Category Archives: Performing Arts

From Devonport to Christchurch and back: theatre, family, and scenes to take your breath away.

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I took this photo the day before flying to Christchurch; A good omen I felt. Kerry and I were off to attend the first night of a play selected to mark the opening of the new Court Theatre in the Christchurch CBD. The original theatre in the old university buildings suffered irreparable damage in the 2011 earthquakes.

The play, The End of The Golden Weather, written 50 years ago by New Zealander Bruce Mason, is a Kiwi classic, and my daughter Lara was honoured to be asked to direct the show. We were thrilled to be at the opening and to see how she would interpret this beloved play. Yes, this was a big deal!

Lara Macgregor: Director
Sumner beach

The morning of the play, we were with my sister in Sumner taking a walk along the esplanade. It was a stunning day, and naturally I took a photo, looking along the beach towards the Southern Alps (which sadly, were hidden behind cloud at the time).

Behind me were dozens of surfers, mostly women who were there for a competition. The air was chill, and they all deserved medals for their desire to brave the cold water.

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A special interest in this year’s World of Wearable Art

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Te Ao Mārama entry by Fran and Lauren Kidd
The World of Wearable art show is a New Zealand invention conceived by Dame Suzie Moncrieff, Nelson. The fashion extravaganza was shown in her hometown from 1987 until 1990, when its gathering popularity demanded a shift to the capital city, Wellington. WoW had become a phenomenon. In Dame Suzie’s words, she describes what WoW personifies for her:

“To take art off the wall and out of static display. To adorn the body in wildly wonderful ways. To celebrate creativity in a lavish and unique on-stage spectacular that will inspire us all.”

And inspire it certainly does, attracting entries from all over the world, which have audiences looking forward to the annual event with much anticipation and excitement. Especially this year.

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The State of Performing Arts

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Last week I had the pleasure of seeing my daughter Lara Macgregor perform in a play which was especially written for her and co-actor Mark Hadlow, by Gregory Cooper, writer and director. The play debuted at the Professional Theatre Company, which Mark Hadlow recently formed in Nelson – a brave and brilliant move given the current unstable nature of the performing arts industry in New Zealand. I was pleased that Mark brought the play to the Sky City Theatre Auckland soon after its debut giving many more New Zealanders the opportunity to see it.

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Living with drama.

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I mentioned in my last post that my daughter Lara was staying with me, as she is directing a show for the Auckland Theatre Company – opening night this coming Thursday. That is … if the shocking weather we are currently experiencing here doesn’t put pay to that. I could say, well it won’t be the first time a show has been cancelled, and some of you may even think, so what? I’ll give you some facts here: personal ones. My daughter is an actress and director of stage; whether it be a drama, comedy, or a play with music, as is the current show.

All people associated with theatre in New Zealand have had it exceptionally hard since Covid slipped through our borders. Every show starts way before the curtain goes up, with the programme planned, often years in advance, before the call goes out for auditions. With other careers, during Covid restrictions, many people were able to work from home, thus keeping some consistency of work flowing. For the performing arts sector; face to face auditions could not be held, which meant actors had to video their own audition pieces and send to the director or directors involved. And even if they were accepted for a role, there were no guarantees that the show would go ahead.

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