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He Pātai Tāku: Lizzie Tollemache, Sideshow Stuntwoman
After her inspiring mahi hosting the Ōtautahi Performers Wānanga, we had to ask MC, maker, and half of Rollicking Entertainment, Lizzie Tollemache, to return for the Pōneke edition next week. While we have her in the building, we had to ask a few pātai about her wild and varied career. 1. When did you first ...
HerStory: The Protective Collective
The cornerstone of this ground-breaking company is aftercare — taking responsibility for both performers and audience members if they find the material triggering. Dea Doglione reports. Trigger warning: Please note this article references sexual assault. The women behind HerStory Collective, Connor Amor-Bendall and Danika Leigh Ciullo, have a clear aim: “Aftercare,” they say in unison. ...
Te Ao Māori hits the BBC: Acushla-Tara Kupe
For Acushla-Tara Kupe, spending a year immersed in study of her language and culture was perfect preparation for her role in NZ/Irish co-production, The Gone. As she tells Dea Doglione, it’s exciting to see contemporary Māori stories shown on international screens. A show featuring te reo, tikanga and te Ao Māori has just hit the BBC. The ...
Equity Youth take the Stage: Muna Arbon
Equity New Zealand’s Youth Committee is an exciting initiative aimed at assisting creatives aged 18 to 35 to have fulfilling careers. Founding member Muna Arbon shares her experience of the committee’s first major event, a weekend-long festival of information and ideas. When I saw the call-out for young creatives to join the Equity Youth Committee, ...
Breaking Barriers: Hanah Tayeb
Hanah Tayeb, winner of the Emily Campbell Scholarship, wants to bring about change for actors and communities of colour. In the unpredictable pursuit of a career in acting, milestones often emerge as guiding lights, illuminating the path ahead. A significant milestone in my journey was being awarded the Emily Campbell Scholarship, a tribute to an extraordinary ...
Minding Their Language: Miriama McDowell
While many actors look towards Hollywood as a focal point in their careers, an increasing number of Māori actors are instead following the proverb, “Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua” (“Look back and reflect, so you can move forward”), investing time, money and focus into reclaiming their language. Miriama McDowell speaks with fellow students about what this ...
From Auckland Streets to the International Stage
For 13 years, an Auckland theatre company with the motto “homelessness doesn’t mean hopelessness” has been providing opportunities for people to tell their stories. In April this year, five actors from the Hobson Street Theatre Company were privileged to perform at the International Community Arts Festival in The Netherlands. Tour manager Romy Hooper tells Katherine ...
Playing it Safe: Intimacy in Aotearoa
Equity NZ’s groundbreaking guidelines have been updated and expanded to provide industry-wide protection. In 2015, Equity New Zealand held a packed members’ event about work involving intimacy. It became apparent that far too many actors were having very challenging, and in some cases very dangerous, experiences. The event led to the Equity Guidelines for Simulated ...
A Woman of Many Parts: Jennifer Ward-Lealand
New Zealander of the Year Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand reflects on her formidable 40-year acting career, Equity’s biggest achievements during her time as President, and her passion for te reo Māori. What was your first professional acting gig? When I was 18, I joined the Town and Country Players and toured the lower half of the ...
Have your say on the Screen Industry Workers Bill
The Screen Industry Workers Bill is going through parliament right now and the public are invited to make submissions. If it passes workers in our industry will still be independent contractors but they: will be protected from bullying, harassment or discrimination on the job can negotiate collectively for industry-wide or occupational level minimum working ...