Cindy Diver Explained

Cindy Diver
Nationality:New Zealander
Alma Mater:University of Otago
Occupation:company director, actor, writer, theatre director
Known For:verbatim theatre
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Works:, which produces label "Works" -->
Relatives:Charles Diver (grandfather)

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]

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. Diver has also helped with the establishment of the Simulated Patient Development Unit at the University of Otago Medical School.[5] The unit employs actors to play patients with whom medical students are trained to interact. 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. In 2014 Diver co-created another verbatim theatre production The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia. This latter play toured New Zealand with the assistance of Brain Research New Zealand.

Random Acts of Art project

In 2020, during New Zealand's first COVID-19 lockdown period, Diver launched the Random Acts of Art project.[10] This project was formed with the intention of lifting spirits though impromptu theatre events and productions. During the 11 months of the project's existence it supported the creation of 33 events in and around Dunedin.

As at 2021 Diver continues to run TheatreWorks Ltd and is a board member of Wow! Productions, a Dunedin-based theatre collective.[11]

Selected productions

Hush by Hilary Halba, Cindy Diver, Erica Newlands, Simon O'Connor, Danny Still and Stuart Young.

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.[12]

The Keys are in the Margarine: A Verbatim Play about Dementia by Cindy Diver, Susie Lawless, and Stuart Young.[13]

Family

Diver's grandfather Charles Diver was the inventor of pineapple lumps.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Winkless. Laurie. 2019-10-10. Bringing memory loss to life through theatre. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127043849/https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/10-10-2019/bringing-memory-loss-to-life-through-theatre/. 27 January 2021. 2021-07-10. The Spinoff.
  2. Web site: Goodwin. Eileen. 2014-02-12. Dementia play planned. 2021-07-10. Otago Daily Times Online News. en.
  3. Web site: Interact Drama. 2021-07-10. www.theatreworks.co.nz.
  4. Web site: Smith. Charmian. 2013-08-29. The show has gone on. 2021-07-10. Otago Daily Times Online News. en.
  5. Web site: Callister-Baker. Loulou. 27 April 2014. The art of faking hypochondria. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425021454/http://www.critic.co.nz/features/article/3863/the-art-of-faking-hypochondria. 25 April 2017. 2021-07-10. Critic - Te Arohi.
  6. Web site: Connor. Patrice. 2 March 2016. Drama with Cindy Diver. live. 2021-07-10. tahuna.school.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20170412152911/https://tahuna.school.nz/latest-news/article/2061 . 2017-04-12 .
  7. Book: O'Toole, Emer. Ethical Exchanges in Translation, Adaptation and Dramaturgy. Pelegrí Kristić. Andrea. Young. Stuart. 2017-06-06. BRILL. 978-90-04-34633-8. 10.1163/9789004346376_003.
  8. Web site: Real words from real people take centre stage in Verbatim play, hush. 2021-07-10. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  9. Web site: hush: a Verbatim play about family violence. 2021-07-10. The Meteor Theatre. en-GB.
  10. Web site: Harwood. Brenda. 2021-06-17. Artistic project to lift spirits comes to end. 2021-07-10. Otago Daily Times Online News. en.
  11. Web site: 2021. About Wow Productions. live. 2021-07-10. Wow Productions Premiere Dunedin Theatre. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220210858/https://www.wowproductions.nz/about . 2019-12-20 .
  12. Web site: Be/Longing by Talking House Trust Collective from Major Plays. 2021-07-10. RNZ. en-nz.
  13. Web site: Brain Research New Zealand supports ground-breaking play about living with dementia. 2021-07-10. Brain Research New Zealand - Rangahau Roro Aotearoa. en.
  14. Web site: 2013-07-29. Family marks lolly's 60th. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710010301/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/family-marks-lollys-60th. 10 July 2021. 2021-07-10. Otago Daily Times Online News. en.