I joined the PANNZ team last year, after working for Tāwhiri as Head of Audience and Partnerships (parental leave cover) to help launch the inaugural Second Unit production. In 2008 I joined the New Zealand Festival of the Arts and worked for many years there in a variety of roles, leaving in 2016 to become the Programme Manager at BATS Theatre. I am also an actor, director and producer, and in February I'm heading to Christchurch to start rehearsals at the Court Theatre on Andrew Bovell's brilliant play Things I Know to be True, which will also have a season at Circa Theatre in Wellington. In March 2020 we had a week's rehearsal before everything closed due to lockdown, so I'm very much looking forward to getting this beautiful show back on its feet.
Organisation/Company
Name: PANNZ
My Role: Marketing Manager
Rohe
I grew up in New Plymouth but headed for the bright lights of Wellington after school to study Theatre and Film at Victoria University before going to Toi Whakaari to study acting. Sadly I don't have any family left in New Plymouth, as we all moved here, but I absolutely love visiting when I can as it's the perfect place between the mountain and the sea.
How I got where I am today
I got the Festival bug when I travelled to Edinburgh in 2005 and worked for Assembly Festival. I saw the most amazing shows, stayed up all night, and met some pretty incredible people. That experience changed my life and set me down this path of Festivals and working with people that make cool things happen in the arts. Since then I have followed my nose, and been blessed to have some incredible women back me all the way. I couldn't have got where I am today without that support.
Whānau
My theatre family has always been incredibly precious to me. They have got me through the bad times and the good, and we have laughed, drank and sang through this life every step of the way. I am so grateful to have my PANNZ whānau alongside me on this Arts Market journey. Wonderful wāhine all.
Something cool
I love photography. One night I caught an intriguing story on the news about an amazing photographer called Vivian Maier. As a young woman living in New York and working as a nanny, she would head out every weekend with her young charges and capture the people and surroundings she saw through her lens. After her death, a huge trunk of undeveloped film was found in a garage sale, and her life's work was revealed. Truly fascinating. http://www.vivianmaier.com/
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.