Meet the Makers: Paul Gittins, Danyelle Mearlings and Maya Dalziel
Published: Thursday 7 November 2024
In this second edition of A Doll’s House, Part 2 Meet the Makers we talk to mastermind Director/Producer Paul Gittins, and actors Danyelle Mealings and Maya Dalziel who play Anne-Marie and Emmy in the cast a of Plumb Theatre, supported by Auckland Live’s A Doll’s House, Part 2. Read on to learn about their inspiration, motivation and what you can expect from the show – opening next week
PAUL GITTINS
Director/Producer
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
Paul Gittins – Theatre Director and founder of Plumb Theatre, the home of intimate engaging theatre.
What’s your favourite thing about you do?
I love both the design and the rehearsal process of making plays. Firstly, collaborating with the design team to create an ideal environment for the play to be staged in. Secondly, dissecting the play with the actors and getting into the psychology of the characters. Then blending that all together to create something whole that clearly expresses the playwright’s vision.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
Constantly finding the money to finance my productions!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Chill out!
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
Don’t think I should answer this on the grounds that my Plumb Theatre bias will be obvious!!
Who are your favourite artists/theatre companies/musicians etc. and why?
Musically I love the late 60’s and 70’s. Such a time of unbridled creativity.
Theatre wise much of my inspiration has come from the many Stanislavski based companies such as the Group Theatre in New York and the teacher Lee Strasburg with whom many famous actors such as Brando, Paul Newman, James Dean & Marylin Munroe were associated. Whenever I am in London, I love going to the Donmar Warehouse. I love the intimacy and the types of shows that are put on there. As a schoolboy in NZ, I remember being inspired by a visit from Bruce Mason who presented his show To Russia with Love to the school.
Tell us about the show
A Doll’s House, Part 2 is such a clever engaging piece of theatre. What a brilliant idea to pick up the story of Nora Helmer’s life where it was left off in Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House. It is one thing to walk away from your husband and family but quite another to have to deal with the fallout when forced to confront them 15 years later. Using language that feels modern and relevant the writer throws Nora in at the deep end and makes her justify her extreme decision to those most affected by it. This is immersive engaging theatre at its best, evidenced by the 8 Tony nominations the premiere Broadway production received.
What can audiences expect from A Doll’s House, Part 2?
Firstly, audiences do not need any knowledge of Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House.
Lucas Hnath’s Part 2 is a completely stand-alone play where audiences can expect to have their sympathies swinging wildly between characters as they watch Nora confront her family. They can also expect to be thoroughly immersed and engaged in every character’s dilemma. And they can expect to continue talking about the play long after leaving the theatre.
DANYELLE MEALINGS
Emmy
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
Hey I’m Danyelle Mealings, I’m 21 and this is my first year out in the industry after graduating from South Seas Film school, I’m dabbling in a few different things but on-screen and stage acting is where I’d like most of my arts practice to be.
What’s your favourite thing about you do?
There’s always something new to learn, challenges to evolve from. Diving into the life of a character and understanding their psychology, connecting and empathising with them and being them. I think there’s something special about the vastness and ever-changing quality of the film industry.
In the sense that there is room to move when you finish a job, what to move onto next? A bit of free lancing or a new project? There are always new productions arising and if you’re a fit- then you get to live in it for a while until you’re on the hunt for another adventure. And there’s opportunity to explore another department’s perspective of the process, which I’ve found, adds so much more insight and appreciation for what I do.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
The vastness and ever-changing quality of the film industry LOL. It’s a hard business-as I’ve been warned- every role I audition for, so are a hundred others who want it just as much, so it can be mentally challenging for several reasons: giving my all to a role I haven’t even got, getting rejected after, dealing with the rejection. And trying to maintain financial stability when my work is all over the place, it’s fun and refreshing working as a contractor but it can get stressful at times.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Do what makes you happy.
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
Our Own Little Mess. Aside from the unique qualities that came with wearing headphones during the piece, watching 5 seemingly lonely characters all connect and blend with each other, without even noticing each other’s existence, was enticing.
Who are your favourite artists/theatre companies/musicians etc. and why?
All types of Rock music. Some of those artists include Muse, Highly Suspect, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Pearl Jam.
Perhaps because I grew up listening to it, surprisingly it’s an always had calming and anxiety reducing effect on me. I love all kinds of music, but Rock is home. I have enjoyed various shows from various theatre companies so I can’t choose but I know by the end of our A Doll’s House pt.2, Plumb Theatre will always have a special place in my heart, and I’ll always be there to see their next productions.
Tell us about the show
It’s a stand-alone show. Nora comes back to the household she walked out on years ago- with a goal- but she is hindered by the consequences of her past actions. It’s about freedom, identity and social expectations with comedic undertones.
What can audiences expect from A Doll’s House, Part 2?
It’s enticing, comedic and thought provoking. You’ll be on one person’s side then jump to another’s.
MAYA DALZIEL
Anne Marie
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
Kia ora. I’m Maya Dalziel and have been a professional actor for fifty years. The first part of my career I worked mainly at Theatre Corporate and Mercury Theatre but following the closure of both, I’ve freelanced in the industry as an Actor and Acting Tutor for film and theatre and as an Acting Coach on location for films.
What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
I love the variety of work I get to do though my favourite genre is theatre. I really enjoy working with a great script, interesting ideas and vibrant dialogue. Exploring the humanity of a character and what makes them do the things they do is my favourite part of the acting process.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
Acting is a heightened process so as I’ve got older (I’m 74) the skills of maintaining the energy, concentration and focus needed has become more challenging. It now requires even more craft discipline to ‘stay on top’ of it all AND good health, reasonable fitness and restful sleep. ☺
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Never stop being curious, be open to change – it’s the only constant.
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
‘Te Tangi a Te Tūī’ at Te Pou theatre – a collaboration between Te Rēhia Theatre, The Dust Palace and The Cultch. It wove together elements of Māori pūrakau, awe inspiring circus skills, spectacular visuals, and stunning choreography to tell the story of the Tūī’s song. An allegory for the beauty and persistence of te reo Māori.
Who are your favourite artists/theatre companies/musicians etc. and why?
My favourite theatre companies are Te Pou Theatre and Plumb Theatre Productions.
Their shows are always interesting, often provocative and filled with performance integrity.
Tell us about the show
Set in 1894 the play imagines the return of Nora Helmer after leaving her husband and children fifteen years previously. It is based on the original Henrik Ibsen classic ‘A Doll’s House’. However, it’s not necessary to know or have read the original classic as this modern interpretation of what might happen upon her return as a successful feminist writer, stands on its own merit. It examines societal pressures in relationship to marriage and gender roles.
As prescribed by the writer – Lucas Hnath – the setting for the production is sparse with a modern twist to costuming.
What can audiences expect from A Doll’s House, Part 2?
An engrossing continuation of one of theatre’s most powerful plays, engaging characters, thought-provoking ideas expressed in rich dialogue with the occasional dash of humour.
