Merry Xmas @ Downstage

Our current show Urinetown is just about to finish, and Downstage, along with the cast and crew of Urinetown, would like to invite everybody to our end-of-year drinks to put 2007 to bed once-and-for-all! Commencing at 10.00pm on Saturday 22 December with live music until either the booze or the license expires.

We really hope to see you there!

Downstage Director ends her term

Catherine Downes, Director of Downstage, announced today that she would be leaving her position on 31 December 2007. This is the end of her contracted two-year appointment and she has decided not to seek renewal. However Catherine will continue at Downstage as Acting Artistic Director until 31 March 2008.

Catherine Downes said “I have been privileged with a fantastic and challenging position as Director of Downstage since January 2006, and I am gratified to see the enhanced audience numbers at Downstage during this period. I am proud to have been associated with two years of critically acclaimed productions at this precious theatre. Downstage is a fantastic Wellington institution”.

“I intend to take some time out and then probably some free-lance directing and acting work”.

During the 2006 and 2007 two-year period, Downstage presented a total of 25 shows, of which 12 were produced or co-produced by the theatre itself. Paid audience numbers increased to 30,000 in 2006 and to approximately 28,000 in 2007.

Wishing her well for the future, Downstage Board Chairman Tom Hardy stated that the shows produced by Catherine were universally appreciated.

General Manager Andrew Thomson will manage the organisation while the Board considers replacement options.

BOATS AND VEHICLES SEIZED IN WELLINGTON PAUA BUSTS

One hundred and seventy kilograms of paua, along with four vessels, four 4X4 vehicles and a flat deck truck, have been seized in the Wellington region as a result of pre Christmas patrols by fishery officers. The four 4x4 vehicles, valued at a total of $25,000 had specially fitted tyres so that they could traverse difficult coastlines to get to fishing grounds.

Ministry of Fisheries District Compliance Manager, Ross Thurston, says that four 4X4 vehicles were seized today after an operation targeting paua divers on a remote area of the South Coast. All offenders caught may be facing serious Fishery Act charges.
Earlier fishery officers watched a man dive in the Wellington Harbour and chuck 27 kilos of paua which he then carried on his vessel to another area. After secreting the paua the same diver drove his vehicle to that area to recover the paua. He was intercepted by fishery officers.

Following that a second unrelated man was seen by a fisheries patrol to dive and chuck 20 kilos of paua. He too took the paua to another location to be picked up by the diver’s associate. A fisheries patrol intercepted that haul.

Late in November, two further vessels and a flat deck truck were seized after fishery officers saw divers chucking paua in the Wellington Harbour. 115 kgs of paua was seized as a result of MFish intervention.

People involved in the black market paua trade face serious Fishery Act charges and face up to five years in prison and/or $250,000 fines if convicted. “These catches have been significant in that while the incidents appear unrelated a dent has been made in the illegal take of paua from our coastline. “A worrying aspect is the poor state of the vessels and it is dumb for divers to put their lives at risk to
steal paua.”

The divers with the four 4x4 vehicles were just plain greedy while the other people caught must be supplying the black market simply because of the quantities they were caught with Mr Thurston says. “The taking of excess numbers and undersize will affect the ability to take seafood both for this and future generations.

Paua poaching is the main topic of the exiting new comedy thriller PAUA from the award winning Wellington based SEEyD Theatre Company that opens the 2008 season at Downstage Theatre. Book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

What happens when someone poaches the poachers?

The sun has gone down on the small town of Waiwhero, but in the bay round the point a slapping of oars disturbs the quiet. Two men drag a boat to shore and in the soft light of the rising moon, inspect their catch for the evening. They’re a bit over the quota and some of the shellfish are a bit small but, hey, no-one really minds, do they?

There is a sharp crack and one of the men falls heavily onto the crushed shells of the beach.

Apparently, someone does mind.

Find out more here soon!

Chapman Tripp Awards 2007

After a wonderful ceremony and a bit of wine at the Duxton Hotel last night Downstage is more than proud to announce that Jennifer Ludlam was awarded as best supporting actress of the year for her role in Othello. Congratulations, well done! But congratulations to all the other winners as well. And we are looking forward to a fabulous 2008 season. All the winners are listed on Theatreview, so have a closer look there.