kiwi Living” (“living spaces” interior design segments Season 1 and Pets, Health and design stories Season 2) Plus direct/Story produce and produce as well as shooting for previous clients:
- Chorus NZ/Crown Fibre Holdings video case studies fibre rollout
- Big Picture Wine Show videos – regional films
- NZ Winegrowers Sustainability, Young Viticulturalist of the Year, Pinot 2013
- MSN
- Microsoft NZ
- “Horse Of The Year” coverage 2012 And 2013 For Country99 Tv And TVNZ
- Pacific Beat Street, TV3, 2004-10 Episode Producer/Director
- TVNZ Production/Lifestyle Unit (Maggie’s Garden Show, Taste NZ, Taste Takes Off, Mucking In, NZ House And Garden, Ground Rules)
CAROLYN SYLVESTER
Videographer
ACTORS
AWHINA-ROSE ASHBY
Ashby made her feature film debut in the ensemble drama Waru, playing “Em” directed by Katie Wolfe, which debuted at the 2017 NZ International Film Festival. Ashby continues to share her comedic talents in a reoccurring role on the Māori Television hit The Ring Inz.
Jessica Sanderson, director and writer of Ways To See, wrote the part of ‘The Woman In Black’ specifically with Awhina-Rose in mind that is currently a part of the NZIFF Nga Whanaunga Māori Pasifika short films.
AWHINA-ROSE ASHBY
Carolyn Mann
MIRABAI PEASE
Mirabai Pease has been acting in various Stage and Screen shows from a young age. She was notably part of the Young Shakespeare Company New Zealand (2016), travelling to the Globe Stage in London and performing as Tranio in Taming of the Shrew. She graduated The Actors Program in 2018. After graduating, she toured a children’s show around New Zealand and Australia, before going on to be in the South Pacific Pictures Television Show, Head High, the Warner Brothers Television Show, Black Hands, and Season 2 of The Gulf . She was also a part of the Basement Theatre’s Animal (2019), along with a devised fringe show at the beginning of 2020.
MIRABAI PEASE
Sarah Smith
MIA BLAKE
Mia Blake is a screen and stage actor, voice artist and director of Tongan and European descent.
Some of her stage roles include Blanche in Silo’s production of A streetcar Named Desire, Juliet in Miranda Harcourt’s Romeo & Juliet, Amanda in Silo’s Private Lives and Rose in Ben Crowder’s Bad Jelly & the Witch.
She is also extremely proud to have been part of Silo and Fasitua’s production of Upu year in the Auckland Arts Festival.
Her screen credits include No. 2, The Tattooist and 6 Days. Most recently you can see her on NZ screens as Aunty Aggie on Shortland St.
Mia is also very excited to begin a new part of her career on the other side of the camera directing for Shortland St.
MIA BLAKE
Mimi Loates
TIM CARLSEN
Tim Carlsen is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School (2007-2009). Tim has also completed an internship with the renowned New York theatre company The Wooster Group – working on the production of LA DIDONE. Other theatre credits include; I LOVE YOU BRO, TARTUFFE, THE BOOK OF EVERYTHING (Silo), END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, ONCE ON CHUNUK BAIR (Auckland Theatre Company) SYDNEY BRIDGE UPSIDE DOWN (Taki Rua Productions) DON JUAN (A Slightly Isolated Dog) and SPIRIT HOUSE (Nightsong Productions) . Screen credits include LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, GO GIRLS, FIELD PUNISHMENT NO.1, VENUS AND MARS, WESTSIDE, DIRTY LAUNDRY, ROMAN EMPIRE (Netflix) POWER RANGERS and A WAR STORY. Tim’s acclaimed solo show ONE DAY MOKO was nominated for three Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards – winning Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year. ONE DAY MOKO has toured to Auckland, Wellington and Sydney and most recently Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was named as a ‘festival highlight’ by the Guardian newspaper.
TIM CARLSEN
Ryan Pointon
JARRED BLAKISTON
Jarred began his professional career in 2004, aged 12, playing the role of Daniel Potts on New Zealand’s long-running primetime soap opera Shortland Street. Since then, he has appeared on screen in a number of international television productions, including Power Rangers (Nickelodeon), The New Legends of Monkey (Netflix), The Shannara Chronicles (MTV) and, most recently, Amazon Prime’s The Wilds. Closer to home, he has appeared in Ablaze, The Gulf and When We Go To War. In 2016, he spent a year training at The Actors’ Program, where he performed in the graduation showcase Vernon God Little at the Basement Theatre, and 2021 will see him make his professional theatre debut in Auckland Theatre Company’s The Haka Party Incident.
JARRED BLAKISTON
Bryce Farley
Auckland Regional Council sponsored
Development Read Through Workshop
(Nov 16 – 25, 2020)
KEY PEOPLE
SHARU DELILKAN
- Journalist (print), USA
- Managing Director, BB Showbiz, an entertainment company
- Touring nationally in Malaysia and internationally including the Maldives
- Communications Executive, KL Stock Exchange
- Corporate PR consultant, MDK Consultants, Malaysia
- Media training CEOs and MDs
- Working with corporates on IPO launches on the stock exchange
- Managing and brokering international relations with ASEAN region Stock Exchanges
- Food, wine and hotel journalist in Hong Kong
- Copywriter for Miller Freeman and rebranding into CMP Asia, Hong Kong
- Arts Reporter, The Aucklander and Herald on Sunday
- Newmarket Stage Company’s production of Educating Rita and Tuesdays with Morrie, both of which starred George Henare
- The Edge’s Timeout Season of The Secret of Dongting Lake at Auckland’s Town Hall
- Associate Producer for Indian Ink Theatre Company’s Auckland and Hamilton seasons of Guru of Chai (2011)
- Intern Producer for Red Leap Theatre’s Auckland season of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival (2012-13)
- Dominion Rd The Musical at Playhouse Theatre, reflecting the cultural diversity of those living and working on Dominion Rd, which mirrors Tāmaki Makaurau’s demographic and cultural mix.
- Co-produced the all-female version of Henry V featuring forty fabulous females, with ShakeItUp! in association with The Wallace Arts Trust, in 2016 at The Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, the inaugural Pop Up Globe and Pumphouse.
- Ryan Richards’ A Boy Wonder at The Basement and Central Otago/Southland Tour
- Dianna Fuemana’s Niuean-Kiwi play Birds at The Basement and the NZ Fringe Festival in Wellington
- Amy Waller’s original Kiwi solo show Gloria at Orewa’s Centrestage Theatre and The Auckland Performing Arts Centre.
- Footprints to NZ and Marriage Bureau, written by Tim Booth and Sharu Delilkan, both were finalists in two consecutive Short and Sweet Festivals Auckland
- Te Rehia Theatre Company’s original work SolOthello at the inaugural Kia Mau Festival, Wellington (2016)
- Te Rehia Theatre Company’s groundbreaking work Hoki Mai Tama Ma, which toured around Auckland and Whangarei (May – Aug 2014).
- The Modern Maori Quartet’s show Nga Bro e Wha at Galatos Live, Auckland (Oct 2013)
SHARU DELILKAN
Creative Producer
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND
2020 New Zealander of the Year, Jennifer trained at Auckland’s influential Theatre Corporate, NZ actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for over 37 years. She has excelled in both dramatic and comedic roles, as well as numerous roles in musical theatre and cabaret. Jennifer was a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre and a co-founder of The Large Group and The Actors’ Program. She is currently President of Equity NZ, Patron of Q Theatre and Theatre NZ, and serves as a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund. She was named a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit “for services to film, theatre and television” in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list, won a Women of Influence award for Arts and Culture in 2019 and a SPADA Industry Champion award in 2018. Jennifer has been a keen student of te reo Māori since 2008, and in 2017 was gifted the name Te Atamira (The Stage) by Sir Timoti Karetu and Te Wharehuia Milroy.
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND
Te Atamira CNZM
Director
AROHA AWARAU
Aroha is a playwright and magazine journalist. He won Best Play at the 2014 SWANZ, and New Zealand Magazine Journalist of the Year (Mass Market) at the annual Magazine Publisher’s Association Awards in 2008 and 2013. He has been a news editor for the Woman’s Day magazine and the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly. While still at high school Aroha was a three-time winner of the Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Award. The annual award was created by the South Taranaki District Council to commemorate Hawera’s most famous author, Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
Aroha has a degree in Film and Television from the University of Waikato and a journalism degree from the Auckland University of Technology. After leaving Waikato University in 1998, Aroha worked in the New Zealand film industry for two years, working on films such as What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and The Price of Milk.
He also had a short stint as a stand up comedian, becoming a finalist in the Raw Quest, a national competition to find the best new comedian and appeared as a contestant in the TV One reality show, So You Think You’re Funny?.
Aroha has had a radio play produced and aired on Radio New Zealand and had three short stories published in the book Is There Something in the Water?
Aroha received NZ Film Comission funding to produce a short film he wrote called, Home, which had its international premiere at the ImagineNATIVE festival in Toronto.
In May 2014 Aroha’s first play, Luncheon, was staged at The Basement Theatre in Auckland, and in September 2015 Aroha’s second play, Officer 27, was staged at the same venue.
AROHA AWARAU
Playwright
JOHN VERRYT
John Began designing for performance in 1979, training at Theatre Corporate and MercuryTheatre. John is freelance and works regularly for many of New Zealand’s foremostperforming arts companies and artistic directors including Silo Theatre, Auckland TheatreCompany, Indian Ink, Red Leap, The Large Group, Nightsong, Theatre Stampede, Opera NZ,Douglas Wright, Malia Johnston, Michael Parmenter, Atamira Dance, Okareka Dance, BlackGrace Dance, John was production Designer for The World of Wearable Art from2009 to2016. some memorable recent designs are Once on Chunuck Bair-The Curious Incident ofthe Dog in the Nighttime-ATC, MittiMitti-Atamira Dance, The Book of Everything-Silo,The Mooncake and the Kumara-AAF, Mere Mere-Rushes-MOTH, TheMagic Flute-OperaNZ, 360-Nightsong and Theatre Stampede
JOHN VERRYT
Set Designer
JANE HAKARIA
Jane Hakaraia is a freelance theatre and TV designer. Theatre companies she works with regularly include Auckland Theatre Company, Bullet Heart Club, Silo Theatre and Massive Company. In theatre, she is known primarily for lighting design but, in the last few years, has expanded into set design, which she has been enjoying immensely. She also works with Blue Bach Productions as Art Director on their TV offerings and is currently working with Māoriland Film Festival in the design of their outdoor spaces at the Māoriland Hub in Otaki.
This year, Jane will be working with all her favourite theatre companies, including Te Rēhia and Auckland Theatre Companies on Astroman and Silo Theatre on Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, both for Auckland Arts Festival. She will also work on Half the Sky and Like a River, I Disagree with Massive, and Owls Do Cry with Red Leap Theatre. Jane has a degree in design from Unitec and undertook an honours degree in design at AUT.
JANE HAKARIA
Lighting Designer
HORI AHIPENE
The versatile Hori Ahipene became a New Zealand comedy fixture in the 1990s after playing a Samoan matriarch on Skitz and The Semisis, a DJ in pioneering bilingual sitcom Radio Wha Waho, and his work directing for a run of sketch shows. The Toi Whakaari graduate went on to co-star with Te Radar on offbeat sitcom and chat show B&B, then took on dual roles for kapa haka comedy The Ring Inz.
HORI AHIPENE
Dramaturg
KURA TE UA
(Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whakatohea, Tuhoe, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri)
Kura Te Ua is the Artistic Director, Choreographer and Kaihaka Dancer of Hawaiki TŪ (Māori
performing arts company) and the Kaiarataki Māori/Producer at Auckland Live. With a BA
Performing Arts – Dance from The University of Auckland. She is a long-standing kaihaka
practitioner of the renowned Kapa Haka group, Te Waka Huia and has extensive
performance and travel experience representing Aotearoa on several overseas tours. Kura
was selected by Creative New Zealand for the residency in indigenous dance in Banff,
Canada 2014 and was the recipient of the prestigious Tup Lang Award in Choreography. She
is currently studying a Post Graduate Diploma in Māori Business Development at The
University of Auckland. Her passion to share Māori culture through performing arts is
motivated by the drive to positively evolve the global indigenous voice from a Maori
perspective with the world.
KURA TE UA
Māori Advisor
CAROLYN SYLVESTER
Director, Story Producer, Camera Operator, Single Person Crew, Photographer
EXPERIENCE
- 2020: Director and producer “Mature Movement in Aotearoa”, short clips for National Symposium, Feature Documentary.
- 2019-20: Field director plus single person crew gathering stories for “Kea Kids News” on Stuff and Heihei. For Luke Nola and Friends.
- 2018-20: Single person crew/director content gathering for Lion’s Share agency,(Clients: Housing NZ and Kāinga Ora).
- 2018-19 Field Director and OPC content gathering for “Fanimals” Whitebait Media.
- 2017-19: Direct, story produce and shoot Rail safety videos for KiwiRail (“Primary Schools”, “Dan and Brian”, “Ngāruawāhia”, “Rangatahi and bridges” plus international award winning rail safety videos 2017)
- 2017-19: Direct, and Story Produce Field Insert Tracks For MTS Anzac Dawn Service Televised Coverage
- 2017-19: Direct insert clips and live crosses for MTS Waka Ama Sprint Nationals
- 2012-18: Direct, shoot, research, “Whānau Living”, series 1-5 for Adrenalin productions and TVNZ.
- 2010 – 18: “Thirsty Work” – produce, direct and shoot series 1-3 for Foodtv and international distribution, produce and direct series 4 for TV3 and international distribution
- 2015-16: Director, Camera, Story Producer “Kiwi Living” (“living spaces” interior design segments Season 1 and Pets, Health and design stories Season 2) Plus direct/Story produce and produce as well as shooting for previous clients:
- Chorus NZ/Crown Fibre Holdings video case studies fibre rollout
- Big Picture Wine Show videos – regional films
- NZ Winegrowers Sustainability, Young Viticulturalist of the Year, Pinot 2013
- MSN
- Microsoft NZ
- “Horse Of The Year” coverage 2012 And 2013 For Country99 Tv And TVNZ
- Pacific Beat Street, TV3, 2004-10 Episode Producer/Director
- TVNZ Production/Lifestyle Unit (Maggie’s Garden Show, Taste NZ, Taste Takes Off, Mucking In, NZ House And Garden, Ground Rules)
CAROLYN SYLVESTER
Videographer
ACTORS
RENAYE TAMATI
RENAYE TAMATI
Carolyn Mann
MIRABAI PEASE
Mirabai Pease has been acting in various Stage and Screen shows from a young age. She was notably part of the Young Shakespeare Company New Zealand (2016), travelling to the Globe Stage in London and performing as Tranio in Taming of the Shrew. She graduated The Actors Program in 2018. After graduating, she toured a children’s show around New Zealand and Australia, before going on to be in the South Pacific Pictures Television Show, Head High, the Warner Brothers Television Show, Black Hands and is currently filming another television show. She was also a part of the Basement Theatre’s Animal (2019), along with a devised fringe show at the beginning of 2020.
MIRABAI PEASE
Sarah Smith
AMANDA BILLING
Amanda is a professional actor, a trained high school teacher, and creative entrepreneur.
Her screen credits include a very long stint (ten years) on Shortland Street, as well as roles on Power Rangers, The Bad Seed, and The Brokenwood Mysteries. Her theatre credits include numerous singing/dancing/acting gigs for Auckland Theatre Company and Silo Theatre, as well as two physical theatre shows for Red Leap. Her most recent theatre experience was with Pop Up Globe: two back-to-back seasons, plus an international tour, in 2018 and 2019. She has taught at Pop Up Globe as well and is a creativity mentor in the Visual Arts department at Albany Senior High School. Recently, Amanda launched her website amandabilling.co.nz , where she sells her own creations: apparel, accessories, and art.
AMANDA BILLING
Mimi Loates
RYAN RICHARDS
Ryan Richards is an actor, comedian and writer.
After graduating from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2007, Ryan’s career brought him to Auckland for a role in the big-budget feature film, The Warrior’s Way.
Since then, Ryan has been seen regularly on New Zealand TV screens and on stage at various theatres throughout the country.
His screen credits include The Citizens Handbook (2019), Power Rangers (2019), Funny Girls (2015-18) and Jono and Ben (2014-2018).
In terms of stage, Ryan has co-created and produced nine original comedy theatre productions over the past decade.
In 2014, Ryan premiered his first solo-written and solo-performed comedy play, A Boy Wonder. This production toured the country in 2015.
In 2017, Ryan’s two-hander comedy show, Fuq Boiz was a finalist for The Fred Award – the prestigious award recognising the best New Zealand show in the NZ International Comedy Festival.
RYAN RICHARDS
Ryan Pointon
JACOB MASTERS
Jacob’s acting career spurred out the backseat of a Bachelors of Science degree at Victoria University of Wellington in 2017. After dabbling with arts papers on the down-low, he began to explore film through the VUW Masters program’s shorts, playing 2 significant roles in a single cohort, before going on to perform at Hannah Playhouse theatre in 2018, his first theatre performance since high school. Since then, Jacob has relocated to Auckland, becoming a 2019 graduate of The Actor’s Program in the same year he landed the role of ‘Scotty’, the antagonist in Head High, TV3. After small roles on various television/film productions, Jacob’s pull towards theatre grew through 2 Auckland fringe shows in early 2020, including a thorough 4 hour duration piece.
JACOB MASTERS
Bryce Farley