David Charteris

Since joining the touring company Children’s Art Theatre in 1970, David has appeared in over 160 shows and has directed 134. he is a playwright, speech and drama teacher and adjudicator, and his favourite roles are the Narrator in The End of The Golden Weather (Ellerslie Theatre) and Sir in The Dresser (Waiheke Theatre Company). David’s favourite award is the Isaac Regional Community Event of the Year (Queensland) for his direction of a musical in 2018.

This is my 135th direction of a production since I started directing in 1975. That play was written by an American as there were very few New Zealand plays at that time. Now, thankfully, we have a great library of New Zealand plays, and more coming all the time.

The Big OE is my second production of the fine comedy writing of Alison Quigan and Ross Gumbley. I directed their Boys at the Beach here at Ellerslie in 2017.

Our audiences enjoy recognising their friends, neighbours and sometimes themselves, when they go to the theatre now, so it is a pleasure to present this production which is all about travel and why we do it. We go to see the world and then find ourselves!

This is my first major production since the Covid epidemic closed down so many opportunities, not only for me but many, many others. It is such a pleasure to be back directing a cast in a full-length play. What a play and what a cast!

The Ellerslie Theatre Company has been good to me. It was on this stage that I played the Narrator in Bruce Mason’s classic play The End of The Golden Weather and the father in The Father. Many fine memories from other shows too and this production, with its fine cast and support team, has created so many more.

My thanks to all the volunteers and new friends made during my time here over the years with the Ellerslie Theatre Company.