DIRECTOR
Annie has been a long time member of Dolphin Theatre who started out acting but moved to stage management and technical operation as a single parent. Annie has previously directed “A Few Good Men”, “The God of Carnage” and “Baskerville” for Dolphin, “This is How it Goes” for TheatreWorks Birkenhead, “Kings of the Gym” for Titirangi Theatre and “The Sure Thing” and “The Bach” for Ellerslie Theatre. Annie is currently Secretary and Vice President of Dolphin Theatre, president of the Auckland Community Theatre Trust and convenor of the SHOWDOWN secondary school competition for ACTT.

Annie says: “I am thrilled to be directing this play which has been one of my favourites for a long time. April Phillips has taken a tilt at the insurance industry - and who doesn’t have a horror story from the insurance industry?? So this play is an ironic look at the stereotypes we all recognise from the insurance industry (or any other big business) with hilarious results. It has been my privilege to work with such a talented cast and crew who have risen to the challenge with remarkable results. We have had a very short time to pull this show together and I believe this has been a wonderful team effort from all concerned. Special shout out to the cast who have embraced their characters and worked really hard to bring them to life. Special shout out to the crew who have pulled things together quickly and efficiently and helped enormously in the production of this play. Extra special shout out to Lisa Inman, my right hand woman who does such a fabulous job as assistant director and production assistant, Christina Christopher who does a magnificent job as Production Manager and whom we literally couldn’t get the shows on without and Robyn Bull who has given us a wonderful set which sets the tone so well for Death & Taxe$ - with a special mention to Geoff Evans who designed my fabulous door! Also Alistair Hayward who has kindly agreed to let us use his image in the play as Chad Rocket.”

As Tiffany Martin
This will be Amanda’s debut performance having not taken to the stage for over a decade. Amanda is excited to join the Dolphin Theatre family and hope you all enjoy a good laugh at Tiffany’s expense!

As Bob Greene
Paul trained as an actor in the 2000’s, but then found his true calling as a primary school teacher. In 2016, after a long hiatus from the stage, he played The Minstrel in the musical “Fire on the River”, Preacher Hodges in Titirangi Theatre’s “Messiah on the Frigidaire”, followed by brothers Gordon and Dwight in “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”. Most recently, he played the transgender woman Mark/Mia in Ellerslie Theatre’s “Things I Know to be True”. Paul is thrilled to get back into comedy and has had a ball bringing Bob Greene to life.

As Gareth Burke
Kieran is drawing upon many different persons he has worked with before to bring Gareth to life. A delightful mix of acerbic tempers and strong personalities drawn from former colleagues. Kieran has not been on Dolphin’s stage since his eclectic performance in “A Piece of my Heart” and is excited to perform in a play of this quality. This is his third collaboration with his favourite director to work with: Annie Whittaker.

As Lucille Potts
Having moved from the Coromandel Peninsula nine years ago (where has the time gone?), I have been busy teaching in South Auckland and enjoying the challenges that come with the job. I am excited to reprise the role of Lucille having first met her five years ago at Papakura Theatre Company and am happy to be returning to the Dolphin stage to work with this great bunch. “Geronimo!”

As Enid Burke
An avid theatre fan, Senica is thrilled to be performing on stage again after two decades. In her spare time, she is a wife, mother to two gorgeous children and a full-time university student and part time shopaholic. She very much hopes to be involved in more community theatre this year.

As Douglas Graves
I have been trippin’ the light fantastic since 2014, and “Death & Taxe$” is my 18th sojourn. My best play was here, “It’s Never Too Late” back in 2015 (along with Lou van Jaarsveld) and so it’s great to be back and working with a funny and saucy Kiwi script. Erudite and idiosyncratic I have nimbly weaved my way through disparate roles including being a Nazi officer in “The Sound of Music”, a ships captain in “Murder on the Nile” and a dull and boring businessman in last years comedy “Waiting for God”. I love my lines (delivered nasally and monotone with just a hint of indignation) and it’s been great to work with a director and cast that gel so well and, like a jigsaw puzzle, it’s all come together to be the collective piece of performing art par excellence you are here to see!

As Elizabeth Battersea
Bronwen is delighted to be working with Annie again and her talented old and new Thespian friends (cast and crew). She has been at Dolphin for decades and is happy there are still roles for batty old ladies. NZ-written plays include “Middle Aged Spread”, “Kings of the Gym”, “Taking off” (twice), “Last Legs”, “Suspicious”, and especially “A Shortcut to Happiness” as that combined both her favourite pastimes: acting and folk-dancing. She enjoys the Kiwi sense of humour. Rehearsals are such fun!

As Ted Pratchett
Robert is very excited to return to the stage after a 14-year hiatus! Robert’s previous brush with crazy law enforcement was in the role of Sheriff Rusty Dick in “In Cahoots With Johnny Sunrise”. Other works include “Life Is...’”, “An Inspector Calls” and the French farce “Le Père Noël est une ordure”. When Robert’s not on stage, you’ll find him teaching a Group Ride class at City Fitness. Enjoy the show!!