A Graduate from Unitec with a Bachelor in Performing and Screen Arts (Major: Directing & Writing), this will be Bruce Brown’s first time directing both Shakespeare and a major production for Ellerslie. Before this, his most recent experience came from writing and directing ‘Straight’ as part of the 2011 AMI Ellerslie One Act Play Festival, as well as directing for the Short + Sweet Auckland Festival over the past two years. He always enjoys working with a group of actors as passionate about the material as he is and this production has been no different.
He has also acted in the past; having been involved in ‘Communication’, part of AMI Ellerslie One Act Play Festival 2009 and in various student plays for Howick Little Theatre. In his ever shrinking spare time he enjoys reading, video gaming, sleeping and socialising with friends.
An interview with Bruce Brown about The Winter's Tale:
You are a younger director than most of those working in community theatre. What do you bring to the play?
I started studying at UNITEC straight after college, on their performing arts bachelor programme, doing a major in writing and directing. I feel that education gave me a base but it didn’t give me experience and that’s what I’m working towards. I’ll been doing personal projects for a while, and I happened to get involved with Ellerslie through the one-act play festival, which I believe is a great opportunity for writers, directors and actors. Some of the other people on my course had dreams that they were going to be the next Peter Jackson overnight, but I’ve taken it slowly and started from small beginnings.
Why did you choose a Shakespeare play?
I’ve always been drawn to Shakespeare and it’s what took me down the directing path. I got involved with my college Shakespeare group and there were more opportunities for student-directed work. Before then, it hadn’t occurred to me to go into play direction and that was the first time that I moved into directing and I relished the opportunity. Although I don’t think that my drama teacher was pleased, as my scene won our regional competition allowing me to take it to Wellington for the Sheila Winn festival, where it won an award for best interaction.
Why The Winter’s Tale?
I’ve been familiar with The Winter’s Tale for years. I read it while I was studying. The Winter’s Tale gives you the highs of drama and tragedy and then a second half with a lot of comedy. Some scholars think that it is a problem play, because it combines the two, but I think it’s what makes it a great play. I also love working on material that views humans as flawed individuals. There is a strong message in the play that even though we might do terrible unforgettable things, there is always a chance for redemption for us all.
Shakespeare has been neglected for some years. Do you think this production is part of a revival?
I think it’s osmosis. This year there seems to be a lot of Shakespeare productions. London even has a huge festival on due to the Olympics. And Shakespeare is a good safe bet, sometimes. However I don’t think that it’s a revival if you do it the same as it’s been done before. It’s a revival if you challenge yourself, the material, your cast and even Shakespeare. Shakespeare has been done to death in the past by always being done the same way. I think that people who know the play will have a few surprises with this production.
What are your goals for this production?
I will be extremely chuffed that I have directed my first full-length production and my first Shakespeare production before I turn 26 later this year. I want to challenge audiences’ expectations, to challenge how people see Shakespeare, not just as ‘men in tights’ and inaccessible. But I mainly want to work with a great group of actors who are as passionate about this material as I am.
Bruce is a graduate of Unitec’s Performing Arts Bachelor programme. He’s been involved as both a writer and director with Short+Sweet Auckland and has directed several productions with Ellerslie Theatre, including Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale (2012), April Phillips’ Motel (2014), Terry Johnson’s The Graduate (2016) and Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing (2018). He premiered his first solo Basement Theatre show Hook-Up Boys in 2016 to sell-out audiences. Bruce is also the creator and artistic director behind the successful Legacy Project.
