Bridal Shop Confessions
By Lindsey Brown
Directed by Robyn Bull
8 Apr - 23 Apr 2022
Annabel is getting married. Her four friends Natalie, Nicole, Lorin and Maggie are meeting her at Madame Jeanne’s bridal shop for their fittings with Maria, Madame Jeanne’s assistant. The girls have a pact that when they get married their four friends are all to be bridesmaids. However life has got in the way for this group of women and there are old tensions, new tensions and old jealousies between them...
They really do still love each other but some have lost sight of that...
Come along and see how Annabel’s first fitting goes.
Lindsey has created a funny and authentic play about women, their friendships and the things they let get in the way.
Playwright
LINDSEY BROWN
Lindsey Brown is a New Zealand high school teacher of both English and Drama. She has a passion for the performing arts, as a writer, performer, teacher and student, including obtaining a Masters of Scriptwriting from Auckland University of Technology.
Lindsey has had pieces performed in London, New York, Hollywood, Florida, Houston, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Kentucky, Sydney, Queenstown and Auckland.
In 2020 she was the recipient of the Playwrights Association of New Zealand Outstanding Achievement Award.
Other successes to date include coming second in the NZ Playwrights Association One Act Play Competition 2018, being shortlisted for the NZ Plays for the Young Competition 2018, and having a piece published within a collection of NZ short plays called Septet.
She often favours comedy in her writing, believing that when we laugh, we are most open to learn. It’s also more fun to write! Her plays contain strong roles for women, that like to challenge those themes that are universal to us all.
Director
Robyn Bull
Robyn last directed in 2020 At the Sign of the Crippled Harlequin by Norman Robbins for which she won best director at the Dolphin Theatre awards night. She has also previously directed Ladies Day and Ladies Down Under by Amanda Whittington at Dolphin.
In her spare time, Robyn does some acting, stage managing and tech work and is a school teacher by profession directing children's shows. She loves to work with adults, though, as they tend to stand where you ask, straight away!
Currently at Dolphin she is also involved with set design, previously for Death & Taxe$ in 2021 and the upcoming The Country House due to open at Dolphin in Feb 2022.
Robyn is so happy to be directing Bridal Shop Confessions written by the very talented Lindsey Brown. Jealousy, dresses, friendships, and childhood pacts are all part of this thoughtfully written play.
Director’s Notes
Five best friends made a bridesmaid pact when they were 11: they would be each other’s bridesmaid no matter what. Fast forward to today and the pact has become somewhat of a burden.
Annabelle is the next to marry and she and her bridesmaids are gathering at Madame Jeanne’s Bridal Store to try on dresses for the wedding. The day doesn’t go quite according to plan as old jealousies resurface and the pressures of modern-day life dominate the day.
This is the world premiere of a brand new New Zealand play written by Dolphin Alumni Lindsey Brown. This play was first introduced to Dolphin Audiences in July 2020 at the first Dark Days after lockdown, where it was received to rapturous applause by our standing room only audience.
Cast & Crew
Jenna Rhodes
as Maria
Jenna makes her debut at the Dolphin Theatre in Bridal Shop Confessions as Maria. Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, Jenna is returning to the stage after a 10 year hiatus. Recently changing careers has given her valuable time to be able to pursue her passion for acting again. Formerly a history teacher for 15 years, she's certainly not worried about being able to project her voice! Jenna is very grateful for the opportunity to perform with such a talented cast and crew. Jenna is excited about playing Maria because she can relate to how determined Maria is to make her job at Madam Jeanne's permanent, no matter what curve balls get thrown at her today!
Lauren Wilson
as Annabelle
Lauren Wilson is excited to be making her first appearance at Dolphin Theatre having recently returned from living in the U.K. Her most recent performances include Thurio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shoreside Theatre), Second CountryFolk in The Two Noble Kinsmen (The Show Must Go Online), multiple voice roles for SkyBearGames, and Glen in LovePuke (Pearangi Creative) as well as various productions around Tāmaki Makaurau. She is excited to be working with the powerful wāhine of Bridal Shop Confessions and exploring the chaotic relationships between the friends, while bringing the blushing bride Annabelle to life.
Rebekkah Schoonbeek-Berridge
as Maggie
Rebekkah is a professional dancer, choreographer, singer and actress living in Tāmaki Makaurau. Founder of dynamic dance theatre company Luck & Schooney, Rebekkah’s theatre credits include work with Auckland Theatre Company on Shortland Street The Musical (featuring the original cast recording) and Chicago. She has also appeared in television programmes and advertisements as well as in multiple music videos.
Rebekkah has danced for many live events (X-Factor, TV3, Blues Rugby) and has choreographed and performed for several festivals. She received the ‘Stand out Female Performer Award’ at Short and Sweet Dance Festival 2015 for her contemporary piece, The Crickets Have Arthritis. In 2016 she completed a month at the Banff Arts Centre in Canada as part of the contemporary Indigenous Dance Residency. Rebekkah has recently finished her Postgraduate Diploma in dance studies at Auckland University.
Carolyn Lamonde
as Natalie
After studying theatre in Canada and performing in a variety of productions around North America and Europe, Carolyn’s travels led her to New Zealand, where she has put down permanent roots. She has appeared on stage on several occasions around Auckland, including in The Vagina Monologues in 2019 – another play staged with an all-female cast. She is making her debut at the Dolphin Theatre with the world premiere of Bridal Shop Confessions. Carolyn is excited to be playing Natalie, the feisty and outspoken bridesmaid and cousin of the bride, working alongside this amazing cast of beautiful and incredibly talented wāhine, under the brilliant direction of the ever-so-clever Robyn Bull.
Caitlin Flower
as Lorin
Caitlin is an avid actor, content producer and long time theatre fanatic. Caitlin got her first taste of the arts attending a performance at the Dolphin Theatre with her late grandmother (Betty Jackson) and has never looked back. She is thrilled to be a part of an all female cast under the direction of the amazing Robyn Bull. Bridal Shop Confessions is a wonderful insight into the real life struggles of adult friendships; the old insecurities and often comedic interactions keep you not only entertained but constantly wondering, “What will happen next?!” Caitlin is excited to bring her first antagonistic role to life in Lorin. She hopes to be able to humanise her whilst achieving the bite that comes from the “control freak” friend we all love to hate. Caitlin’s most recent roles include Freya - The Dolphin One Act Plays and Lady Ruxton - Ellerslie Theatre‘s production of Dorian Gray.
Jacquelyn Harding
as Madame Jeanne
Jacquelyn Harding was most recently onstage at the Dolphin last year as 'Betty' in Bonking James Bond. She has had a long-term love affair with theatre, including roles in Moonlight and Magnolias, A Christmas Spectacular, Mr Scrooge, Godspell, and The Sound of Music. After being introduced to Bridal Shop Confessions last year at a Dark Days reading at the Dolphin Theatre, she was thrilled to be offered the role of Madame Jeanne in the world premiere of Bridal Shop Confessions. She's delighted to share the joy of comedy with you alongside a wonderfully talented cast and director.
Rosheen Leslie
as Nicole
Rosheen Leslie started acting because she wasn't a very good dancer. Since getting on the stage at 13 years old she hasn't left since. Having recently finished up Spider's Web at the Dolphin Theatre, she's back for more! Rosheen is very excited to be in an entirely female cast for the first time in living memory, and to use her own accent for the first time in 7 years! She's excited to bring Nicole to the stage in this year's production of Bridal Shop Confessions.