Cindy Diver is a New Zealand writer, theatre director, actor, and owner and director of TheatreWorks Ltd, a company that provides casting services as well as acting classes. Diver is most notable for creating and producing verbatim theatre productions on themes such as family violence and dementia.[1][2]
Cindy Diver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Occupation(s) | company director, actor, writer, theatre director |
| Known for | verbatim theatre |
| Relatives | Charles Diver (grandfather) |
Biography
Diver completed a post graduate diploma in theatre studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She was a founding member of Kilimogo Productions.[3] In 1992, with Martin Phelan, she founded her company, TheatreWorks Ltd.[4] Under Diver's management TheatreWorks Ltd continues to provide actor casting services and acting classes.[4] Diver has also helped with the establishment of the Simulated Patient Development Unit at the University of Otago Medical School.[5][4] The unit employs actors to play patients with whom medical students are trained to interact.[5] Diver also teaches drama to school children and adults.[6]
Verbatim theatre
In 2009 Diver collaborated with Hilary Halba, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still, and Stuart Young to create Hush, a verbatim theatre production about family violence.[7][8][9] Diver went on to star in the 2012 play Be | Longing, detailing the experiences of New Zealand immigrants.[10] In 2014 Diver co-created another verbatim theatre production The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia.[11] This latter play toured New Zealand with the assistance of Brain Research New Zealand.[11][1]
Random Acts of Art project
In 2020, during New Zealand's first COVID-19 lockdown period, Diver launched the Random Acts of Art project.[12] This project was formed with the intention of lifting spirits though impromptu theatre events and productions.[12] During the 11 months of the project's existence it supported the creation of 33 events in and around Dunedin.[12]
As at 2021 Diver continues to run TheatreWorks Ltd and is a board member of Wow! Productions, a Dunedin-based theatre collective.[13]
Selected productions
Hush by Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still and Stuart Young.[9]
Be | Longing by Hilary Halba and Stuart Young. Cast: Stuart Young, Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Will Spicer, Alex Wilson, Karen Elliot, Julie Edwards, Anya Tate-Manning and Stephen Butterworth.[10]
The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia by Cindy Diver, Susie Lawless, and Stuart Young.[11]
Family
Diver's grandfather Charles Diver was the inventor of pineapple lumps.[14]
References
External links
- TheatreWorks Ltd
- The Keys are in the Margarine: A play about dementia Diver interviewed on Nine To Noon RNZ on 3 October 2019.