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Sunday Drama

Sundays, from 3:06 pm to 4:00 pm.

The Sunday Drama celebrates the best of New Zealand's writing and performance. As well as original works written for radio, you can hear dramatic adaptations of novels and stage plays as well as sampling some of the finest radio drama and comedy from around the world.

14 February 2010

Summer/Autumn Season of New Drama: The Newest of the New

Student Shorts 2010 - Part 2

The second set of three plays from the winners of the 15-minute playwriting competition

Skin Deep by Ole Maiava (Banana Boat Writers - Auckland)

A John Doe with Nazi tattooed on his neck arrives unconscious to a Hospital. Police believe he’s a victim of a racially motivated attack by a couple of Polynesian boys. Then two Polynesian boys arrive claiming the patient is their cousin.

Cast: Shadon Meredith, Natano Keni, Asalemo Tofete, Moana Ete, Lyndee-Jane Rutherford
Director: Jason Te Kare
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

Crazy in Love by Ness Simons (Whitireia Wellington)

Ros and Tali’s less than amiable separation leaves one of them on the edge. But which one? And who will look after the cat?

Cat: Amy Tarleton, Ban Abdul, Kate Prior, Emily Regtien, James Kupa
Director: Adam Macaulay
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

Where’s Wiki’s House Gone Dad?  by Rob Tuwhare (Te Arapiki Maori Writers - Auckland)

Set against a backdrop of the near hysteria surrounding the 1953 Royal Tour and the Tangiwai disaster.

A young boy Stephen is upset that his friend Wiki’s house is to be demolished because it will be an eyesore for the Royal party who are scheduled to pass by.

Cast: John Wraight, Nikki MacDonnell, Amelia Reid, Jed Brophy, Hewitt Humphrey, Rob Tuwhare is a member of group
Director: Duncan Smith
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

Sunday 7 February 2010

Summer/Autumn Season of New Drama: The Newest of the New

Student Shorts 2010 - Part 1

Three of the six winners of this year’s short play competition.

Each year RNZ Drama runs writing workshops for tertiary level writing students across the country. Participating writers are given to opportunity to write a 15-minute radio drama script for the Student Shorts competition.

Bridge to Portobello by Gwyneth Hyndman (VUW Wellington)

Daniel and Simon are close friends. They’ve both finished their law degrees in Dunedin and make a bet they’ll be hot shot lawyers by the time they’re 30. But Simon’s mental health means he’s not going to win. Instead he opts to take the fantasy Bridge to Portobello.

Cast: Aaron Alexander, Hadleigh Walker, Madeleine McNamara, Tansy Hayden
Director: Prue Langbein 
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

Guitar Lessons by Richard Finn (VUW Wellington)

When Guy and his best mate Ted start taking guitar lessons with the beautiful Ms Belle they have no idea what a merry dance they are have embarked upon.

Cast: James Kupa, Liz Kirkman
Director: Duncan Smith
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

Taking the Bait  by Ness Simons (Whitireia Wellington)

Nico is due in court today but his mum and grandfather can’t find him anywhere. The police come looking for him in connection with an arson at a gang pad and think he may have done a runner. Then they learn Nico has gone fishing ... with the man who killed his father.

Cast: Lawrence Wharera, Jodie Rimmer, Peter Hayden, Kerehi Paurini
Director: Jason Te Kare
Studio engineer: Phil Benge

31 January 2010

Summer/Autumn Season of New Drama: The Newest of the New

Go Solo 2010

Each year the Drama Department records a selection of pieces from the GO SOLO season at Toi Whakaari. The works are written and performed by the Toi Whakaari graduating year. All the pieces are specifically designed for the stage so the choice is limited to works that might easily be adapted to radio.

Battered written and performed by Jessica Grace Smith

Trace is a ‘battered’ wife but, like the character in her own romance novel, she manages to break free. She takes charge of her life and … takes to the air.

Produced by Prue Langbein

Who’s Gonna do the Karanga? written and performed by Matariki Whatarau

Whai has run away. His dad has to spend the next day looking for  him instead of helping everyone prepare for the big day up at the pa.

Whai returns and we learn why he is having such a hard time.

Produced by Jason Te Kare

Here … Forever written and performed by Romy Hooper

A waiting room. A young girl, an old woman, a young father to be – all waiting, all desperate for good news, for understanding, for a sense of connection.

Produced by Adam Macaulay