By Sam Potter
HANNA
"Gripping… a memorable and moving look at nature and nurture and what family really means"
The Times
PERFORMED BY
CASSANDRA WOODHOUSE
DIRECTED BY
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND
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.