Katherine is an actor, writer, producer for film and theatre and award winning film maker with over 30 years experience. Born in a box at the King's Head Theatre in London, she spent her early years watching hundreds of companies and productions come through the theatre doors, and skipping around on the rooftops. She started performing at age 8, and relished leading roles in diverse fare from Juliet in Romeo and Juliet to musical theatre, Tennessee Williams, in the West End and London fringe, and for the BBC.
In 2016 she co-wrote, directed and co-produced award winning film Goblin Market, with her wonderful Mum, film maker and writer Stephanie Sinclair's Lightsmith. In 2020 she wrote, produced and performed her solo show Girl in the Loft at BATS Theatre, Wellington to popular and critical acclaim.
Katherine has been proud to be producing for The Conch since 2019, producing the development season of A Boy Called Piano in 2019, the radio drama A Boy Called Piano in 2020 and the documentary film of A Boy Called Piano in 2021. She is excited to be producing the redeveloped premiere season of this work later this year.
Organisation/Company
Name: The Conch
My Role: Producer
The Conch are one of the country’s leading Pacific Theatre Companies funded through Creative NZ’s Kahikatea Investment Programme. Every year, the Artistic Program of The Conch is ambitious, challenging and set to break boundaries. Providing significant support and leadership to Pacific Arts here and abroad, its co-founders Nina Nawalowalo and Tom McCrory strive to create works that are ground breaking, of an international standard, and produced through intercultural collaboration and expressed through unique theatrical languages.
Recognised and respected as a high performing NZ theatre company, The Conch and its team have presented works at over 30 festivals here and abroad and collaborated with some of the world’s most respected practitioners.
The Conch is committed to raising awareness about the cultural values and experiences of Pacific peoples by serving as the bridge for sharing such knowledge through its theatrical works and Conchus programmes. The Conch harnesses the power of theatre as a force for social change.
Iwi affiliation
My whakapapa is from Russia, Germany, Ireland & Wales.
My lineage includes scientists and storytellers
Rohe
I was born in America, but migrated to England as a young child - growing up in London - where I lived in the renowned King's Head Theatre Pub, founded by my Matua Whangai Dan Crawford.
As an adult I migrated again to NZ - for love - I am now a proud citizen of this land and am raising 3 kiwi kids.
How I got where I am today
As a child I began performing at an early age - treading the boards across London's Fringe and West End venues, as well as TV, film and radio.
When I moved to NZ I branched out into writing, directing and producing for film and theatre.
I am Associate Producer for The Conch Theatre Company - NZ's leading Pacific theatre company.
I also am a content maker - producing, writing and directing original content for film and theatre.
Whānau
My Matua Whangai - Dan Crawford (now deceased) Founder of The King's Head Theatre Pub in 1970 - innovative and passionate theatre director and producer, champion of classic revivals and new work.
My whaea, Stephanie Sinclaire - writer, film maker and artist - inspiring through creativity over her whole lifetime.
My papa - Matthew Kastin, wonderful grandpa and provider of a lot of childcare support!
My tane, Fraser Wyeth - helpmate and support through all my endeavours.
My tamariki, Arielle, Corin and Casey - our taonga
My whanau - beautiful community of friends and fellow artists in Wellington and overseas
Something cool
I am rediscovering plays by Terence Rattigan - currently reading The Deep Blue Sea
Recommend watching the NT Live production with Helen McCrory & Tom Burke
GIRL IN THE LOFT
Artform: Theatre
Development Status: Tour Ready (After a sell-out Wellingotn premiere at BATS Theatre in 2020, I would love to bring the show to festivals around the country - especially Hamilton, Nelson and Christchurch. I feel that the show would be well loved in the regions, judging by the deeply moving appreciation I received from audiences in Wellington.)
Media Uploads
Trailer
Full Length
Synopsis
Growing up in the theatre… at each get-in watching it transformed from the chaos of sawdust and sequins to the new world of the next show.... climbing across the rooftops of London… torrid kisses backstage… waiting tables and slinging slops behind the bar…
In this play, award winning theatre and film practitioner Katherine Wyeth recounts her childhood - growing up at the world-renowned King’s Head Theatre Pub in London.
Written and performed by Katherine Wyeth and directed by Fingal Pollock, Girl in the Loft weaves together the threads of memory, identity and legacy… to explore myriad experiences, from growing up to migration, motherhood, losing loved ones, success and failure, and ultimately - self-acceptance.
Combining lyrical dialogue, powerful sound design by the legendary Jason Wright, and stunning AV design, Girl in the Loft featureS a beloved songbook of musical theatre favourites.
“Dreams fade. And stories that hide in boxes in the attic… they fade too. So, I wanted to tell my story to you - before it fades, as it must fade one day. Because that’s what we have as humans really - our stories… all the moments that snap together like magnets - to make a person, to make a life. The paper dreams we dream. The paper lessons we learn. The paper boats we sail on - to carry us away…”
It is an excavation of memory and an exploration of where dreams, memories and ambitions collide and intersect. Drawing on my lineage of storytellers and theatre makers, and the inter generational threads that bind, it is a meditation on loss and a celebration of this fleeting beautiful thing called Life.
Creative Team and Crew
Katherine Wyeth - Writer/ Performer/ Producer
Fingal Pollock - Director
Mark Dorrell - MD Mentor
J R Ballantyne - MD
Jason Wright - Sound design
Chris Colllie-Holmes - Lighting design
Anne-Lisa Noordover - Set & puppetry design
Johanna Sanders - AV Design
Hami Hawkins - Tech operator
Maya le Roux - Puppeteer & SM
Number of People in the Touring Party
4
Previous Seasons
BATS Theatre, Wellington (2020)
Reviews and Quotes
"A beautiful show, wonderfully performed by Wyeth, it gives a glimpse into another way of being... The non-linear narrative and mixed media evoke a feeling of dipping into someone’s dreams and memories. A personal take on a famous slice of London theatre history, it’s endearing and wonderfully executed."
• Sonya Stewart, THE DOMINION POST
"As the houselights come up, someone nearby pronounces Girl in the Loft “a gem” – and that is a good description. Its gentle glow is enhanced by different facets of presentation as Katherine Wyeth tells her story, re-enacts her story, sings old songs, uses shadow puppetry and dances with her accompanist J R Ballantyne."
• John Smythe, THEATREVIEW
“Thank you so much for your beautiful show and performance last night! The
writing so incisive and delicious, the story so moving and your performance so gentle yet powerful. Many congratulations… and here’s hoping you get to tour it for other people to experience!”
• Miranda Harcourt ONZM (Film-maker, Actor, International Acting coach)
“What an incredible piece of work. It was flawless... Incredible set design. So evocative… Incredibly moving, wonderfully performed. Honest, soul-bearing stuff of such beauty… I am reeling with this one woman performance of such beauty and elegance and emotional power.”
• Jason Figgis (Film-maker)
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
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.
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.