As Marjory Pike
Herald trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and subsequently emigrated with her family to New Zealand some years ago. Since then she has appeared in Auckland musical and dance performances, as well as straight plays at Dolphin Theatre. Herald recently played ‘Joyce’ in Last Legs and is delighted to now be working with Robyn and a lively cast and crew of “Harlequins.”

As Sally Lockwood
Natasha is excited to be returning to the Dolphin Theatre in this fun murder mystery in the role of Sally Lockwood. Natasha has performed in previous Dolphin productions including Nell Gwynn in which she played ‘Rose Gwynn’, Tomb with a View and One Man, Two Guv’nors. She has also been seen in The House by the Lake at Howick Little Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Herald Theatre. Natasha has really enjoyed working with this great-fun cast and director, and is looking forward to entertaining audiences with this light-hearted thriller.

as Brian Lockwood
Simon was introduced to the Dolphin in 2017 as part of the wonderful cast of Spirit Level and loved the community of the theatre so much he joined the committee in 2019. Simon was last on stage at the Dolphin Theatre in Arsenic and Old Lace and promises that there will be no attempt at an Irish accent this time!

as Pamela Seton
Rochelle is so excited to be part of this captivating play with an amazing cast and crew. The most exciting part for her is FINALLY getting to work with Robyn Bull.after years of begging to be in one of her plays. Rochelle is also looking forward to playing a woman; a slightly masculine women, but still a woman. In two of her last plays she has played a male. But sometimes we are never what we seem!

as Isobel Clarke
Tessa is originally from the deep south of New Zealand and moved to Auckland to attend ‘The Actors Program’. She graduated this in 2017 and is passionate about stage and screen performance. She is a registered Speech and Language Pathologist and specialises in Voice, including voice disorders, production of, and vocal sustainability. She also works with children teaching Speech and Drama as well as Creative Writing with ‘Shine School of Confidence’. In her spare time she loves playing cards with her friends and a glass of red wine! Enjoy the show!

as Joan Reece

Dorren has taken on the feisty and ever so slightly sociopathic Joan following the lockdown postponement of the play and the subsequent necessary re-casting of this role.

Dorren has performed on the Dolphin stage numerous times over the last 14 years, most recently as the rather unpleasant Lady Castlemaine in Nell Gwynn. An ambitious character actress, Dorren's most recent roles have included The Lady of the Lake in 'Spamalot' (Playhouse Theatre), The Grand High Witch in 'The Witches' (Ellerslie Theatrical Society), and Saraghina the Italian whore with a penchant for tambourine playing in 'Nine' (Auckland Music Theatre).

as Lionel Reece

Brett was last seen in Copenhagen [Dolphin Dark Days in July] playing world leading Physicist Neils Bhor. His first appearance on this stage was as the world leading conniver Lord Alington in Nell Gwynn. At the NG afterparty, he blurted out a song “I Can’t Dance and I Can’t Sing,” written after a rehearsal about the central characters as Arlington saw them. People who perhaps should have known better said - well you CAN sing… you should do a musical. So he cast for Spamalot at Playhouse and got the lead! King Arthur proved to be a commendable baritone and an appropriately awful dancer. Brett is delighted to tread our boards again with old friends and new.

as Derek Tyndale
John has long been an active member of the theatre community, performing throughout Auckland as well as Sydney, where he also trained for a few spells with the Actor’s Centre and NIDA Open. His recent acting credits include ‘John Dryden’ in Nell Gwynn (Dolphin), ‘Ezekial Cheever’ in The Crucible (Centrestage), and ‘Lewis’ in Cosi (Lane Cove). Derek has been an interesting role to tackle, with all the connotations that word entails, and it’s been a delight to work with Robyn to tease out his idiosyncrasies. This turn as Mr. Tyndale marks John’s tenth performance with Dolphin Theatre. Here’s to making it an enthralling turn followed by many more.

DIRECTOR
I am thoroughly looking forward to directing another play for the Dolphin Theatre. Ladies Day (2012) being my particular favourite as it was my first attempt at directing a full-length play with no children.

Having also tread the boards in another Norman Robbins play Tomb with a View I was intrigued and excited to be offered this play to direct. I have an amazing cast and crew and I was spoilt for choice at the auditions; thank you so much to those who attended.

I am also extremely lucky to be working on this play with talented PA, Alison Laxon, another Dolphin volunteer and fellow teacher. Alison’s skills are always in great demand as a tech and a PA. According to our resident lighting designer, nothing works without Alison. She certainly keeps me in line. I love to talk and not to do paperwork.

A case of mistaken identity leads to tragedy and in true Norman Robbins fashion the deepening mystery is rich with shocks and laughs. So sit back, relax and become immersed in the lives and dramas of the occupants of The Sign of the Crippled Harlequin.