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Richard Prevett
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It is against the law to be creative in his occupation - a Chartered Accountant - so Richard writes plays in Matamata to keep his imagination under control. He has been involved in amateur theatre for thirty years as an actor and director. |
THE YELLOW MERCEDESDrama/Comedy - Full Length - 2 Male, 3 FemaleFirst Performance Hamilton Fuel Festival of NZ Theatre July 2000 Directed by Simon John Coleman Second Prize Playwrights Association of NZ annual competition Selected by the Waikato Times ‘Best Local Production of the year’ One set Living room in New Zealand residence Characters 2 men, middle age 2 women, middle age 1 woman, university student age Take a drive in The Yellow Mercedes but be prepared to defend yourself! This award winning play explores the fallout that occurs when the apparently ordinary Clark family living in a small rural town in the Waikato receive a visit from the local Detective Inspector. A distinctive yellow Mercedes is linked to a crime scene. Royce Clark is a suspect for a vicious crime. His wife is confused, his daughter is disbelieving and Sheree from down the road wants to find out all about it. But that is only the beginning ……….. This drama, laced with comedy, is enthralling entertainment. |
PECULIAR REASONS
Drama - Full Length. Ensemble. 4 Male, 5 Female First Performance Hamilton Fuel Festival of NZ Theatre June 2002 Directed by Simon John Coleman Review New Zealand Listener July 20-26 2002 Video available Set Interchangeable or revolve. Characters 2 men, older 2 men, 25, 30 plus 3 young women 2 older women Peculiar Reasons, a combination of research and imagination, is an intriguing glimpse into the turbulent lives of the young Wakefield brothers. Described by some as the “architect of New Zealand” Edward Gibbon Wakefield was a man of visionary ideas and humanitarian views that were largely at odds with the ruling establishment of nineteenth century England. Together with his brother William he arranged an innovative colonisation plan for the little islands east of Australia. Why then did the gates of prison close on two of the most enterprising and with all their faults, noblest of men of that generation? |
| VINTAGE CLOUDY BAY
Drama - Full Length - 5 Male; 2 Female First Performance Hamilton Fuel Festival of NZ Theatre June 2004 Directed by Simon John Coleman Featured in The Marlborough Express August 2004 Screened by The Marlborough Historical Society Video and soundtrack available Set Interchangeable or revolve Characters 2 European men, middle age 1 European young man 1 Maori older man 1 Maori man 30 plus 1 Maori woman, 30 plus 1 young Maori woman English tourists on a wine trial savour a glass or three of the internationally acclaimed Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. They discover that 160 years ago, there was a red fluid soaking the hills of the WairauValley when their ancestors faced up to the mighty warriors Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata. The pakeha were flouting the essence of the recent Treaty of Waitangi and the Ngati Toa decided to make a stand to defend their territory. An audacious and provocative play providing a penetrating insight into the lives of Maori and Pakeha before the New Zealand Wars. Humour, romance and violence combine in this blood soaked story of revenge, examining the distinction between terrorist and freedom fighter. A universal theme poignant as it was then as it is today. |
THE YEAR OF THE RAT
Comedy - Full Length - 4 Male, 4 Female First Performance Matamata Dramatic Society May 2007 Directed by Ainna Tidmarsh Selected by Matamata Dramatic Society to celebrate 60th Anniversary. DVD Available Set Double garage basement in New Zealand residence Characters 1 retirement age man 2 middle age men 1 young man 1 older woman 1 middle age woman 1 young woman Set in Mary and Ted Andrews’ basement where the elderly couple have barricaded themselves in against the rat flu pandemic which has already reached across the Tasman, we see vagaries of Kiwi family life being carried on in spite of adversity – and there is certainly no shortage of carrying on. Prevett cleverly matches a witty script, that would not have disgraced the pen of Roger Hall, with an outrageous set and punctuates it with flashes of Vaudeville a la Singing Detective. The resultant riotous scenes flash by at breakneck pace as the pecadillos and misdemeanours of the Andrews offspring are unveiled. But this is no West End farce. It is, rather, an exercise in character studies. |