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April Phillips - Playwright
April is one of New Zealand’s most licensed playwrights and her fast-paced comedy “STiFF” has performed to sold-out audiences all over New Zealand, Norfolk Island and now Australia. “STiFF” has its British premiere at Questors Theatre, London in 2009.
April was born in Coventry, England. Her professional theatre career began as a company actor with the Four Seasons Theatre in Wanganui in the mid-late 80´s. She attributes her ´basic training´ to NZ theatre legend director David Smiles, with whom she performed in many classic comedies and farces.
April honed her comedy writing skills as a member of the acclaimed and award winning “Hens Teeth” female comedy troupe for 10 years. Her comedy is sharply influenced by the British TV shows she grew up with such as “Fawlty Towers”, “Dad’s Army”, “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum” to name a few.
In 1996 April co-wrote and performed in Fluxion at Bats Theatre. She produced and appeared in her first full-length play, Killing Me Softly at Taki Rua Theatre later that year. This hard hitting exploration of assisted suicide is a play for three women.
April’s full length comedy entitled STiFF is an irreverent and outrageous treatment of two subjects which are normally handled very cautiously: Funeral Parlours and Prostitution. STiFF was one of four plays selected for the 2002 Adam Playreading Series, and was performed at Downstage Theatre, directed by Murray Lynch. In 2003, STiFF won 3rd place in the PANZ play writing competition.
April’s musical play Blue Eyes won the 2003 Stellar Award for Best Musical Production and was performed at Circa Theatre, Wellington. Her musical stage show Unforgettable has been performed at Old St Paul’s in Wellington, the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North and at jazz festivals around the country.
AWARDS
PANZ Playwriting Competition 2003 - Third Place for "STiFF";
2003 Stellar Award for "Best Music Production" for "Blue Eyes"
Adam Play Reading Series 2002 - Downstage Theatre for "STiFF"
"Killing me softly"
STiFF
** Click here to go to the STiFF page **
In this modern farce, April tackles two subjects which are usually handled sombrely - funeral parlours and prostitution and she turns them into an hilarious situation comedy. April claims that this play is not for the "plastic raincoat brigade" who would be very disappointed. The fact that some of the characters are prostitutes simply sets up the situation. There is no sex, and nudity is limited to a corpse! It's cheeky not vulgar. Rude not crude, and it promises lots of laughs.
Cast 7 (4 female, 3 male)
Death & Taxe$
"Death & Taxe$" is a madcap financial farce set in the very topical world of insurance, investments and KiwiSaver! It's a crime story. It's a ghost story. It’s a hilarious comedy featuring dodgy deals, a potty psychic, a fishy tax inspector, a nutty cop, murder, mayhem and a hairy Yak!
Gareth Burke, Destiny Life’s top agent for 3 years in a row, wants to win the trip to Hawaii and take gorgeous receptionist Tiffany with him. But Lucille Potts, is determined to be the first female agent to top the sales figures and has a supernatural plan to ensure victory. Before he can take the prize, Gareth must overcome the obstacles in his path - an over-bearing wife, a manic-depressive corporate motivator, the police, the Inland Revenue, and even his own untimely death.
From the writer of the international hit comedy “STiFF”, you’ll die laughing because the only certain things in life are Death & Taxe$!
Available through Playmarket or email info@playmarket.org.nz.
Cast 8 (4 male, 4 female)
Killing Me Softly
First performed at Taki Rua Theatre, Wellington, October/November 1996 starring Jolene Langman, Nicki Birchfield and April Phillips
Cast 3 female
Synopsis
Three friends in their 20's meet regularly to reminisce about school times and their lives since. Their night of tall tales, shared secrets and ritual game of "truth or dare" suddenly turns black when one of the three asks for the ultimate favour. It's a favour which, if granted, she won't be alive to repay
This play grapples with the controversial subject of assisted suicide.
Blue Eyes - The Music of Frank Sinatra
First performed at Circa Theatre, February 2003, this story with music is an excellent vehicle to showcase the talents of jazz singers and musicians. The story that accompanies the music is tender and moving. A play for one actress and several singers and musicians.
Award
Best Musical Production - Stellar Awards 2003
Instinct
If he ripped away the most precious thing in your life…
And the justice system let you down…
And you were a prisoner of grief, watching him thrive...
What would you want to do?
What would you do?
Every single day innocent people become victims. Lives are violently and suddenly cut short by strangers or by people with misplaced trust. It’s happening more and more. And the families left behind are changed forever. They grieve. They blame. They hate. They are victims too.
Every now and then, right or wrong, a victim acts on instinct.
INSTINCT is a one-act play. A taut and confronting thriller that explores truth, revenge, and personal justice. Influenced by plays such as Ariel Dorfman’s “Death and the Maiden” and Gary Henderson’s “Mo and Jess killed Susie” the audience is a fly-on-the-wall witness to a tense and intimate hostage drama.
Cast: 2 female, 1 male
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