Wow! Productions is a professional theatre co-operative based in Dunedin, New Zealand. It performs in non-theatre spaces, described by one reviewer as "weird and wonderful venues".[1]
 Scene from Farley's Arcade, 2015, in the Athenaeum Basement | |
| Formation | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Location | |
Membership | Lisa Warrington, Cindy Diver, Martyn Roberts, Alison Finegan, Hilary Halba, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, Liesel Mitchell |
| Website | https://wowproductions.nz/ |
The co-operative began in 1996 and is run by a charitable trust, whose membership is Martyn Roberts, Cindy Diver, Alison Finigan, Hilary Halba, Lisa Warrington, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, and Liesel Mitchell.[2] Productions have been mounted in pubs, clubs, art galleries, community halls, an accountancy office, a hairdressing salon, a cathedral crypt and a railway station, where the production included use of a real train.[1][3]
Its 2020 production of New Zealand theatre classic The End of the Golden Weather was described as a "gift to the community".[4]
Production history
edit| Date | Production | Author | Director | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 1996 | Saving Grace (NZ) | Duncan Sarkies | David O'Donnell | Fortune Studio Theatre[5] |
| Nov 1996 | Dancing at Lughnasa(Ireland) | Brian Friel | Lisa Warrington | Transport Gallery, Otago Settlers Museum.[6] |
| May 1997 | Twelfth Night (England) | Shakespeare | Lisa Warrington | Allen Hall Theatre[7] |
| October 1997 | Unidentified Human Remains & the True Nature of Love (Canada) | Brad Fraser | Richard Huber | Manhattan Theatre space, Moray Place[8] |
| November 1997 | Tzigane (NZ) | John Vakidis | Hilary Norris | Otago Settlers Museum foyer[9] |
| June-July 1998 | Arcadia (England) | Tom Stoppard | Lisa Warrington | Dunedin Public Art Gallery (as part of Science Festival).[10] |
| August 1998 | Two Weeks With the Queen
(Australia) |
Mary Morris/ | Hilary Norris | Mary Hopewell Theatre, Dunedin College of Education. Featuring Danny Still, Richard Carrington, Sara Connor, Julian Wilson, Gemma Carroll.[11] |
| October 1998 | Goldie (NZ) | Peter Hawes | David O'Donnell | Rehearsed reading in Dunedin Public Art Gallery during Goldie exhibition.[11] |
| March 1999 | One Flesh (NZ) | Fiona Samuel | Lisa Warrington | Fortune Theatre. Cast included Cindy Diver, Ronn Kjestrup, Richard Huber, Rachel Wallis, Patrick Davies, Sarah Entwistle, Edwin Wright.[11] |
| June-July 1999 | Whaea Kairau: Mother Hundred-Eater (NZ) | Apirana Taylor | Richard Huber | Otago Museum Special Exhibitions Gallery (in partnership with Kilimogo Productions). Cast included: Hilary Norris, Anya Tate-Manning, Patrick Davies, Julie Edwards, Rangimoana Taylor, Martin Phelan, Keri Hunter, Richard Huber, Maaka Pohatu.[11] |
| February 2000 | The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Ireland) | Martin McDonagh | Richard Huber | Fortune Studio Theatre, with Hilary Norris, Karin Reid, Danny Still and Ronn Kjestrup[11] |
| May 2000 | Horseplay (NZ) | Ken Duncum | Gary Henderson | Fortune Theatre, with Peter Hayden, Simon O'Connor, Hilary Norris and Sara Connor.[11] |
| October 2000 | An Unseasonable Fall of Snow (NZ) | Gary Henderson | Rachel More | Ruby in the Dust, Octagon, for the Inaugural Otago Festival of the Arts. With Lloyd Edwards, Matt Dwyer and Nick Dunbar.[11] |
| September 2001 | Collected Stories (USA) | Donald Margulies | Patrick Davies | Carnegie Gallery, Moray Place. With Hilary Norris and Mel Dodge.[11] |
| September 2001 | Autowalk (NZ) | Barbara Carey, Antony Partridge & Stayci Taylor | Directed by the devisors | Arc Cafē[12] |
| Nov- Dec 2001 | Blue Smoke (NZ) | Rawiri Paratene & Murray Lynch | Lisa Warrington | Ruby in the Dust, Octagon[13] |
| September 2002 | Hitting 50 (NZ) | Sue McCauley | Tony McCaffrey | Court 2 Christchurch & Fortune Studio Theatre.[14] |
| April-May 2004 | Miss Julie
(Sweden/NZ) |
August Strindberg, translation by Ted Nye | Hilary Norris | Playhouse Theatre Dunedin[15] |
| Sept-Oct 2004 | Cherish (NZ) | Ken Duncum | Lisa Warrington | Dunedin Public Art Gallery, for Otago Festival of the Arts.[16] |
| Sept–Oct 2006 | Lines of Fire (NZ) | Gary Henderson | Lisa Warrington | Dunedin Railway Station, for Otago Festival of the Arts & 10th anniversary WOW! celebration. Featuring Barbara Carey, Sara Connor-Best, Cindy Diver, Hilary Halba, Sarah McDougall.[3] |
| December 2007 | Hairway to Heaven (NZ) | Sarah McDougall | Lisa Warrington | Otago Polytechnic Hairdressing salon, with Barbara Power (a trained hairdresser), Sara Georgie Tunoka, Julie Edwards, Simon O'Connor and Phoebe Smith.[17] |
| March 2008 | Tracey and Traci (NZ) | Hilary Halba, Barbara Power, Clare Adams | Clare Adams | Polson Higgs Accountancy Offices[18] |
| October 2008 | The Cape (NZ) | Vivienne Plumb | Simon O'Connor | Playhouse Theatre, as part of Otago Festival of the Arts. Producer Clare Adams. Cast James Lee, Luke Agnew, Matt Johl, Johnny Appleby.[19] |
| Sept/Oct 2009 | Glorious (NZ) | Richard Huber | Patrick Davies | Fortune Theatre Studio[20] |
| October 2010 | Backwards in High Heels (NZ) | Stuart Hoar | Richard Huber | Sundry community halls around Dunedin for the Otago Festival of the Arts, including St Martins Hall, Northeast Valley; Waitati Community Hall, St Mary's Church Hall, Mosgiel; Burns Hall, First Church; Port Chalmers Town Hall; Coronation Hall, Portobello; and Maori Hill Community Centre. Choreographed by Karyn Taylor, cast Dunedin actors Patrick Davies, Anna Henare and Clare Adams.[21] |
| March 2014 | Milk Milk Lemonade (USA) | Joshua Conkel | Anna Henare & Patrick Davies | St Paul’s Cathedral Crypt, Octagon. Part of the 2014 Dunedin Fringe Festival.[22] |
| 28 Aug/6 Sept
2015 |
Farley’s Arcade: The Wildest Place in Town
(NZ) |
Richard Huber & others | Richard Huber/Lisa Warrington | Sundry spaces in the Athenaeum Building, Octagon.[23] Won 2015 Promotion of the Year at the Dunedin Theatre Awards.[24] |
| Jan 2018 and ongoing | Journey of the Jura
(NZ) |
Emily Duncan (dramaturg, with cast)
|
Anya Tate-Manning | Held in ‘Across the Ocean Waves’ exhibit at Toitu[25] |
| April to Nov 2019 | Party with the Aunties | Erina Daniels (devised with the cast) | Erina Daniels | Various venues in Paekakariki, Wellington, Feilding, Nelson, Thames, Paeroa, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin.[26] "Skilful, heartwarming entertainment".[27] |
| July 2019 | The Flick | Annie Baker | Lara Macgregor | At Allen Hall Theatre[28] |
| Nov 2020 | The End of the Golden Weather (NZ) | Bruce Mason | Lisa Warrington | Starring Matt Wilson. At various locations around Dunedin, Oamaru, Mosgiel, Waitati[29] |
References
edit- ^ a b MacTavish, Terry (4 December 2007). "Hairway to Heaven - Ordinary people made fascinating". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "About | Wow Productions". Wow Productions | Premiere Dunedin Theatre. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ a b "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: LINES OF FIRE - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Harwood, Brenda (1 November 2020). "Original version of classic play gift for community". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Halba, Hilary (October 1996). "Evangelising the X-Generation". Theatre News. p. 14 - 15.
- ^ Eggleton, David (2 November 1996). "Critics' Choice". NZ Listener. p. 45.
- ^ Scott, Lynda; Davis, Holly (22 May 1997). "Superb performance at Allen Hall Theatre". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ "Top Dunedin cast in play". Otago Daily Times. 9 October 1997.
- ^ Smith, Charmian (11 November 1997). "Playwright puts family on stage". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ Smith, Charmian (16 June 1998). "Stoppard family at home in art gallery". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Theatre Aotearoa database". University of Otago. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Harwood, Brenda (12 September 2001). "City's arts scene alive with contrasting events". Star (Dunedin).
- ^ "New twist to the festive season : Musical comedy opens". The Star. 28 November 2001.
- ^ "Play examines life after 50". Otago Daily Times. 29 August 2002.
- ^ "Modern look at Swedish classic". Otago Daily Times. 16 April 2004.
- ^ Frame, Barbara (24 September 2004). "Cherish". Otago Daily Times.
- ^ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: HAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Benson, Nigel (28 February 2008). "City office building plays host to cleaner characters". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ Benson, Nigel (4 October 2008). "Cut out for play role after visit to the hairdresser". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Glorious - Glorious, like that woman in that film with Katherine [sic] Hepburn". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Benson, Nigel (13 October 2010). "Dancing backwards around the suburbs". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "MilkMilkLemonade - Bizarrely original, darkly edged comedy". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "FARLEY'S ARCADE: The Wildest Place in Town - A truly remarkable achievement". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Harwood, Brenda (10 December 2015). "Theatre awards given on 'night of the stars'". The Star.
- ^ "1862 'Jura' ship trip experience". Otago Daily Times Online News. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: PARTY WITH THE AUNTIES - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Party with the Aunties - Skilful, heart-warming, entertainment". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE FLICK - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER - Theatreview". www.theatreview.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.