ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL

13 Apr - 29 Apr 2023

This year we are presenting three plays, one a brand-new play by Dolphin alumni Lindsey Brown (who wrote Bridal Shop Confessions in our 2022 season) and two other fabulous works covering Jason, Medea and the Golden Fleece in a modern context and a wonderful study of a relationship and the issues they face in 2023.

We welcome three brand new directors all celebrating their debut and are really looking forward to this fabulous season.

A LOVELY DAY FOR A BOATING TRIP
(AND TO ESCAPE YOUR OWN WEDDING)

BY LINDSEY BROWN
DIRECTED BY JACQUIE MORAN

On the morning of her wedding, bride Sadie decides to make a run for it. The only problem is that she's getting married on an island, and her maid of honor Gwen, anticipating her cold feet, is standing between Sadie and the only available boat left on the island. A fast paced, physical comedy about love and female friendship.

THE GOLDEN FLEECE

BY A.R. GURNEY
DIRECTED BY GEORGE EVERTS

A reimagining of the classic Greek tale, set in the modern world. Here we watch as the tragic ending of Jason and Medea's whirlwind romance plays out in real time, relayed to us by the couple's best friends Bill and Betty, who have gathered an audience together to meet Jason and Medea and to see the Golden Fleece. As tensions simmer and boil over between the star-crossed lovers off stage, so too we witness the cracks begin to show in Bill & Betty's own marriage until both relationships are pushed to the breaking point.

PICKET FENCE PEOPLE

BY ESTELLE OLIVIA
DIRECTED BY KIERAN BENNETT

As the curtain rises, we can immediately tell that something isn't quite right. We see the remnants of a party, but neither Rachel nor her partner Eliza are celebrating. The scene begins in the aftermath of an epic fight between the couple, as they start to second guess their plans for the future and the two are forced to confront each other's lies, fears, trepidations, and all the other baggage that comes with starting a family.

LINDSEY BROWN

A LOVELY DAY FOR A BOATING TRIP
(AND TO ESCAPE YOUR OWN WEDDING)

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.

A.R. Gurney

The Golden Fleese

lbert Ramsdell Gurney, less formally known as "Pete," is one of the most prolific and produced playwrights in America. His work focuses primarily on the issues and realities of middle-class American life and has been produced on international theatre stages for more than 30 years.

In 1958, Gurney wrote Love in Buffalo the first musical ever produced at Yale. His breakthrough success came in 1982 with The Dining Room. Other award- winning plays include The Perfect Party, Another Antigone, The Cocktail Hour, Love Letters and A Cheever Evening. His two most recent plays premiered earlier this year - Sylvia, at the Manhattan Theatre Club and Overtime at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Gurney is the recipient of many awards, notably a Drama Desk Award in 1971, a Rockefeller Award in 1977 and two Lucille Lortel Awards in 1989 and 1994. He is on the Artistic Board of Playwrights Horizons and is currently on leave from M.I.T.

Estelle Olivia

Picket Fence People

Estelle Olivia is a New York based actor and writer. Their play Picket Fence People was recently published in The Best American Short Plays 2018-2019 from Applause Books. They received their MFA in both acting and playwriting from the Actors Studio Drama School in May 2019. 

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Estelle was born in Ann Arbor, MI, but began their career as a performer when they moved to Hanoi, Vietnam in the 5th grade. Bored with the usual talent show piano recitals they wrote and sang a comedic aria to the tune of “Ride of the Valkyries.” They were cast in the school play the next semester and have been acting and writing ever since.

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Estelle earned their B.A. in Theatre from Mount Holyoke College, and has studied at the British American Drama Academy, Atlantic Acting School, and the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Jacquie Moran

A LOVELY DAY FOR A BOATING TRIP
(AND TO ESCAPE YOUR OWN WEDDING)

Jacquelyn was five years old when she first tread the boards in a pair of ballet shoes. Since then, she has been involved in many productions both onstage (singing, dancing, acting) and backstage (running pyrotechnics, stage managing, follow-spotting, and as Production Assistant). After being Madame Jeanne in last year's international premiere of Lindsey Brown’s “Bridal Shop Confessions” she is thrilled to be making her directing debut with Lindsey’s “A Lovely Day for a Boating Trip (and to escape your own wedding)”.

Director’s Notes

This show explores the dynamics of true friendship where people know each other so well that they can anticipate each other’s every move…  well, sometimes.  I’m looking for a duo who can showcase the high and lows of time-worn camaraderie.    From the intimacy forged during years standing side-by-side in life changing moments, to the crazy-making frustration of knowing someone so deeply that they can drive you to the brink of absolute exasperation, but somehow you love them just the same.  If you’re keen to share your humour, vulnerability, and tenacity, I’d love to see you at the auditions. 

George Everts

The Golden Fleece

George caught the theatre bug at a young age, performing in a high school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat that was cancelled before reaching opening night (he still doesn't know why). Since then, he has been impossible to keep off a stage. He has fairly recently made the leap to the other side of the audition table, having directed productions of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", "Grease", and "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) over the last few years. Over that time, he has continued to perform, most recently as Jack Ross in "A Few Good Men" and Rapunzel's Prince in "Into the Woods". This is his first time working with Dolphin Theatre, and he couldn't be more excited to work with the fantastic committee to bring you this fascinating piece.

Director’s Notes

The Golden Fleece is a modern retelling of the Jason and Medea myth, told through the eyes of two of their friends as they wait for the pair to arrive and tell their story. Both Bill and Betty are closer friends with one member of the other couple, and so we hear Jason and Medea's story through unreliable narration, the fascination of their friends, and discover some chilling parallels between Betty and Bill's relationship and Jason and Medea's.

For this show, we will be looking for actors with a playing age of 30+. The show deals with themes of abusive relationships, and there is a physical fight.

Kieran Bennet

Picket Fence People

After several years of threatening to stop being an actor and actually do some work for once in his life, Kieran has finally made good on that threat and is delighted to be directing Picket Fence People. A regular alumni of Dolphin, Kieran has appeared in multiple shows in the past, and assisted with several others. His most recent turn is in Dolphin’s Kiwifruits as Fay Gay, soon to open at the theatre. This is a show which he’s certain you will want to come and see. Kieran is thrilled to bring Picket Fence People's queer love story to the Dolphin stage and hopes everyone can see a little bit of themselves in it.

Director’s Notes

Picket Fence People is a very true to life queer love story. I’m looking for two female-presenting actors to work closely with on bringing an authentic and true relationship to life. I’ll be casting specifically for chemistry and naturalistic performances, and hope to create a great night of theatre.