Being a young mum is supposed to be hard - but for Hanna, the only thing she's ever been brilliant at is raising her beloved daughter Ellie.
Until a DNA test reveals staggering news. Ellie is not Hanna's child. And now her 'real' parents want to meet.
How can an ancient mix-up in an overstretched maternity ward be explained to a three-year-old? Is Hanna supposed to let these strangers into her daughter's life? Forced to question what being a parent really means, Hanna makes a drastic decision that will change all their lives.
This funny, heartfelt and compelling NZ premiere from Offie-nominated playwright Sam Potter asks what family means in a modern society, delicately weaving in questions of racial identity, economic privilege, and the lottery of birth.
CREATIVES
HANNA
Cassandra Woodhouse
Cassandra has been in the entertainment industry for 18 years. Having worked professionally on stage, film and as a model, Cassandra is passionate about creating a company that supports, develops and sustains the arts. A strong advocate of mental health Cassandra is committed to establishing an environment that promotes the wellness of artists and society through strong, conscious storytelling and providing employment opportunities that enable artists to feel supported, sustained and through which the consistency of paid work can hone their skills and artistic careers.
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Te Atamira
Since training at Auckland’s Theatre Corporate, Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for 40 years. She is also a trained Intimacy Coordinator for stage and screen.
Jennifer was a founding board member of the Watershed Theatre and a co-founder of the drama school, The Actors' Program. She is President of Equity New Zealand (since 2007), Patron of Q Theatre, Theatre New Zealand and Te Manu Tīoriori Trust and serves as a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund.
In the 2007 New Year’s Honours List, she was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to theatre and the community. In 2018 she was named SPADA Industry Champion and in 2019 New Year’s Honours List, she was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to theatre, film and television and presented with a Woman of Influence Award (for arts and culture) Most recently, Jennifer was honoured as the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2020.
www.jenniferwardlealand.com
Arts on tour 2023
ARTS ON TOUR NZ (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural
and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand
as well as support from Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust South, Interislander, Otago
Community Trust, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, West Coast Community Trust, Pub Charity and
Community Trust Mid and South Canterbury. AOTNZ liaises with local arts councils,
repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent
to country districts. The AOTNZ programme is environmentally sustainable – artists travel to
their audiences rather than the reverse.
ITINERARY
1 MARCH
HAMILTON
Wednesday 1 March 7:30pm Hamilton Arts Festival
The Meteor Theatre
$30 GA; $27 Concession
2 MARCH
COROMANDEL
Thursday 2 March 7:30pm Coromandel
Hauraki House Theatre
$25 Tickets: Coromandel Information Centre Ph: 07 8668598
3 MARCH
WAIHI
Friday 3 March 7:00pm Waihi
The Theatre, Boyd Road
4 MARCH
Saturday 4 March 7:30pm Whangamata
Whangamata Memorial Hall
$30 Tickets: Pumice Patch or email: info@whangamatatheatresociety.co.nz
WHANGAMATA
5 MARCH
TAURANGA
Sunday 5 March 4pm Tauranga
16 th Avenue Theatre
$35 iTicket.co.nz
6 MARCH
Monday 6 March 7:30pm Gisborne
Lawson Field Theatre
$35 Adults; $30 Senior Citizens; $20 Students
AOTNZ InCahoots with Lawson Field Theatre
GISBOURNE
8 MARCH
UPPER HUTT
10 MARCH
KAIKOURA
12 MARCH
LAKE HAWEA
Sunday 12 March 7:00pm Lake Hawea
Lake Hawea Community Centre
$30 Adult; $10 School Student
www.lhcc.co.nz or QR code
14 MARCH
ALEXANDRA
Tuesday 14 March 8:00pm Alexandra
Central Stories
$30 Tickets: Central Stories
15 MARCH
ARROWTOWN
16 MARCH
Thursday 16 March 6:00pm Invercargill
Scottish Hall
$20 Ticketek
INVERCARGILL
18 MARCH
DUNEDIN
Saturday 18 March 7:30pm Dunedin
The Regent Theatre - Clarkson Studio
Adult $30; Concession $25; Child $15
19 MARCH
ASHBURTON
Sunday 19 March 4:00pm Ashburton
Ashburton Event Centre
$25; Group 6+ $20 (service fees apply)
www.asheventcentre.co.nz or venue box office
21 MARCH
CHRISTCHURCH
Tuesday 21 March 7:30pm Christchurch
Great Hall, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre
25 MARCH
NEW PLYMOUTH
Saturday 25 March 7:30pm New Plymouth
4th Wall Theatre
$30 Adults; $25 Seniors; $15 Students www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz
26 MARCH
MATAMATA
29 MARCH
KERIKERI
31 MARCH
WHANGAREI
Friday 31 March 7:00pm Whangarei
Forum North
$25 Eventfinda