The Secret of Dongting Lake

An exciting adventure story designed specially for children from 6 to 10 years. This brand new NZ children’s theatre show is based on an ancient legend from China, directed by Ben Crowder (Bad Jelly the Witch) and celebrated writer Michaelanne Forster (Daughters of Heaven).

Chen Yang must leave his life in a poor fishing village and set sail across Dongting Lake with General Wong’s army. When the general shoots a dragon, Chen Yang saves the dragon’s life and helps it escape. Moments later, a fierce storm whips out of nowhere and destroys the general’s ship. Chen Yang is washed ashore on a mysterious island where he is put into a dungeon full of rats.

During his time on the island he falls in love with an enchanting princess, discovers the astonishing true identity of the wounded dragon, and like all great legends our hero in the end saves the day.

Directed by Ben Crowder (360 and Bad Jelly the Witch).
Written by Michaelanne Forster (Daughters of Heaven).

PEOPLE

LEAND MACADAAN

LEAND MACADAAN

Leand is best known as the much loved “Mexi-Doug” from the Instant Kiwi advertisements, encouraging thousands of people to “Get a perm”. Aside from this, Leand has a strong background in stage performance, appearing early in 2010 as Paul in Rent at the Civic Theatre. In 2009, he appeared in The Oryza Foundation’s production of Asian Tales: Native Alienz at the Herald Theatre, and received the “Best Supporting Male Actor” at the Auckland Community Theatre Trust Awards for his role in The Laramie Project.

YURI KINUGAWA

YURI KINUGAWA

Yuri Kinugawa is the Founder and Director of Impro Works (the longest-running improvisational theater company in Japan) and Yellow Man Group of Tokyo, Japan.

Her experience includes a BA in Theatre and Drama. She studied improvisation with Keith Johnstone and since 1996, has been teaching, performing, and developing training programs using improvisation skills. Yuri is also a special Staff Member for Coaches Training Institutes Japan, and part of the Co-Active Leadership Program in Japan. Under her guidance coaches in these programmes conduct over 200 workshops every year. Her international experience includes invitations as a professional improv performer and teacher to America, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

She is the author of Impro Game, the first book about improvisation in Japan, and she published 4 books about improvisation and theatre. She is writing her fifth book focusing on Zen and Impro.

She is also a professional actress. She won Best Actress 1998 Stockholm International Film Festival and Best Foreign Performer 1998 New Zealand Film Award for her role as Sayo in Memory & Desire (Best New Zealand Film1998) Director Niki Caro New Zealand.

Recent theatre experience includes performing at the International Seattle Improvisation Festival, Warwick Broadhead’s The Resting Show, her one woman show Me and Dick Frizzell and Shooting Rats (Tokyo)

MIN KIM

MIN KIM

Before Min Kim became an actor he has had various professions ranging from a professional Martial Artist, a Fashion Model, an Architect and a Free-lance 3D Designer in Korea. He arrived in New Zealand in 2007 with a dream of working within WETA Workshop as a 3D Modeller. Whilst freelancing as a 3D Anatomy Modeller and working on a Bollywood film project, he decided to attend Wellington Performing Arts Centre in order to improve his English and confidence and to learn more about the Western Culture. It was during this time that he found his new kindled obsession. Once completing WPAC in 2008 Min felt a strong connection to acting and seriously considered it as a new career path.

After being accepted into South Seas Film and Television School in Auckland, he left Wellington behind to start a new life with his new career. To makes ends meet whilst studying full time, Min chose to reignite one of his passions; to work as a Fashion Model. From this he has been featured in numerous international television commercials as well as runway modelling and high fashion photoshoots. And he has been featured in short films for festivals around the world.

Min is currently involved in an acting troupe where he is constantly training and developing as an actor as well as working as a professional Actor and Model.

JJ FONG

JJ FONG

JJ Fong is a NZ born Chinese performing artist. She has trained professionally in commercial dance, musical theatre, acting and presenting. She has her own business called JJ Fong Productions Ltd, and sings, dances and choreographs her own shows for festivals, corporate functions, and charity dos. She is currently in the midst of recording some songs for an EP album and exploring the presenting side for T.V. opportunities. You can check out her website at www.jjfong.com

OMER GILROY

OMER GILROY

Omer Gilroy has been a part of Young and Hungry for the previous two years, appearing on Sit On It! (dir. Ben Crowder) in 2009 and Fitz Bunny: Lust for Glory! (dir. Simon Coleman) in 2010. Omer is also an accomplished dancer – as a member of the hip hop crew “Clueless” she performed on the Pride of the Pacific Tour with Dei Hamo, 6 Pound and Chong Nee in 2007, and has also competed with Salsa Con Coco, who placed second at the New Zealand Salsa Congress qualifying to represent New Zealand in the World Salsa Championships in Olando, Florida. USA.

PERLINA LAU

PERLINA LAU

Perlina Lau is currently in her second year at AUT studying a Bachelor of Communications. After high school, she took a gap year in England teaching music and drama at a school and travelled around Europe. She enjoys both piano and cello and participated in last year’s Fringe and this year’s Short and Sweet Festival playing live music. This is her first professional theatre show and is delighted to be working with the cast and director.

MITCHELL KWAN

MITCHELL KWAN

Mitchell is a Kiwi-born Chinese, aged 18. He has studied screen acting for two years and is a former national gymnast and springboard diver. He is trained in the art of Chinese Kung Fu or Wushu and is currently part of the performance and stunt team Dragon Origins. He also breakdances for Loko-motion crew and enjoys the occasional deep fried chicken wing.

HWEILING OW

HWEILING OW

To date, Hweiling has appeared in a number of short films, and in 2008 was awarded “best Actress Award” for the Auckland Region Finals of the 48hours Film Competition, and starred in a national finalist film for the same competition in 2005. She also has an interest in directing and producing, and has acted in these roles for a number of short films. Hweiling was an executive board member for WIFT (Women in Film and Television) from 2003 – 2005.

SHARU DELILKAN
Publicist

SHARU DELILKAN

Co -Producer

After more than 20 years in arts journalism, corporate PR and band management, Sharu decided to change her career to theatre producing. To cement this decision, she pursued an Arts Management master’s qualification at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, which she completed receiving First Class Honours in 2013.

Previous producing work includes Assistant Producer for The Edge’s Timeout Season of The Secret of Dongting Lake at Auckland’s Town Hall (2010), Associate Producer for Indian Ink Theatre Company’s Auckland and Hamilton seasons of Guru of Chai (2010-2011) and Intern Producer for Red Leap Theatre’s Auckland season of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival (2012-13).

Last year Sharu decided to open her own production house Sharu Loves Hats, to consolidate her production work. Since forming Sharu Loves Hats she has produced 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).

Sharu Loves Hats’ recent contract has been as publicist for Te Rehia Theatre Company’s groundbreaking work Hoki Mai Tama Ma, which toured around Auckland and Whangarei (May – Aug 2014). Previous arts publicity work, in addition to the shows produced, includes The Modern Maori Quartet’s show Nga Bro e Wha at Galatos Live, Auckland (Oct 2013).

PHOTOS

REVIEWS

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