Barry Spring
Director
This play is a retelling of memories of nurses who served in Vietnam during the war of the sixties.
But it is also a reflection of all nurses who have served in all wars. Volunteers, sharing the ever present dangers of the unknown in conditions that sometimes beggar the imagination.
So when we think of heroes we should think not only of the men in uniform who have fought to preserve our freedoms and way of life, but the women who nursed, read to, talked to and gave hope to those wounded and dying.
These women who hail from every country in times of danger, never receiving their due in public perception - only in the memories of those whose lives they touched.
I hope that tonight will give us all cause to acknowledge the huge debt we owe to them.
Emily Brill-Holand
as Martha
Emily decided to be an actress at the age of twelve after seeing Keira Knightley in "Pirates of the Caribbean". This followed on from wanting to be a vet, having magical powers and being able to talk to the animals. The oldest of three sisters, she was born premature and has only one kidney. A voracious reader, Emily devours books at the average rate of one every two hours making the whole exercise rather expensive. (Hurrah for public libraries.)
Jess Acheson
as Whitney
Jess is a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts and moved to Auckland from Tauranga in 2012. She has a passion for Shakespeare having taken leading roles in Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Merchant of Venice. In 2013 Jess performed at the Globe Theatre having been chosen for SGCNZ Teachers' Go Global. She is now in her fourth year of secondary teaching including the Drama Course at St Kentigern College.
Maxine Cunliffe
as Steele
Maxine is an actor, musician and teacher. Born in London she first performed in the TV series "Trouble-shooters" filmed at the Ealing Studios. More recently she has appeared here in theatre, commercials, TV "Power Rangers" and as Hippolyta in Auckland University's Summer Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream", directed by Michael Hurst. Last year she played Muriel, the battle axe wife in the Dolphin comedy, "Fox on the Fairway."
Janelle Chung
as Janelle Chung
Janelle was born and raised in Auckland. Her involvement with pretending to be other people include productions of "The Rocky Horror Monster Show", Titirangi's "Dick Whittington and Bob the Cat" and Oscar Knightley's short film "Tom's Dairy." She holds an intense fascination with pizza and napping. In her spare time she enjoys procrastinating, reading, watching movies and TV, eating, music andthe art of annoying others. And also, writing bland self-descriptions.
Abi Blanchett
as Sissy
Abi started her working life as a camera operator for TV and followed that with a varied career including writing and directing a documentary. Now a mother of two, she recently graduated from the University of Auckland with a B A in English literature, performance art and dance. Abi's interest in body-mind connection led her into working as an actor and stunt women in roles in TV dramas. This is her first foray into theatre acting.
Aimee Gestro
as MaryJo
Aimee is a proud member of Equity NZ. Her TV and theatrical credits include Underbelly NZ, Death of a Salesman and Leading Ladies for which she won the 2010 ACTT Award for Best Supporting Actor. She wishes to dedicate this performance to every war hero there ever was, especially the women, the animals and to her granddad Collywobbles. "You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want t feel." -Johnny Depp
Kieran Maskell
as Men
Kieran saw "Star Wars" when he as five years old. From that cinematic masterpiece grew his imagination and obsession that worries his parents to this day. And he has been acting ever since. Kieran has found no greater enjoyment from life than creating the diverse range of characters that he has played on stage. And diversity is a very relevant word in this play where he plays a number of roles, young and old, likeable and odious.