JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT

by Robert Lord
Director Jacquelyn Harding

Meet George and Lyla Bishop, a typical small-town New Zealand couple making the best of married life in the wake of World War II, with adult daughter Rose still living at home. All scenes take place on Christmas Day in their dining room, with the occasional interruption of neighbour Alice Warner, and visits from their son Ted and daughter-in-law Brenda. Tom and Brenda have two children, including a wild-fire daughter, Raewyn (often referred to as a child, she appears on stage from age 28).

Always Christmas, the play starts in 1949, with each scene moving forward – 1957, 1961, 1968, 1972, 1978, 1981, and finally 1989. The action of each scene builds on the previous scene, with the desired eTect to provide the unity of a single day’s activity with the sweep of a forty-year history of the Bishop family.

The story travels through our experience of life as we come together as family - sharing intimate secrets, chaos, tragedy, political opinions, our hopes and fears, in between moments of fighting for the toilet and demanding a cup of tea.

Playwright

Robert Lord

Robert was born in Rotorua and studied for an Arts Degree at Victoria University. In 1969 was awarded the Katherine Mansfield Young Writers Award. His first full length play It Isn't Cricket premiered at Downstage Theatre in 1971. From 1970-74 he was an editorial board member of ACT magazine and during this period helped to found Playmarket.

It Isn´t Cricket was featured as part of the inaugural Australian National Playwrights Conference in 1973 and in 1974, he travelled across the United States on his way to the O'Neil Playwrights Conference in Connecticut. On his return to New Zealand he was instrumental in establishing the workshopping process in New Zealand.

Throughout the 1980s Robert was based in New York, a city he loved. Well Hung was warmly received at the Trinity Square Repertory and he became a leading figure in the New Dramatists group. A prolific playwright, his work was seen throughout New Zealand as well as in Australia, Canada and the United States.

Director

Jacquelyn Harding

Jac first hit the stage in a pair of ballet shoes at age five and has happily tread the boards singing, dancing, acting and inciting mischief and mayhem backstage ever since. She has appeared on stage in a variety of plays and musicals including; Bridal Shop Confessions, Moonlight and Magnolias, the Sound of Music, Scrooge, and Godspell. Last year she directed “A Lovely Day for a Boating Trip (and to escape your own wedding)” at the Dolphin Theatre.

Director’s Notes

“Joyful and Triumphant” intrigued me from the moment I heard the title and the nuances reflecting life in New Zealand has fascinated me more with every read-through. A story that follows a family through forty years isn’t just about the people, it’s also about the culture, our society, and what those around us said was acceptable… and unacceptable. One of the parents in this story was born the same year at Fred Astaire, lived through World War I and II, and was alive to see the Commodore-64. Now that’s a story!

Family life, especially with close family, isn’t always pretty. At times it’s raw and painful, and we share the most challenging and devastating events in our lives as though it was everyday trivia, especially when we get together on Christmas Day.

I invite you to audition for this play where the people are a product of their times - 1940s-1980s in New Zealand. The characters are challenging and complex, and looking for skilled actors to bring them to life!

Cast

Main CAST

Click the image to learn more about the cast member.

Featured

Ken Morrison

as George Bishop

Ken’s last appearance on stage was playing Freddie at Papakura in Noises Off (2023). Prior to this he had male lead roles at Howick (The Viewing Room 2021), Dolphin (Hot Water 2018, a farce by Roger Hall), and Ellerslie (Things I Know to be True, The Lady in the Van, The 39 Steps). Ken’s love of theatre, and musicals in particular, started at Auckland Grammar School and has carried on from there. Playing George (Dad) in J&T is right up Ken’s alley, portraying a typical kiwi character that hopefully the audience can readily identify with. Ken enjoys most sport and tries to get to the gym most days.

Bronwen Arlington

as Lyla Bishop

Bronwen joined the Little Dolphin Theatre in its early years. Despite feeling a lightweight teenager at heart, she has noted that as the years progressed the roles also aged. From naïve ingénues (Lion in Winter), a Friar (Much Ado About Nothing) to spinster (Go Back for Murder).From daughter (The Royal Baccarat Scandal), to wife (Last Legs), to mother (Memory of Water), and finally a grandmother (Joyful and Triumphant). This popular classic NZ drama is her 29th show at Dolphin.

After four decades in as an Audiologist, Bronwen is loving Retirement – Folk Dancing (Eurocentric, Scottish, Medieval, English, Chinese..) Mah Jong, Bowls, Volunteer work, lengthy overseas holidays, and having more time to learn her lines.

Julia Kellett

as Rose Bishop

This is Julia’s first time performing at Dolphin. Having done two shows at Howick last year, she’s loving working in a new environment and getting to know a wonderful new bunch of people. She hates writing bios, loves having cuddles with her little niece, and is terminally addicted to travel, especially spending time outdoors and exploring places she doesn’t know much about. She is both terrified of and addicted to performing in front of an audience, and says it’s been such a delight to figure out this new role with such a talented cast and crew. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Gavin Leary

as Ted Bishop

This is Gavin's 3rd production at The Dolphin this year . Previous appearances at The Dolphin are this year's Much Ado About Nothing and Black Coffee as well as Private Lives all the way back in 2012. Prior to returning to The Dolphin Gavin was in the UK where he appeared in productions of See How They Run, Uncle Vanya and Journey's End.

Sheree Versey

as Brenda Bishop

Sheree is an Auckland creative who has just started to get cagey about sharing her age- not that it matters when she's ageing from 34 to 58 years as daughter in law Brenda. Recently on the Dolphin stage in 2023's Kimberly Akimbo and Rehearsal for Murder, Sheree's first speaking role was in a Christmas production and she is still confused as to why she stopped being typecast as angelic. Sheree has had some recent success with her playwriting, and when not learning or writing lines you can find her tidying the Dolphin wardrobe or walking her much too energetic foxie.

Courtney Pannett

as Raewyn Bishop

Courteney is thrilled to return to the stage after 10 years, having last performed in her high school production. Rediscovering her passion for theatre, she’s excited to bring the headstrong and opinionated character of Raewyn to life. Grateful for the support of her family and friends, Courteney is overjoyed to be back in the world of theatre and excited to share this performance with you.

Lynn Webster

as Alice Warner

Lynn is delighted to return to Dolphin having been in 3 Women in November 2022. Last year she played Linda Loman in the Company Theatre production of Death of a Salesman, winning a NAPTA award. Earlier this year Howick Theatre saw her portrayal of Nancy in Grand Horizons. Lynn has appeared in over 45 plays and musicals at community theatres all over Auckland since moving here from London where she had a professional acting career. The role of Alice Warner has been such fun, whether she’s being annoying or endearing! Thanks to a marvellous supportive team of creatives and fellow cast members. “Merry Christmas!”

Standby CAST

Featured

Carleen Craig

Carleen was last seen on the Dolphin stage when she stood in for three performances of Black Coffee earlier this year. Her previous shows (as an actual cast member) include The Comedy of Errors, and The Flint St Nativity (both at Dolphin) and at Ellerslie Theatre in The Bach and The Death of Me. Most recently Carleen has been working behind the scenes doing a myriad of jobs such as Production Assistant, Props Designer, props operator and dresser.

Jo Olsen

Jo is delighted on Joyful and Triumphant with many friends, old and new. Recently Jo has appeared in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ here at Dolphin and ‘Our Man in Havana’ at ETS (RIP) In her spare time Jo can be found at Front of House of Dolphin Theatre, where is the manager of the team. When not at Dolphin she enjoys listening to music and drinking tea. Jo would like to thank Jacquelyn and the team for their warm inclusion in this production.

Paul Greenfield

Paul trained at Unitec as an actor but found his real calling as a primary school teacher at Owairaka School. After a lengthy hiatus, he came back to theatre in 2016 playing Preacher Hodges in Titirangi Theatre's Messiah on the Frigidaire, where he met his now-wife Merrin. Since then he has aimed for a play a year, most recently seen onstage as Benedick in Dolphins 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Amy Arnold

Amy recently returned from studying at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris, where she originally went for couple of weeks and ended up staying for a year, contrary to her normally excellent time management. Since returning to New Zealand she has co- created her own show Codeword Cabaret for performers to try that crazy idea they've always dreamed of.

Andrew Maher

Andrew has been a regular performer on Auckland stages. Recent shows at Dolphin were as Angus in Roger Hall’s “Last Legs”, the butler in Agatha Christie’s “A Spider’s Web” Ernie in Rehearsal for Murder and Verges in Much Ado About Nothing.. He was also a spectral ghost in “The Revival” but like all good ghosts his appearance was only rumoured at.

Joyful and Triumphant