{{Short description|New Zealand actor and director (born 1962)}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Simon Prast | image = | image_size = 150px | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|03|06}} | birth_place = Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand | height = | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1987–present | website = }}
'''Simon Prast''' is a director and actor from Auckland, New Zealand. Prast was the founder of the Auckland Theatre Company and director of the first Auckland Festival AK03.
==Early life== Prast grew up in Otara and Waikowhai, Auckland. He was educated at Waikowhai Primary, King's School and Auckland Grammar School. He holds a Law Degree (LLB) from the University of Auckland and is a graduate of Theatre Corporate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exislepublishing.com/shop/product/item12908/growing-tall-poppies-by-michele-cox.html|title=* Michele Cox's 2004 book GROWING TALL POPPIES: EXCELLENCE IN TOP NEW ZEALANDERS|work=Exile Publishing|accessdate=3 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Career== ===Theatre=== Prast performed at both the Downstage in Wellington and Mercury theatres in Auckland after graduating from the Theatre Corporate Drama School in 1984. He made his professional debut opposite Michael Hurst in Theatre Corporate's 1985 production of ''Torch Song Trilogy''.<ref name="mffilms.co.nz">{{cite web|url=http://www.mffilms.co.nz/press/when_love_comes.pdf|title=When Loves Come – Movie Information|accessdate=3 July 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006184000/http://www.mffilms.co.nz/press/when_love_comes.pdf|archivedate=6 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
After founding the Auckland Theatre Company in 1992 and being its first Director from March 1992 – February 2003 he produced and / or directed over sixty mainbill productions including ''The Graduate'', ''The Rocky Horror Show'', ''Haruru Mai'', ''The Daylight Atheist'', ''Hair'', ''Death of a Salesman'', ''Wit'', ''Art'', ''Closer'', ''The Judas Kiss'', ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' and ''12 Angry Men''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atc.test.terabyte.co.nz/Plays/People/Default.aspx?Role=Director&id=548|title=PEOPLE – DIRECTORS|work=The Auckland Theatre Company|accessdate=3 July 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525144252/http://www.atc.test.terabyte.co.nz/Plays/People/Default.aspx?Role=Director|archivedate=25 May 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Prast's production of ''12 Angry Men'' was named 'Production of the Decade' by the theatre's subscribers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/simon-prast/biography|title=Simon Prast – Biography|work=NZ On Screen|accessdate=3 July 2010}}</ref>
===Film and television=== Prast made his television debut in 1983 in the New Zealand drama series ''Mortimer's Patch''. In 1987 he returned to television, appearing as Alistair Redfern in the New Zealand soap opera ''Gloss''. In 1992 he starred in the drama movie about the French terrorist attack on a Greenpeace boat in Auckland Harbour in 1985. ''The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior'' also starred Sam Neill and Jon Voight. He appeared as Nurse Paul Churchill on several episodes of the soap opera ''Shortland Street'' (1995–1996). Prast was a co-star in the 1998 New Zealand movie, ''When Love Comes Along'', with Rena Owen and Dean O'Gorman, directed by Garth Maxwell.<ref name="mffilms.co.nz"/>
He has appeared in several other series, and from 2010–12 guest-starred as Jeffrey Duff in ''Go Girls''. In 2022, he played Maxine's father / The Televangelist in the slasher film ''X'', before reprising the role in its 2024 sequel ''MaXXXine''.
===Auckland Festival=== Prast organised the first Auckland Festival, which was marketed as AK03, a biennial arts and cultural festival. The festival is a celebration of the distinct and unique nature of Auckland and in particular the Pacific influence.<ref name="About Us?">{{cite web|title=About Us |publisher=Auckland Festival 2007 |year=2007 |url=http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/ |accessdate=15 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720222937/http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/AboutUs/TheFestival/ |archivedate=20 July 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3304/artsbooks/644/like_a_virgin.html|title=Auckland's Festival|date=6 September 2003|work=Listener archive: Arts & Books|accessdate=9 July 2010}}</ref>
===Other television appearances=== In 1988 Prast joined TV star Jay Laga'aia as co-host for the first ''Coca-Cola 24-hour Music Weekend''. In 1988 he also performed on the Telethon, alongside EastEnders star Letitia Dean and Dalvanius Prime with the Pātea Māori Club. In the same programme, he performed "I'm Glad I'm Not a Kennedy" with Shona Laing.
In 1998, on the TV arts programme ''Backchat'' (hosted by Bill Ralston), Prast debated local politician Craig Little for an increase in regional funding for the arts. Shortly after the debate, $10million was set aside for supporting arts events of regional significance to Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3598/artsbooks/13192/capital_gains.html|title=The real Auckland v Wellington question|date=25 April 2009|work=Listener Arts|accessdate=9 July 2010}}</ref>
In 2009 Prast appeared as an arts commentator on TVNZ's Breakfast programme, sharply criticising the Auckland City Council for overspending on International Theatre Productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-friday-april-24-2672095/video?vid=2672341|title=Should council be involved in Theatre|date=24 April 2009|work=TVNZ Breakfast|accessdate=3 July 2010}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Television=== * ''Mortimer's Patch ''(1983) * ''Gloss'' as Alistair Redfern (1987–1990) * ''Erebus: The Aftermath'' (1988) * ''Shortland Street'' as Nurse Paul Churchill (1993, 1994, 1995) * ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' as First Soldier (1995–1996) * ''Riding High'' as Ralph (1995) * ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' as Nemos (1995) * ''Mercy Peak'' as Tom Strachey (2001–2003) * ''Serial Killers'' * ''Go Girls'' as Jeffrey Duff (2010–2012) * ''Filthy Rich'' as Sir Douglas (2016-2017) * ''The Gulf'' as Adam Harding (2019-2021) * ''The Brokenwood Mysteries'' as Gordon Godley (2022) * ''Under the Vines'' as Rupert Shaw (2022-2023)
===Film=== * ''The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior'' as Louis Deschamps (1992) * ''When Love Comes Along'' which premiered at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival * ''You Move, You Die'' an Indie Thriller written and directed by Ketzal Sterling * ''X'' as Reverend Ernest Miller, Maxine's Father (2022) * ''MaXXXine'' as Reverend Ernest Miller, Maxine's Father (2024)
==Politics== In June 2010 Prast announced his intention to stand as a mayoral candidate in the October Auckland mayoral election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10654201|title=Theatre director seeking lead role in Super City|date=25 June 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=25 June 2010|last1=Orsman|first1=Bernard Orsman}}</ref> He stated that his experience and leadership would allow him to be an effective mayor, the first as it transitions into "Super City".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/actor-run-super-city-mayor-3608838/video|title=Actor to run for super city mayor|date=25 June 2010|work=TVNZ Breakfast Video|accessdate=10 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/3875007/Actor-runs-for-mayor|title=Actor runs for mayor|date=2 July 2010|work=Stuff|accessdate=9 July 2010}}</ref> At the time, he talked about his sexual orientation: "If anything I think that my sexual orientation has given me a much greater empathy with people. And isn't this what we're supposed to be mulling on and electing? Someone that is good with people? [...] My feeling as a gay man is that we're all in this together, irrespective of our sexual orientation. And really, irrespective of our political leanings. I mean when you're sitting in rush hour in Auckland are you from the left or the right, are you gay or straight? It doesn't matter. You're from Auckland. We have many, many issues that we all share, irrespective of our political viewpoint or our sexual orientation."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Candidate watch: Simon Prast |url=https://www.pridenz.com/gaynz/9113.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=PrideNZ}}</ref> He was not successful in his bid, finishing fifth in the field of five listed candidates.
==Recognition== He gained recognition for his work as director of the inaugural Auckland Festival (2003), when it was voted by Metro Readers Poll as the "Event of the Year". The same Metro Readers Poll also voted him "Auckland Man of the Year".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/artcul/ae/goingwest/literarywknd-biographies.asp |title=Going West Books & Writers Festival 2008 |work=Waitakere City Council |accessdate=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604231022/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/ArtCul/ae/goingwest/literarywknd-biographies.asp |archivedate=4 June 2010 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0695306}} * [http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/simon-prast NZ On Screen Biography] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100604231022/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/ArtCul/ae/goingwest/literarywknd-biographies.asp#simonprast Waitakere literary information ] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081015101423/http://www.atc.test.terabyte.co.nz/Plays/People/Default.aspx?Role=Director&id=548 Auckland Theatre Company: Directors ]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Prast, Simon}} Category:New Zealand theatre directors Category:Male actors from Auckland Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Auckland Grammar School Category:New Zealand male stage actors Category:New Zealand male film actors Category:New Zealand male television actors Category:New Zealand male soap opera actors Category:20th-century New Zealand LGBTQ people Category:New Zealand gay actors