Staff-room encounter spawns play about friendship

North Shore screenwriter Tanya M. Wheeler has drawn on personal experiences to come up with a “quiet little play” with a focus on female friendship.

My Year with Lorraine tells of how a lonely and pregnant Kiwi relief teacher working in England was sustained by the support of the school’s tea lady. In turn, the teacher sets out to help Lorraine improve her literacy and ultimately her life choices.

Wheeler was that teacher. “The only person who talked to me was the tea lady in the staff room and that was Lorraine,” she recalls. “I was new to the town and she was my only friend.”

Suffering from fainting spells, the pregnant Wheeler, along with other relievers in the unfriendly work place, were routinely ignored by staff teachers. But intuitive Lorraine was a godsend.

“We had nothing in common, nothing... and yet we became the best of friends.”

What others considered an unlikely friendship soon built into mutual support and respect, as Lorraine dealt with an invalid husband while struggling to get by on a low wage. “She never stopped working. And she taught me a lot.”

Wheeler also juggles work and family. On her return to New Zealand she built a successful career scripting for the likes of internationally successful television series Power Rangers. She works part-time from her home in Greenhithe, so she can care for her teenage son, who is autistic.

My Year with Lorraine, her third play, is being staged at the PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna, as was her first, Persuasion, based

A tale of two friends... Elizabeth Tierney (left) plays tea lady Lorraine, while Verity Burgess plays lonely relief teacher Kate her, she says. A recent award-winning short film she wrote, directed and produced was a horror movie, Means to an End. That was aimed at an entirely different audience than those who she thinks would enjoy the play.

“It’s one of those plays you would take your mum to, or your aunties or a friend,” she says.

The gentle humour in it includes cake-making Lorraine getting creative in what she serves up for a hen’s party.

Encouragement from actor Jodie Dorday set Wheeler to work on the script. Dorday pointed out there was a dearth of roles for women her age and was lined up to be in it until Covid delays last year meant by the time a theatre slot became available this month, she had booked other work. The lead roles are now being played by Verity Burgess, as teacher Kate, and Elizabeth Tierney as Lorraine.

Wheeler is pleased with how rehearsals are progressing. She says the play takes some artistic licence beyond just her character having a different first name.

Without giving too much away about how things pan out, the good news is that she and Lorraine remain close, years down the track. And Lorraine is no longer a tea lady.

• My Year with Lorraine, 22-26 March, with matinee and evening performances. Tickets, $31.50 for adults, with concessions available, from www.pumphouse.co.nz.

WHAT’S ON @ Takapuna Library

World of Cultures 2023

Welcome to World of Cultures, a 21-day multicultural festival celebrating the vibrancy of Tãmaki Makaurau and its people. Join us at Takapuna Library for the following events:

Multilingual family fun time - Tuesday 28 March, 10am-11. A multilingual family fun session with rhymes, waiata, music and movement for all!

Japanese storytelling and calligraphy experience - Saturday 1 April, 10.30am11.30am. Hear a Japanese story then try your hand at Japanese calligraphy. Recommended for children 5 years & over.

Korean tea ceremony - Saturday 8 April, 10.30am-12pm. Join us for a traditional Korean tea ceremony performed by the Yemyong-Won Institute of Korean Tea. The ceremony will include music, traditional costumes and a brewing demonstration followed by tastings

Author Talk

An evening with Gloria Masters

Wed 19 Apr 2023, 6:00pm–8:00pm

Did you know that 1 in 3 adults in New Zealand are survivors of child sexual abuse? Our goal is to show these survivors that there is a way of finding hope and a way through the trauma.

There is a way to navigate the trauma and Gloria shows what worked for her in her second book “Flightpath to Healing”. Come and hear how Gloria navigated her own flight path to healing and how her wisdom and learnings can help others.

RSVP to Lee 022 6577 815 by Wednesday 12 April

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY Kathryn Robertson

Residential Sales 021 490 480

Leading bandsman comes to sound off

North Shore Brass will be joined by top cornet and flugel horn player Kevin Hickman for its Stars of Brass concert in Takapuna next week.

Hickman has been a member of the New Zealand Army Band since 2010 and is now its Drum Major.

He also holds the flugel horn seat in the National Band. He is travelling from his home in Christchurch for solos with the award-winning local band at an afternoon concert of brass-band standards. The show on Sunday 26 March will include beautiful tunes, such as “Ave Maria” and “Hymn for Diana”.

North Shore Brass president Owen Melhuish is keen for locals to to enjoy the high-calibre line-up and support a band which relies on revenues from playing to fund its activities. This is the band’s centennial year and it has a busy programme ahead, with an Anzac performance next up.

The North Shore Brass Academy Band for up-and-comers is having a separate fundraiser, playing at the premiere of Red, White and

Brass, a film beginning its season at Event Cinemas Albany on Thursday 23 March.

Hickman played cornet as a junior in Feilding, then joined the Whanganui band. After time in London, he settled in Christchurch and joined the Woolston Brass Band.

As a cornet soloist Hickman won the New Zealand Junior Champion of Champions title and also cornet titles here and in Australia. He has also won the New Zealand Open Flugel title and been named New Zealand Champion of Champions once, and runner-up twice. Plus he won the Federation of Australasian Brass Bands Aria contest once and the New Zealand Invitation Slow Melody contest twice.

Until joining the Army Band as a full-time musician, Hickman also worked as a printer. • Stars of Brass, 2pm Sunday 26 March, St Peter’s Anglican Church, 11 Killarney St, Takapuna. Tickets, available at the door: $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and students. Bookings available by email (owen@mortgagesupply.co.nz) or phone (021 281 0405).

Educating

Rita

15-19 MARCH

One of Willy Russell’s best known comedies.

My Year with Lorraine

22-26 MARCH

A new play by local playwright Tanya M. Wheeler. Sugung-ga

26 MARCH 11am

Auckland Arts Festival presents this traditional Korean puppet show.

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch

1-22 APRIL

Much-loved NZ stage adventure for the whole wha - nau!

E: Kathryn.robertson@bayleys.co.nz

W: kathrynrobertson.bayleys.co.nz