Hall draws on those around him
By Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, Thursday, 30 January 2014
The Fortune Theatre opens its 40th anniversary season on Saturday with a new play by Roger Hall. Charmian Smith talks to New Zealand's best-known playwright about his new play and his long association with the theatre.
Roger Hall thought each of the last five plays he's written was going to be the last, but each time he's been wrong. His latest play, Book Ends, is about to be premiered at the Fortune Theatre, opening its 40th anniversary season.
''I always think [play writing] is such a tough business I can't go through it again but I have, so there we are,'' he said in a phone interview from his Auckland home.
''I think I'm probably happiest when I'm in the middle of a play - it's very satisfying to have something you are working on. It has its ups and downs and hitting the wall and all that, but it's a satisfying process and exciting and funny and stressful and all those things. I could stop if I wanted it, but if an idea comes along that's begging to be done ...'' Read more
Fortune Theatre | 40th Anniversary Season
2014 marks Fortune Theatre’s 40th Anniversary. Rubies, which represent the 40-year milestone, are believed to have an eternal inner flame. Fortune Theatre is Dunedin’s gem that has burned brightly in the heart of the city for the last four decades. It has revived classics, produced works by locally, nationally and internationally renowned playwrights and, most recently, has centralised its focus to introduce audiences to new and exciting voices in contemporary theatre.
The 2014 season stays true to a contemporary vision while celebrating past, present and beyond.
Roger Hall has played a vital role in Fortune Theatre’s history, so it is with great pride the 2014 season opens with the World Première of his newest play Book Ends. Featuring Dunedin icons Dougal Stevenson and Peter Hayden, Book Ends plays homage to writers from various genres facing the challenges of an ever-changing world. A pithy, funny and heart felt story by arguably New Zealand theatre’s most prolific playwrights.
From one celebrated New Zealand writer to another, the recent recipient of the 2013 Playmarket Award – Gary Henderson – will see the Dunedin Première of his modern classic, Peninsula, make its way to the Fortune stage. Gary wrote Peninsula while he was resident at the Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage in Dunedin in 2004. Local director Patrick Davies will be at the helm for the telling of this beautifully touching and bittersweet story about small town New Zealand in the 1960’s.
The world would be at a loss without music (or would it?). Fortune proudly presents the World Première of Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley. A heart felt, wickedly funny, true story about the limits of self-perception, Souvenir flashes back to the musical career of Florence Foster Jenkins – a New York socialite and tone-deaf diva. As seen through the eyes of her beloved accompanist, Cosme McMoon, Souvenir is a touching and comic tribute to Ms. Jenkins’ sincerity, ambition, deep love of music and complete lack of talent — all of which brought a unique joy to thousands.
A coup for Fortune Theatre has been to secure the rights for the New Zealand Première of Jumpy by April De Angelis. This Royal Court Theatre hit will be the highlight of the 40th Anniversary celebrations in July. Silo Theatre’s Artistic Director Shane Bosher directs a cast of nine, led by one of New Zealand’s most prominent actresses (shhh…), in this frank and funny family drama questioning parental anxieties and life after fifty. While Jumpy runs in the evenings a silent show for loud children Cat vs. Dog will be on during the day complimented with a host of 40th Anniversary activities including: readings, forums, talks and tours.
The True Grit Series in the Studio continues with Duncan Macmillan’s harrowing and blisteringly funny play Lungs. This edgy new work explores one couples decision whether or not to have children. Operating at a furious pace and creating the “physical sensation of being hurtled towards an uncertain future”, this play is guaranteed to leave audience members breathless.
The play that marked the successful turning point of English playwright Harold Pinter’s career, The Caretaker, is a highlight in the 2014 Season. Operating off-site at a yet-to-be-announced venue, audience members will be enveloped in this psychological study of the confluence of power, allegiance and innocence.
Last, but not least, we follow four unemployed Kiwi blokes rising to the heights of male stripperdom in order to make some fast cash in Fortune’s Christmas extravaganza. You guessed it – Ladies Night. Ladies Night has been translated into twelve languages and remains New Zealand’s most commercially successful play of all time.
Fortune Theatre invites you to join their special year and to keep the flame burning brightly for the special gem that is Dunedin’s own. Fortune Theatre - one of New Zealand’s longest running professional theatres.
Lara Macgregor | Fortune Theatre Artistic Director
Season tickets are available now. For more information or bookings, visit fortunetheatre.co.nz
FORTUNE THEATRE: 2014 SEASON
BOOK ENDS 8 February – 8 March
PENINSULA 29 March – 19 April
SOUVENIR 17 May – 7 June
CAT vs. DOG 12 July – 20 July
JUMPY 5 July – 2 August
LUNGS 23 August – 13 September
THE CARETAKER 27 September – 18 October
LADIES NIGHT 15 November – 13 December
For further information, imagery or interview/photo opportunities please contact:
Larissa Dyke | Marketing and Communications Manager
T: ext. 2 M:
E: W: ww.fortunetheatre.co.nz
STUDIO 4 x 4
Four new playwrights, four new plays, Fortune Theatre Studio
CALL FOR PLAYWRIGHTS
Fortune Theatre’s Studio 4 x 4 Young Playwrights Initiative is looking for local passionate young writers with a long-term interest in writing for live theatre.
There are four places for writers, aged between 18 and 35, to join this project for ten weeks beginning Saturday 8 March, 2014.
The selected playwrights will meet for one three-hour weekly session for ten weeks with a script advisor, two trainee directors and the artistic director of the theatre. In addition to the ten weekly sessions, writers will also receive one-on-one coaching sessions as they develop short scripts for a public rehearsed-reading presentation in the Fortune Theatre Studio the week beginning 26 May, 2014.
This is an exciting opportunity for four writers to observe first-hand all the processes that go into developing a new work, creating live professional theatre, and working first hand with industry professionals.
TO APPLY:
E-mail a script you have written and a statement of intent to:
Artistic Director Lara Macgregor:
Or mail to:
Fortune Theatre
Attn: Lara Macgregor
P.O. Box 5351
Dunedin 9058
Or hand-deliver to:
Fortune Theatre
Attn: Lara Macgregor
231 Stuart Street
Dunedin 9016
DEADLINE for applications: 5pm Friday 7 February, 2014
The script may be any length, and does not have to have been performed.
The statement of intent should outline your plans for a short (15 minute) piece of theatre to be developed over the ten weeks, and should explain how you expect to benefit from the initiative.
Applicants may be asked to attend an interview in February.
This course is free for the selected writers to attend.
Any questions, please contact
