{{Short description|Theatre co-operative in Otago, New Zealand}} {{Infobox theatre group |name=Wow! Productions |formed=1996 |location=Dunedin |num_members=Lisa Warrington, Cindy Diver, Martyn Roberts, Alison Finegan, Hilary Halba, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, Liesel Mitchell |website=https://wowproductions.nz/ |image=Farley's Arcade 2015.jpg |caption=Scene from Farley's Arcade, 2015, in the Athenaeum Basement }}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2021}}
'''Wow! Productions''' is a professional theatre co-operative based in Dunedin, New Zealand. It performs in non-theatre spaces, described by one reviewer as "weird and wonderful venues".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=MacTavish|first=Terry|date=4 December 2007|title=Hairway to Heaven - Ordinary people made fascinating|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=1066|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-13|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813035856/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=1066}}</ref>
The co-operative began in 1996 and is run by a charitable trust, whose membership is Martyn Roberts, Cindy Diver, Alison Finigan, Hilary Halba, Lisa Warrington, Donna Agnew, Peter Chin, Courtney Drummond, and Liesel Mitchell.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About {{!}} Wow Productions|url=https://wowproductions.nz/about|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Wow Productions {{!}} Premiere Dunedin Theatre|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411035522/https://wowproductions.nz/about|url-status=live}}</ref> Productions have been mounted in pubs, clubs, art galleries, community halls, an accountancy office, a hairdressing salon, a cathedral crypt and a railway station, where the production included use of a real train.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
Its 2020 production of New Zealand theatre classic ''The End of the Golden Weather'' was described as a "gift to the community".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harwood|first=Brenda|date=2020-11-01|title=Original version of classic play gift for community|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/original-version-classic-play-gift-community|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813040448/https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/original-version-classic-play-gift-community|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Production history == {| class="wikitable" ! Date ! Production ! Author ! Director ! Venue |- |Sept 1996 |''Saving Grace'' (NZ) |Duncan Sarkies |David O'Donnell |Fortune Studio Theatre<ref>{{Cite news|last=Halba|first=Hilary|date=October 1996|title=Evangelising the X-Generation|page=14 - 15|work=Theatre News}}</ref> |- |Nov 1996 |''Dancing at Lughnasa''(Ireland) |Brian Friel |Lisa Warrington |Transport Gallery, Otago Settlers Museum.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Eggleton|first=David|date=2 November 1996|title=Critics' Choice|page=45|work=NZ Listener}}</ref> |- |May 1997 |''Twelfth Night'' (England) |Shakespeare |Lisa Warrington |Allen Hall Theatre<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=Lynda|last2=Davis|first2=Holly|date=22 May 1997|title=Superb performance at Allen Hall Theatre|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |October 1997 |''Unidentified Human Remains & the True Nature of Love'' (Canada) |Brad Fraser |Richard Huber |Manhattan Theatre space, Moray Place<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 October 1997|title=Top Dunedin cast in play|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |November 1997 |''Tzigane'' (NZ) |John Vakidis |Hilary Norris |Otago Settlers Museum foyer<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Charmian|date=11 November 1997|title=Playwright puts family on stage|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |June-July 1998 |''Arcadia'' (England) |Tom Stoppard |Lisa Warrington |Dunedin Public Art Gallery (as part of Science Festival).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Charmian|date=16 June 1998|title=Stoppard family at home in art gallery|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |August 1998 |''Two Weeks With the Queen''
(Australia) |Mary Morris/
Morris Gleitzman |Hilary Norris |Mary Hopewell Theatre, Dunedin College of Education. Featuring Danny Still, Richard Carrington, Sara Connor, Julian Wilson, Gemma Carroll.<ref name=":0" /> |- |October 1998 |''Goldie'' (NZ) |Peter Hawes |David O'Donnell |Rehearsed reading in Dunedin Public Art Gallery during Goldie exhibition.<ref name=":0" /> |- |March 1999 |''One Flesh'' (NZ) |Fiona Samuel |Lisa Warrington |Fortune Theatre. Cast included Cindy Diver, Ronn Kjestrup, Richard Huber, Rachel Wallis, Patrick Davies, Sarah Entwistle, Edwin Wright.<ref name=":0" /> |- |June-July 1999 |''Whaea Kairau: Mother Hundred-Eater'' (NZ) |Apirana Taylor |Richard Huber |Otago Museum Special Exhibitions Gallery (in partnership with Kilimogo Productions). Cast included: Hilary Norris, Anya Tate-Manning, Patrick Davies, Julie Edwards, Rangimoana Taylor, Martin Phelan, Keri Hunter, Richard Huber, Maaka Pohatu.<ref name=":0" /> |- |February 2000 |''The Beauty Queen of Leenane'' (Ireland) |Martin McDonagh |Richard Huber |Fortune Studio Theatre, with Hilary Norris, Karin Reid, Danny Still and Ronn Kjestrup<ref name=":0" /> |- |May 2000 |''Horseplay'' (NZ) |Ken Duncum |Gary Henderson |Fortune Theatre, with Peter Hayden, Simon O'Connor, Hilary Norris and Sara Connor.<ref name=":0" /> |- |October 2000 |''An Unseasonable Fall of Snow'' (NZ) |Gary Henderson |Rachel More |Ruby in the Dust, Octagon, for the Inaugural Otago Festival of the Arts. With Lloyd Edwards, Matt Dwyer and Nick Dunbar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Theatre Aotearoa database|url=https://tadb.otago.ac.nz/theatre|url-status=live|access-date=5 August 2021|website=University of Otago|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128181143/https://tadb.otago.ac.nz/theatre/}}</ref> |- |September 2001 |''Collected Stories'' (USA) |Donald Margulies |Patrick Davies |Carnegie Gallery, Moray Place. With Hilary Norris and Mel Dodge.<ref name=":0" /> |- |September 2001 |''Autowalk'' (NZ) |Barbara Carey, Antony Partridge & Stayci Taylor |Directed by the devisors |Arc Cafē<ref>{{Cite news|last=Harwood|first=Brenda|date=12 September 2001|title=City's arts scene alive with contrasting events|work=Star (Dunedin)}}</ref> |- |Nov- Dec 2001 |''Blue Smoke'' (NZ) |Rawiri Paratene & Murray Lynch |Lisa Warrington |Ruby in the Dust, Octagon<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 Nov 2001|title=New twist to the festive season : Musical comedy opens.|work=The Star}}</ref> |- |September 2002 |''Hitting 50'' (NZ) |Sue McCauley |Tony McCaffrey |Court 2 Christchurch & Fortune Studio Theatre.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 August 2002|title=Play examines life after 50|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |April-May 2004 |''Miss Julie''
(Sweden/NZ) |August Strindberg, translation by Ted Nye |Hilary Norris |Playhouse Theatre Dunedin<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 April 2004|title=Modern look at Swedish classic|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |Sept-Oct 2004 |''Cherish'' (NZ) |Ken Duncum |Lisa Warrington |Dunedin Public Art Gallery, for Otago Festival of the Arts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Frame|first=Barbara|date=24 September 2004|title=Cherish|work=Otago Daily Times}}</ref> |- |Sept–Oct 2006 |''Lines of Fire'' (NZ) |Gary Henderson |Lisa Warrington |Dunedin Railway Station, for Otago Festival of the Arts & 10th anniversary WOW! celebration. Featuring Barbara Carey, Sara Connor-Best, Cindy Diver, Hilary Halba, Sarah McDougall.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: LINES OF FIRE - Theatreview|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=220|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-05|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805023554/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=220}}</ref> |- |December 2007 |''Hairway to Heaven'' (NZ) |Sarah McDougall |Lisa Warrington |Otago Polytechnic Hairdressing salon, with Barbara Power (a trained hairdresser), Sara Georgie Tunoka, Julie Edwards, Simon O'Connor and Phoebe Smith.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: HAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - Theatreview|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=576|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-05|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805023557/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=576}}</ref> |- |March 2008 |''Tracey and Traci'' (NZ) |Hilary Halba, Barbara Power, Clare Adams |Clare Adams |Polson Higgs Accountancy Offices<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=Nigel|date=2008-02-28|title=City office building plays host to cleaner characters|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/city-office-building-plays-host-cleaner-characters|access-date=2021-08-05|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805022615/https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/city-office-building-plays-host-cleaner-characters|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |October 2008 |''The Cape'' (NZ) |Vivienne Plumb |Simon O'Connor |Playhouse Theatre, as part of Otago Festival of the Arts. Producer Clare Adams. Cast James Lee, Luke Agnew, Matt Johl, Johnny Appleby.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=Nigel|date=2008-10-04|title=Cut out for play role after visit to the hairdresser|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/cut-out-play-role-after-visit-hairdresser|access-date=2021-08-05|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805022604/https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/cut-out-play-role-after-visit-hairdresser|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |Sept/Oct 2009 |''Glorious'' (NZ) |Richard Huber |Patrick Davies |Fortune Theatre Studio<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glorious - Glorious, like that woman in that film with Katherine [sic] Hepburn|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=2550|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804233010/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=2550|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |October 2010 |''Backwards in High Heels'' (NZ) |Stuart Hoar |Richard Huber |Sundry community halls around Dunedin for the Otago Festival of the Arts, including St Martins Hall, Northeast Valley; Waitati Community Hall, St Mary's Church Hall, Mosgiel; Burns Hall, First Church; Port Chalmers Town Hall; Coronation Hall, Portobello; and Maori Hill Community Centre. Choreographed by Karyn Taylor, cast Dunedin actors Patrick Davies, Anna Henare and Clare Adams.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=Nigel|date=2010-10-13|title=Dancing backwards around the suburbs|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/dancing-backwards-around-suburbs|access-date=2021-08-05|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805021904/https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/dancing-backwards-around-suburbs|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |March 2014 |''Milk Milk Lemonade'' (USA) |Joshua Conkel |Anna Henare & Patrick Davies |St Paul’s Cathedral Crypt, Octagon. Part of the 2014 Dunedin Fringe Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MilkMilkLemonade - Bizarrely original, darkly edged comedy|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=6839|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804233012/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=6839|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |28 Aug/6 Sept
2015 |''Farley’s Arcade: The Wildest Place in Town''
(NZ) |Richard Huber & others |Richard Huber/Lisa Warrington |Sundry spaces in the Athenaeum Building, Octagon.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FARLEY’S ARCADE: The Wildest Place in Town - A truly remarkable achievement|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8445|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232032/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8445|url-status=live}}</ref> Won 2015 Promotion of the Year at the Dunedin Theatre Awards.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Harwood|first=Brenda|date=10 Dec 2015|title=Theatre awards given on 'night of the stars'|work=The Star}}</ref> |- |Jan 2018 and ongoing |''Journey of the'' Jura
(NZ) |Emily Duncan (dramaturg, with cast)
|Anya Tate-Manning |Held in ‘Across the Ocean Waves’ exhibit at Toitu<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-04|title=1862 'Jura' ship trip experience|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/1862-jura-ship-trip-experience|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232042/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/1862-jura-ship-trip-experience|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |April to Nov 2019 |''Party with the Aunties'' |Erina Daniels (devised with the cast) |Erina Daniels |Various venues in Paekakariki, Wellington, Feilding, Nelson, Thames, Paeroa, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: PARTY WITH THE AUNTIES - Theatreview|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=2096|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-13|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813034738/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=2096}}</ref> "Skilful, heartwarming entertainment".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Party with the Aunties - Skilful, heart-warming, entertainment|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=3903|access-date=2021-08-13|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813034736/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=3903|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |July 2019 |''The Flick'' |Annie Baker |Lara Macgregor |At Allen Hall Theatre<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE FLICK - Theatreview|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=6786|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232031/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=6786}}</ref> |- |Nov 2020 |''The End of the Golden Weather'' (NZ) |Bruce Mason |Lisa Warrington |Starring Matt Wilson. At various locations around Dunedin, Oamaru, Mosgiel, Waitati<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRODUCTION INFORMATION: THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER - Theatreview|url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=7285|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.theatreview.org.nz|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802005438/https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/production.php?id=7285}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == [https://www.facebook.com/WowProductionsnz/ Facebook page]
Category:Theatre companies in New Zealand Category:Culture in Dunedin