Emma by Jane Austen
18 April – 10 May, 2009
TIM FOLEY
Having left Dunedin eight years ago Tim is prettty bloody stoked to be coming home for Emma. Though currently living in Auckland, where has been since graduating from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 2003, he is a staunch ambassador for our beautiful city. Last on stage playing Matt O'connell in Taki Rua's pdroduction of Te Karakia for the 2008 International Festival of the Arts in Wellington, Tim has spent the last six months working as a postie so he could squeeze he was into these beautifully fitting costumes. Tim may also be familiar (minus the sideburns) to audiences for playing Dr Mark Weston on Shortland St a few years back, where he was able to pretend that the seven years he spent studying acting actually taught him how to work in an Emergency Department.
MEL DODGE
Mel Dodge has an MA in Acting from ArtsEd, London. Mel's credits include Uncle Vanya (for which she won the 2007 Chapman Tripp Actress of the Year Award), Rabbit and Mammals at Circa Theatre. Who Needs Sleep Anyway and No Moa for Downstage Theatre. My Heart is Bathed in Blood, The Country Wife, Kiwifruits and Shop Till You Drop for the Fortune Theatre. She has most recently performed as Una in the Court Theatre production of Blackbird. Other credits include Collected Stories, Taming of the Shrew, Enchanted Tales and Waiting for Godot. Mel has a production company called BRAVE for which she has written and performed Jane Austen is Dead, Fight or Flight, The 1/4 Pounding and Anything to Declare which toured to the Edinburgh fringe in 2006.
ANYA TATE-MANNING
Originally from Dunedin, Anya studied theatre at Otago University and trained in acting at Toi Whakaari; NZ Drama School in Wellington. In Wellington Anya has performed over the last 4 years in shows at drama school, Bats, Circa and Downstage theatre. Previous roles include Warwick (Henry Vl), Barbara (Revenge of the Amazons), and Janice (Ugly Customers - nominated best female newcomer, Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards). In her graduation production of Angels in America Anya played Ethel Rosenburg, Hannah Pitt and Rabbi Chemelwitz. In Dunedin Anya has performed in productions of Richard lll (Lady Anne), Whaea Kairau (Puawai), and the Fortune Theatre's own Much Ado About Nothing (Hero). Anya has also worked as a crew member for the Ryhmateatteri in Helsinki, Finland; the country's most popular and innovative theatre company. Anya has been a fan of Jane Austen since she was 15 years old and first encountered Mr Darcy.
JULIA CROFT
Originally from Christchurch, Julia graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2008. Whilst at drama school she played a variety of roles including Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, Viola in Twelfth Night, Mrs Seizmegraph in Betty's Summer Vacation and Sunna in Unity 1918. Since graduation Julia has appeared in the short film 'The Unicorn' and directed 'The Mountain' as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. Julia also has a degree in English and Theatre from Canterbury University. This is her first time in Dunedin and she is delighted to be making her professional debut at The Fortune. She is also very excited about seeing some albatrosses and yellow eyed penguins during her time in Dunedin.
PATRICK DAVIES
Patrick left Dunedin in 2006 to study for his Master in Theatre Arts (Directing) at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, and has since directed several productions in Wellington for independent theatre companies returning to the school to teach Restoration Theatre. Studying has also enabled him to spend time overseas directing, teaching and performing in Serbia, the United Kingdom, Germany and Romania. He met Michael Fry (Emma’s adaptor) when teaching at the prestigious East 15 Acting School in London late last year. He had a role as the ill fated ‘Warren’ in TV3’s Aftershock, and played ‘Ian’ in the Toi Whakaari 2008 graduate production of Blasted. He is thrilled to be back on the Fortune Stage and will direct the world premiere of Glorious in Dunedin later this year.
