PREVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Auckland Theatre Company)
In Love with Shakespeare [by Sharu Delilkan]
(L-R) Xavier Horan (Oberon) rehearsing with theatre stalwart Raymond Hawthorne (Puck)Photo by Edward Peni
It has been a journey of self-discovery for Xavier Horan, particularly since he has gone from being a ‘Shakespeare-phobe’ to acting in two of his plays within a matter of months.
Horan, who has recently performed at The Globe Theatre London in the ground breaking Maori production of Troilus and Cressida, is extremely excited about his role as Oberon in Auckland Theatre Company's latest production A Midsummer Night's Dream.
He is equally chuffed about being part of the 18-strong stellar cast which includes father daughter duo Stuart Devenie (Egeus) and Laurel Devenie (Helena) as well as Alison Bruce (Titania), Goretti Chadwick (Hippolyta), Peter Daube (Theseus), Andrew Grainger (Bottom), Raymond Hawthorne (Puck), Rima Te Wiata (Peter Quince) and Brooke Williams (Hermia).
A Midsummer Night's Dream features three interlocking plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens and the Amazon queen, Hippolyta, and set simultaneously in the woodland, and in the realm of Fairyland, under the light of the moon.
Horan admits that the whole Shakespeare experience was very scary at first, due to the fact that he was treading on unfamiliar territory. However he says working closely with veteran thespian Hawthorne has been his saving grace.
PREVIEW: Troilus and Cressida (Auckland Town Hall to The Globe Theatre)
Te be, or not te be? [by Sharu Delilkan]
Rachel House director of Triolus and Cressida
It has been a journey of a lifetime for Rachel House to direct the first Te Reo Maori version of William Shakespeare's historical masterpiece, Troilus and Cressida.
Despite being one of the country’s foremost theatre practitioners and visionaries, House admits she was terrified, when she was first approached.
“I knew this was a massive undertaking and would be history in the making. However that fear disappeared very quickly and we just got on with it.”
Translated by Te Haumihiata Mason, audiences have a last chance on Sunday April 15 to witness this historic production at the Auckland Town Hall before the production plays at The Globe Theatre London, part of the Globe to Globe Festival that is bringing together artists from all over the globe, to present Shakespeare’s plays in their own language.