{{Short description|Actor in New Zealand, founder of TheatreWorks}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Cindy Diver<!-- include middle initial, if not specified in birth_name --> | image = Cindy Diver.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above --> | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | education = | alma_mater = University of Otago | occupation = company director, actor, writer, theatre director | years_active = | employer = | organization = | agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source --> | known_for = verbatim theatre | notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works" --> | style = | television = | spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name --> | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | relatives = Charles Diver (grandfather) | awards = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = }} '''Cindy Diver''' is a New Zealand writer, theatre director, actor, and owner and director of TheatreWorks Ltd, a company that provides casting services as well as acting classes. Diver is most notable for creating and producing verbatim theatre productions on themes such as family violence and dementia.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Winkless|first=Laurie|date=2019-10-10|title=Bringing memory loss to life through theatre|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/10-10-2019/bringing-memory-loss-to-life-through-theatre/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127043849/https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/10-10-2019/bringing-memory-loss-to-life-through-theatre/|archive-date=27 January 2021|access-date=2021-07-10|website=The Spinoff }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goodwin|first=Eileen|date=2014-02-12|title=Dementia play planned|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dementia-play-planned|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>
== Biography == Diver completed a post graduate diploma in theatre studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She was a founding member of Kilimogo Productions.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|title=Interact Drama|url=http://www.theatreworks.co.nz/interact/tutors.html|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.theatreworks.co.nz}}</ref> In 1992, with Martin Phelan, she founded her company, TheatreWorks Ltd.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Charmian|date=2013-08-29|title=The show has gone on|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/theatre/show-has-gone|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref> Under Diver's management TheatreWorks Ltd continues to provide actor casting services and acting classes.<ref name=":0" /> Diver has also helped with the establishment of the Simulated Patient Development Unit at the University of Otago Medical School.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Callister-Baker|first=Loulou|date=27 April 2014|title=The art of faking hypochondria|url=http://www.critic.co.nz/features/article/3863/the-art-of-faking-hypochondria|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425021454/http://www.critic.co.nz/features/article/3863/the-art-of-faking-hypochondria|archive-date=25 April 2017|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Critic - Te Arohi}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The unit employs actors to play patients with whom medical students are trained to interact.<ref name=":1" /> Diver also teaches drama to school children and adults.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Connor|first=Patrice|date=2 March 2016|title=Drama with Cindy Diver|url=https://tahuna.school.nz/latest-news/article/2061|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-10|website=tahuna.school.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412152911/https://tahuna.school.nz/latest-news/article/2061 |archive-date=2017-04-12 }}</ref>
=== Verbatim theatre === In 2009 Diver collaborated with Hilary Halba, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still, and Stuart Young to create ''Hush'', a verbatim theatre production about family violence.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=O'Toole|first1=Emer|url=https://brill.com/view/title/34905|title=Ethical Exchanges in Translation, Adaptation and Dramaturgy|last2=Pelegrí Kristić|first2=Andrea|last3=Young|first3=Stuart|date=2017-06-06|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-34633-8|doi=10.1163/9789004346376_003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Real words from real people take centre stage in Verbatim play, hush|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/real-words-from-real-people-take-centre-stage-in-verbatim-play-hush/W23D6MZNQID3YWQKZCF2N2FHW4/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=9 November 2020 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=hush: a Verbatim play about family violence|url=http://themeteor.co.nz/event/hush-a-verbatim-play-about-family-violence/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=The Meteor Theatre|language=en-GB}}</ref> Diver went on to star in the 2012 play ''Be | Longing,'' detailing the experiences of New Zealand immigrants.<ref name=":6" /> In 2014 Diver co-created another verbatim theatre production ''The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia.''<ref name=":4" /> This latter play toured New Zealand with the assistance of Brain Research New Zealand.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" />
=== Random Acts of Art project === In 2020, during New Zealand's first COVID-19 lockdown period, Diver launched the Random Acts of Art project.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Harwood|first=Brenda|date=2021-06-17|title=Artistic project to lift spirits comes to end|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/artistic-project-lift-spirits-comes-end|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref> This project was formed with the intention of lifting spirits though impromptu theatre events and productions.<ref name=":5" /> During the 11 months of the project's existence it supported the creation of 33 events in and around Dunedin.<ref name=":5" />
As at 2021 Diver continues to run TheatreWorks Ltd and is a board member of Wow! Productions, a Dunedin-based theatre collective.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=About Wow Productions|url=https://wowproductions.nz/about|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Wow Productions {{!}} Premiere Dunedin Theatre|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220210858/https://www.wowproductions.nz/about |archive-date=2019-12-20 }}</ref>
== Selected productions == ''Hush'' by Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still and Stuart Young.<ref name=":3" />
''Be | Longing'' by Hilary Halba and Stuart Young. Cast: Stuart Young, Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Will Spicer, Alex Wilson, Karen Elliot, Julie Edwards, Anya Tate-Manning and Stephen Butterworth.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Be/Longing by Talking House Trust Collective from Major Plays|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/collections/drama-online/be-longing-by-talking-house-trust-collective|access-date=2021-07-10|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref>
''The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia'' by Cindy Diver, Susie Lawless, and Stuart Young.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Brain Research New Zealand supports ground-breaking play about living with dementia|url=https://www.brnz.ac.nz/news-events/brain-research-new-zealand-supports-ground-breaking-play-about-living-with-dementia|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa|date=5 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==Family== Diver's grandfather Charles Diver was the inventor of pineapple lumps.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2013-07-29|title=Family marks lolly's 60th|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/family-marks-lollys-60th|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710010301/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/family-marks-lollys-60th|archive-date=10 July 2021|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.theatreworks.co.nz/ TheatreWorks Ltd] * [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018716040/the-keys-are-in-the-margarine-a-play-about-dementia The Keys are in the Margarine: A play about dementia] Diver interviewed on Nine To Noon RNZ on 3 October 2019.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Diver, Cindy}} Category:Living people Category:University of Otago alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:New Zealand theatre directors Category:New Zealand women theatre directors