Welcome back! Ginette McDonald is starring in My Brilliant Divorce @ Downstage from tonight on

Downstage is delighted to welcome Ginette McDonald back to the theatre starring in My Brilliant Divorce from 30 May.

"When I was growing up in Wellington in the 60's, Downstage Theatre was quite simply the funkiest place to be. It seemed to be bursting with creative energy, passion and commitment. It was love at first sight. While still a 4th former, I apprenticed myself to the theatre, doing set building, prop making, prompting and waitressing, eventually graduating to acting roles. Downstage provided me with the opportunity to explore my potential – It is part of my DNA.”

MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE is a hilarious one-woman tour de force. Wittily observant, achingly funny and heart-wrenchingly real, this comedy explores what life is like for Angela, recently dumped by her accountant husband for a younger model. Emotionally bereft and with self-confidence at an all time low, Angela slowly and at times painfully rebuilds her life. She finds herself adrift in a sea of weird sexual encounters, sneaky solicitors, phone-in counsellors, a bad case of hypochondria and the spectre of poverty. Should she fight to keep her husband? Or should she sign the final papers and move on?

Book your tickets now here

Pick of the Fringe plays wow Downstage audiences

"A great show by a talented group of youngsters. It worked on lots of levels. Although knowledge of the plays the characters came from was helpful you could still get lots out of it without that."

"Perfect"

"Very cute and fun."

"Well written and acted. A solid hour of entertainment."

"SENSIBLE SUSAN WAS GREAT! Engaging, funny and all actors seemed to have an individual personality that they brought to the production well! Use of props and stage area was creative and all the friends I brought along throughly enjoyed themselves. Thank you!"

"Sensible Susan was just incredible! Funny as while still spot on... props!"

"I thought the show was entertaining and it was great that it was signed for the deaf community. I'd not seen that before."

My Brilliant Divorce Production Diary - Sound Design

Sound Designer, Gil Craig, recorded the voice overs on Wednesday morning and supplied a small set-up with the help of House Technician, Marc Edwards. This allowed us to test the recordings on a basic level in the rehearsals. From here Ginette and Geraldine discovered it didn't quite fit the picture they are trying to create.

This is a technique often used by Sound Designers to test out their ideas and ensure they are on the same page as the Director. Gil also composed a small 30 second piece of music. From this started point Gil and Geraldine were able to discuss adaptations of the music to correspond with the feeling of the piece ie. adding a cello.

Sound is a very subtle and subliminal aspect of design, so it is vital to communicate the same through line (the story's arc) as the acting and other technical elements. It is a matter of composing an emotive masterpiece that combines all elements into one fluid insight into this character's world.