The Divine Cabaret – Development Workshop
An original 90-minute, darkly funny and timely new cabaret. Climate change, the rise of the new right, social media, inequality and love in a time of global upheaval – have we all been here before? Big Mother watches on as humanity and a family at the tipping point, wrestle with love, nature, greed and power. Laugh, cry, sing and dance on to the end of days, and don’t forget to breathe!
The planet and her inhabitants are in trouble. A compere/newsreader reflects our current chaotic world. A wife and husband with seemingly irreconcilable ideological differences: the marital bed as a symbol of western geo and gender politics. In the middle is a daughter trying to understand and bridge male/female, old world/new world ideologies. In a time of immense global upheaval, can we all somehow get along?
The Divine Cabaret is an original scripted cabaret featuring original songs and elements of circus and burlesque with a stellar cast of some of the NZ industries most respected performers.
Why cabaret and why now?
The Divine Cabaret is topical, edgy, funny and satirical – this is what Cabaret is –making sense of the chaotic world we live in, the best and worst of humanity. We will create intimate & provocative theatre– that will resonate with contemporary audiences through a rich musical & theatrical history – and drawing powerful parallels between past and present.
CAST
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
Lead Actress, Singer
Andy Grainger
Andrew’s career as an actor began in the 1980s in England. Highlights from the UK include performing in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and South Pacific on London’s West End; appearing on TV’s Pride and Prejudice, Heartbeat, Eastenders, The Bill, and The Governor; appearing in feature films Mean Machine, In the Beginning, David Copperfield; and working alongside Robert Redford in Spy Game.
After emigrating to New Zealand, Andrew rapidly built up an impressive collection of credits on both local and international productions including Westside, The Brokenwood Mysteries, The Bad Seed, Straight Forward, The Meg, Letter for the King, 6 Days, The Shannara Chronicles, When We Go to War, The Cult, Shortland Street, Outrageous Fortune, Spartacus, Super City, The Dark Horse, Ash Versus Evil Dead, and Top of the Lake. He has worked extensively with Auckland Theatre Company, his most recent credits include Master Builder, The Cherry Orchard, Six Degrees ofSeparation, Bill
ANDY GRAINGER
Lead Actor, singer
Georgia Duder-Wood
Compere / Dramaturg
International musical theatre, longstanding Auckland musical residencies in jazz and soul, guest artist in cabaret and concerts, specialist for recording and session work, Georgia is a vocal artist with decades of performance experience in many genres of song. As a teacher in corporate, institutional and healing environments, her passion is to get people singing. To this end she is an award winner of a place on ART Venture 2013/14: an acceleration programme for exceptional arts practitioners & creative entrepreneurs
GEORGIA DUDER-WOOD
Actor, Singer
Hannah Lynch
Hannah Lynch is an actor, dancer and musician, and is a 2018 graduate of Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School. As a student she performed in Movement of the Human’s ‘Rushes’ in the New Zealand International Festival in Wellington. Since graduating Hannah has worked with RedLeap theatre on their latest work “Owls do Cry” which is currently touring Aotearoa, as well as Barbarian Productions on ‘Grand Opening’. She has also recently worked with Malia Johnson, Eden Mullholland and Rowan Pierce on ‘Movement of the Human’ as part the 2019 Auckland Fringe Town. She has also collaborated with Public Fodder on their New Zealand Fringe show ‘Never Thought I’d Have To Explain It All’.
HANNAH LYNCH
Actor, Singer
KEY CREATIVES
SHARU DELIKAN
Since forming Sharu Loves Hats (2013) Sharu has produced Renee Liang and Jun Bin Lee’s Dominion Rd The Musical (2017 & 2019), Ryan Richards’ A Boy Wonder at The Basement (2015) and Central Otago/Southland Tour (2015), Newmarket Stage Company’s production, starring George Henare, of Educating Rita (2013) and Tuesdays with Morrie (2014), Dianna Fuemana’s Niuean-Kiwi play Birds at The Basement (2013) and the NZ Fringe Festival in Wellington (2014), as well as Amy Waller’s original Kiwi solo show Gloria at Orewa’s Centrestage Theatre (June/July
2013) and TAPAC, The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (Nov 2013).
• 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 award for creative enterprise accelerator programme worth $30,000 (2016).
• 2018 International Game Changers for her contribution to the arts (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1732973003424446)
• 2020 APAM First Timer
SHARU DELILKAN
Creative Producer
MARSHALL SMITH
A well established New Zealand based songwriter, composer and producer, Marshall has written music for major international movies, documentaries and commercials for many years such as: Morgan Freeman, ABC, ESPN, BBC, BSkyB, Discovery, TVNZ, TV3, SBS, MTV and Fox. He has more than 1000 original musical works published all around the world.
Marshall is the MD of leading music production house The Sound Room and is also the Chairperson of the Screen Composers Guild of NZ. He also releases solo music as Marshmellow. He regularly speaks on music & the film industry and mentors young artists as part of the Depot Artspace programme in Devonport. He also is a regular face on TV screens on many commercials over the years and presented Big Wednesday for NZ Lotteries for 3 years.
WRITING – FILM & TV
Gold Paw – Animated Feature w/ Christian Greet Producer Cirkus Animation (NZ)
Finders Keepers – Animated Feature w/ Christian Greet Producer Cirkus Animation (NZ)
One Way Ticket – Feature w/ Lisa Williams Producer Paula Jones
Water Baby – Feature Producer Paula Jones
The Catchers – Feature Producer Paula Jones
World Tales – Animated children’s series w/ Christian Greet – Producer Cirkus Animation (NZ)
Cuba Libré – 8 part series w/ Lisa Williams Producer Paula Jones
The Girl Who Could Stop Time – 8 part series Producer Paula Jones
The Black Sun – 8 part animated sci-fi series Producer Cirkus Animation (NZ)
WRITING-THEATRE & PROSE
The Divine Cabaret – 90 minute theatre cabaret feat. Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Dust Palace Circus, Directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins
The Girl Who Could Stop Time – Novel (self-published)
AWARDS
NZ Film Commission – Professional Development Award
Berlinale Talent Campus, Berlin Germany
ART Venture Trust – Professional Development Award
APRA Silver Scroll Awards – Finalist for song of the year
Australian Songwriting Association National Songwriting Awards 2016 – 6th & 8th place.
WWF Ocean Views – Finalist 2011
Song of The Year USA – Honorable Mention 2011.
Nashville Songwriting Competition – Finalist 2004.
International Song Competition – Finalist 2003.
MARSHALL SMITH
Creator, Composer and Music Director
MARGARET-MARY HOLLINS
Margaret-Mary is an experienced theatre director, actor, teaching artist, producer, script editor and theatre arts manager. After graduating from The Sydney Acting School (1986) she toured Shakespeare for two years around NSW and Sydney with ‘Shakespeare Where You Like It’ as a full-time actor and company member. In 1996, Margaret-Mary furthered her training with Ecole Philippe Gaulier (London) and City & Guilds of London Advanced Drama and continued to work as a freelance actor for television, film and theatre.
In 2001 she turned to directing for theatre and developing her skills as a vocal coach and teaching artist. Margaret-Mary has directed for AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY, THE SILO THEATRE, CO. THEATRE PHYSICAL and numerous independent productions. Margaret-Mary is passionate about the power of the performing arts reaching the community and was the Artistic Director of TAPAC, The Auckland Performing Arts Centre 2009-2017. During her time at TAPAC Margaret-Mary initiated and created new works such as A THOUSAND HILLS, CULTURE CLASH, NIGHT OF THE QUEER CABARET and supported many artists and professional independent productions and companies. In 2017 Margaret-Mary resigned from TAPAC to develop her own projects in the professional performing arts sector. She was invited to perform for THE COURT THEATRE in ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time’ by Simon Stevens, directed by Lara McGregor and for AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY ‘Last Legs’ by Roger Hall, directed by Colin McColl. Under her own company HOUSE OF HUDSON, Margaret-Mary is currently an active freelance theatre director, creative producer and teaching artist working with Auckland Theatre Company, Massive Company, MIXIT and Marvellous Players. With House of Hudson she continues collaborating with Mike Hudson, creating new works in development. In 2020 Margaret-Mary continues to work with MASSIVE THEATRE COMPANY, MINDoverMANNER and will continue to tour with RED LEAP THEATRE on the Contemporary Response to ‘Owls Do Cry’ by Janet Frame and is the Director for AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY’S production of ‘The Miracle Worker’ by William Gibson.
MARGARET-MARY HOLLINS
Director
MIKE HUDSON
Mike Hudson is an Auckland based Playwright who has written a number of plays for adults and younger audiences. He is a qualified secondary school teacher and part of the House of Hudson Theatre Company with Margaret-Mary Hollins. Mike has also worked as a producer on variety of theatre productions including the ‘24Hour Deadline Theatre’ project which ran for a number of years at the Auckland Concert Chamber and Herald Theatre. Mike Is currently working on a variety of projects including ‘Whetū and Nick’ and ‘The Secret Thief’ which is in development with The Blind Foundation. Mike continues to develop new work and will be writing a new work for Auckland Theatre Company in 2020 called ‘Pandora’ for young audiences.
MIKE HUDSON
Writer
Georgia Duder-Wood
International musical theatre, longstanding Auckland musical residencies in jazz and soul, guest artist in cabaret and concerts, specialist for recording and session work, Georgia is a vocal artist with decades of performance experience in many genres of song. As a teacher in corporate, institutional and healing environments, her passion is to get people singing. To this end she is an award winner of a place on ART Venture 2013/14: an acceleration programme for exceptional arts practitioners & creative entrepreneurs
GEORGIA DUDER-WOOD
Co-Lyricist, Dramaturg
JESSIE MCCALL
Jessie is a freelance dancer, choreographer and producer (BPSA Contemporary Dance). She is the founder of All You Can Eat Productions, choreographing full length works The Way We Fall (2014), Tassel Me This (2015, Best Dance & Best of Fringe- Dunedin Fringe) and Cover Lover (2016). She is the co-founder of SOFT. co with collaborator Rose Philpott, creating HEALR (2016 & 2018) and in development with new work INFLATED REBEL (2019, Q Matchbox recipient). She created Your Own Personal Exister for Footnote Dance Company’s 2016 NOW choreographic season, and Hope and Mourning in the Anthropocene for the 2018 Unitec Dance Showcase. She has danced for renowned artists Kelly Nash, Michael Parmenter, Katie Burton, Shona McCullagh, Sarah Knox, Malia Johnston & Sarah Foster-Sproull.
Jessie creates moving image resources for dance and theater makers, and other creative organisations including Tempo Dance Festival, Christchurch Arts Festival, MASSIVE Theatre Company, Silo Theatre and Foster Group.
JESSIE MCCALL
Videographer, Photographer
CONSULTANTS
EVE GORDON
After having achieved a bachelor of acting in 2002, Eve began to explore the boundaries of theatre and performance, developing many shows, projects, companies and works. She had part-time work as a projectionist which fueled a love for celluloid and lead to an expanded cinema project that toured the USA.
Her interest in physical theatre was sparked by Legs on the Wall founding member Beth Kayes whom she began working with around 2004. Spring-boarding from there Eve sort out circus training in NZ and Australia and in 2007 she began performing circus.
In 2009 Eve decided she needed an umbrella for the eclectic set of events and shows she was presenting and with a group of friends founded The Dust Palace. That year they presented two shows in the inaugural Auckland Fringe Festival.
The last decade has seen Eve develop physically, artistically and as a producer, business woman and company owner. She has won awards, been sort after and heralded as the ‘Beyonce of New Zealand circus’.
EVE GORDON
Consultant Choreographer
MARDO EL-NOOR
Mardo is a hybrid-practitioner who has his fingers in many creative pies. With a Master degree in art and design & a past musical career, he found his calling in visual arts, particularly moving image.
He has a solid foundation in graphic design, which spring-boarded him into creating high end Motion GFX for ads & branding content. His skilled range allows him to create unique commercial content, music videos and animations. As a graphic designer, photographer and motion graphics artist, he focuses more on creating eye candy than narrative. His moving image content borrows from disparate creative disciplines, such as poster art, UI, typography, portraiture and classical art.
Mardo is a CreativeNZ funding assessor & a recipient of the 2016 Art Venture Award. His work was recently exhibited at The NZ Parliament, Waikato Museum, & Tauranga Art Gallery. He also made three short animated films which premiered at NZIFF in 2009, 2010 & 2011, & have screened at many film festivals around the globe.
When he’s not busy at work, you’ll find him creating hyperrealistic photographic portraits or upcycling furniture in his workshop.
MARDO EL-NOOR
AV Design
