{{Short description|New Zealand actress, director and playwright}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} right|thumb|Quigan in 2017 '''Alison Marie Quigan''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSM}} (born 1952)<ref name="nzherald">{{cite news|last1=Hewitson|first1=Michele|title=Michele Hewitson interview: Alison Quigan|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10849591|access-date=8 August 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> is a New Zealand actress, director and playwright.
==Biography== In 1978, Quigan trained at the Theatre Corporate Actors School in Auckland.<ref name="Creative Giants"/> She has worked as an actor in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch, and appearing in or directed more than 130 plays.<ref name="Creative Giants"/> She has also written 12 plays, either as sole playwright or with writing partners Ross Gumbley and Lucy Schmidt.<ref name="Creative Giants">{{Cite web|url=http://www.creativegiants.co.nz/view/performance/alison-quigan.php|title=Alison Quigan|website=Creative Giants|access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref>
Quigan was the artistic director of Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North for 18 years from 1986 to 2004 where she directed over 60 plays.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alson Quigan|url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/alison-quigan|website=NZ on Screen|access-date=8 August 2015}}</ref> From 2004 until 2011, Quigan portrayed Yvonne Jeffries in the New Zealand television series ''Shortland Street''.<ref name="Creative Giants"/> She has been performing arts manager at Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu O Uenuku since 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.actorsequity.org.nz/members/alison-quigan|title=Alison Quigan|website=Actors Equity|access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref> In an interview with Michele Hewitson from ''The New Zealand Herald'', Quigan is described as "a little-known power house of influence".<ref name="nzherald" />
Quigan has two grown children. Her daughter, actor Sarah Graham, made her Centrepoint Theatre debut in the 2009 production of Quigan's play ''Ladies for Hire''.<ref name="Creative Giants"/>
==Awards and honours== In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Quigan was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2001 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2001 |date=4 June 2001 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>
== Plays == * 1994 – ''Five Go Barmy in Palmy'' (with Ross Gumbley) <ref>{{Cite news|title=Blyton's five good for kids|last=Ross|first=John|date=24 November 1994|work=The Dominion}}</ref> * 1995 – ''Biggles on Top'' (with Ross Gumbley) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=1365|title=Ladies for Hire|date=23 April 2016|website=Theatreview}}</ref> * 1997 – ''Boys at the Beach'' (with Ross Gumbley) <ref>{{Cite news|title=Unbiased view of matey celebration|last=Hawes|first=Peter|date=30 November 1997|work=Sunday Star Times}}</ref> * 1998 – ''Shop Till You Drop'' (with Ross Gumbley) <ref>{{Cite news|title=You can't beat a bit of retail therapy|last=Ross|first=John|date=19 November 1998|work=The Dominion}}</ref> * 1999 – ''The Newbury Hall Dances'' (with Ross Gumbley) later "Flagons and Foxtrots" <ref>{{Cite news|title=Hall dances to a nostalgic beat|last=Hawes|first=Peter|date=14 November 1999|work=Sunday Star Times}}</ref> * 2000 – ''The Big OE'' (with Ross Gumbley) <ref>{{Cite news|title=Mnawatuisms|last=Amery|first=Mark|date=9 December 2000|work=New Zealand Listener}}</ref> * 2001 – ''Sisters'' (with Lucy Schmidt) <ref>{{Cite news|title=A strong cast given scope|last=Ross|first=John|date=16 July 2001|work=The Dominion}}</ref> * 2002 – ''Netballers'' (with Lucy Schmidt) <ref>{{Cite news|title=Homegrown play finds comedy in netballers|last=Smythe|first=John|date=19 July 2002|work=National Business Review}}</ref> * 2003 – ''The School Ball'' <ref>{{Cite news|title=All the fun of the school ball|last=Hawes|first=Peter|work=Manawatu Standard}}</ref> * 2004 – ''Mum's Choir'' <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=1365|title=Ladies for hire|work=Theatreview|access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref> * 2004 – ''Girls Weekend Escape'' <ref>{{Cite news|title=Manawatu delights in homegrown fare|date=9 December 2004|work=National Business Review}}</ref> * 2009 – ''Ladies for Hire'' <ref>{{Cite news|title=The Ghost of Christmas Present|last=Mays|first=Richard|work=Manawatu Standard}}</ref>
She also acted as Henrietta Knowby (normal form) in ''Ash Vs. Evil Dead'' Season 2. Additionally, she played the customer "Karen" in Viva la Dirt League's "Karen Vs Manager" and "Karen wants a showdown - Karen returns".
==References== {{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quigan, Alison}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century New Zealand dramatists and playwrights Category:New Zealand theatre directors Category:New Zealand stage actresses Category:New Zealand women dramatists and playwrights Category:Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal Category:20th-century New Zealand women writers Category:21st-century New Zealand dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century New Zealand women writers Category:20th-century New Zealand actresses Category:21st-century New Zealand actresses Category:New Zealand women theatre directors