Meet the Makers: The Inspector General
Published: Thursday 26 October, 2023
In this edition of Meet the Makers we sit down with Elena Stejko, director of The Inspector General – the sharp and timeless comedy coming to Herald Theatre. We also catch up with Gisele Proud, one of the cast made up of Unitec – Te Pūkenga’s graduating acting class. Scroll down to read more from these two talented creatives bringing to life this play set in a small 19th century Russian town.
Elena Stejko
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
Elena Stejko - Ukrainian born actor, director and acting teacher, founder of Actors Studio Elena Stejko.
What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
I absolutely adore collaborating with talented individuals, especially gifted actors.
There is something magical about coming together with individuals who possess a unique set of skills and a deep passion for their craft, to create something extraordinary.
It inspires me to watch these talented individuals grow and evolve through the process. Seeing them tap into their full potential is incredibly rewarding.
When I work with talented actors, my ultimate goal is to create an experience for the audience that opens their hearts and makes them feel more connected to their own humanity. I want to transport them to another world, even if it's just for a few hours, where they can escape the daily grind and embrace the magic of storytelling.
Laughter is contagious, and when I see people in the audience laughing wholeheartedly, my heart melts.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
One of the greatest challenges as a director and teacher is finding the elusive individual approach to each actor and inspiring them to bring out their best performances. Every actor is unique, with their own strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. And as a director, it's my job to navigate through my diverse cast of characters and coax out their talents.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your heart and do what you love. Create beauty everywhere you go and surround yourself with talented people.
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
ATC’s production of North By Northwest - very slick, and funny!
Who are your favourite artists and why?
My favourite artist is Slava Polunin who created the infamous Slava’s Snow Show.
Slava was my teacher when I started out as a clown in my youth, it was an experience that I will never forget. The art of clowning goes far beyond just making people laugh. A real clown has the power to make you laugh and cry at the same time. They have a point of view, a depth that goes hand in hand with being a successful clown. To truly succeed as a clown, you have to have the intelligence and wisdom of Buddha but also retain your childlike spirit. It's a delicate balance that only the greatest clowns can achieve. It takes years of practice, dedication, and a willingness to truly embrace your vulnerability. I often wish that we all had to study how to be a clown first. It would make us all better humans. One of the most profound experiences I've had was watching Slava's Snow Show. It truly is a spiritual experience that wakes your inner child.
In his masterpiece, The Inspector General, Gogol believed that laughter was the central character. Satire without laughter and ridicule loses its essence, and Gogol understood this better than anyone else.
Tell us about your upcoming project/show.
Gogol's works have stood the test of time and continue to intrigue and puzzle generations of readers and theatre companies alike. His unique blend of realism, fantasy, and romanticism creates a depth that is unparalleled. Through his writings, Gogol not only presented a riddle to his readers but also to the entire literary world. Gogol's realism is not the straightforward portrayal of reality, but rather a complex combination of elements that include fantasy and romanticism. It is in this fusion that Gogol's genius lies. He is able to seamlessly weave together the mundane and the fantastical, creating a world that is both relatable and extraordinary. The key to understanding Gogol's realism lies in his use of laughter. In his masterpiece, The Inspector General, Gogol believed that laughter was the central character. Satire without laughter and ridicule loses its essence, and Gogol understood this better than anyone else. His characters, though grotesque, are a mirror to society's absurdities, and through laughter, he exposes their flaws and hypocrisies. In our interpretation of The Inspector General, we sought to emphasize the comedy of characters and the grotesque nature of Gogol's world. We aimed to highlight the most resilient and familiar traits of these characters, making them recognizable in our modern society. Because classics endure, their themes remain relevant and crucial to us even today. Our performance is a testament to the actors' dedication and hard work in bringing Gogol's characters to life. We wanted to ensure that Gogol's words are not confined to the past but are understood and appreciated by our audience.
What can audiences expect from the project/show?
When you come to see our performance, expect laughter, expect wit, and expect to see these characters in a way that you've never seen before. We hope that by doing so, we can not only entertain you but also shed new light on these timeless themes.
In the end, it's all about presenting Gogol's work in a way that speaks to our audience today. We're proud of what we've accomplished, and we can't wait to share it with you. So grab your tickets, sit back, and prepare to witness Gogol come to life in the most unexpected and exciting way.
Gisele Proud
Introduce yourself and your arts practice.
Kia ora, I’m Gisele Proud (she/her), and I am a third-year acting student at Unitec. As well as acting, I am interested in writing, producing, lighting design, and creating my own work. I am particularly passionate about exploring stories to inspire social change. In The Inspector General, I play Osip in Cast 1 and Anna in Cast 2.
What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
My favourite thing is simply having the privilege to tell stories. I believe it is a gift to be able to perform for others, to make them laugh or cry or to simply distract them from their own life for a moment. The telling of stories is an older concept than “acting” and will remain long after the last theatre has been demolished. At the end of the day, stories have immense power. They can do anything from inspire revolution to provide comfort, and I believe it’s a blessing to be someone who gets to tell those stories.
What’s the hardest thing about what you do?
I think the hardest thing for me is knowing when to take a break from it all. Sometimes, you need to step back to reapproach a project with new eyes or let your creativity emerge, but I find it hard to release control that way. I hope that as I become more experienced in my career, I can learn to balance work and rest better.
What’s the best show you’ve seen this year?
It's so hard to decide! Two shows spring to mind. The first is Half of the Sky by Massive Theatre Company. That show was such a beautiful exploration of relationships and family. It touched me deeply. The second show would have to be Prima Facie by Plumb Theatre/Auckland Live. Acushla-Tara Kupe’s performance was incredibly inspiring, and the play reinforced my love of theatre which has a political message behind it.
At the end of the day, stories have immense power. They can do anything from inspire revolution to provide comfort, and I believe it’s a blessing to be someone who gets to tell those stories.
Tell us about your upcoming project/show.
The Inspector General is a satirical comedy set in a small Russian town in the 19th Century. The townsfolk receive word that a government official is coming to inspect them and as they try to conceal their corruption and misconduct, they mistake a down-on-his-luck gambler for the inspector. And as they say… hilarity ensues!
This show is our class's final project together at Unitec after three years of training together. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to round off our study by tackling such a rich classical text and our passionate director, Elena Stejko, has taught us so many new skills that we can’t wait to showcase.
What can audiences expect from the project/show?
Audiences can expect to be transported into a world very different from contemporary Aotearoa. The atmospheres of deception, betrayal, backstabbing, greed and political corruption starkly contrast how we live here. But audiences can also expect big satirical characters and outrageous antics that are sure to provide lots of laughs and make for a fun night out at the theatre!
