Anzac Women of War – Our Unsung Heroines

Anzac Women of War – Our Unsung Heroines

Stark Theatre Presents
Sister Anzac
Written by Geoff Allen
Directed by Amanda Rees

After critically acclaimed short seasons in museums and at boutique festivals, the stirring and courageous story of Sister Anzac comes to Q Theatre’s Loft, Tue 23 – Sun 28 August before a season of special promenade performances at the Auckland Maritime Museum, Wed 31 August – Sat 10 September. This insightful play celebrates and honours the indomitable spirit of our kiwi women who went to war.

In 1915, during one of WWI’s darkest hours, The Angels of Mercy arrived at Gallipoli. Aboard the Maheno heroic kiwi nurses prepared to battle wounds with medicine, pain with tenderness, and their own military with steely resolve.

Sister Anzac is a poignant and personal story of love and bravery, of women who battled the military in order to serve their country as Nurses on the first hospital ship, The Maheno. The nurses on the New Zealand ship were seen as ‘Angels of Mercy’ by the soldiers and were revered by those who gratefully received their care.

In a bleak moment of our history, the women were initially unwanted by the military and treated with little to no respect. In the field they gained much respect, but still they journeyed home from war with scant recognition for their daring efforts, and disappointingly their military ranking was still not accorded until World War II. Today, in these centenary years of the war, important New Zealand stories of women who served during WWI are slowly seeping out.

Director Amanda Rees (theatre and television director), leads the cast through Geoff Allen’svision of the nurses helping our wounded, alongside her sister Donogh Rees (Shortland Street, Brokenwood Mysteries) in the role as Matron. Together with Anthea Hill (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Nicola Kawana (Shortland Street, Find Me A Maori Bride); Alex Ellis (Miss Jean Batten); David Capstick (3 Mile Limit) and Jordan Blaikie (Power Rangers, Shortland Street) the company explore the challenges of WWI and life on board the hospital ship from a completely new perspective.

Sister Anzac is a significant piece of theatre that highlights the unwavering strength of our women who served on the frontline.

“The six-strong ensemble…breathe life skilfully into their individual personas with such ease and elegance” Theatre Scenes 2015

“Provides dramatic, human and emotionally satisfying characters” Theatreview 2014

Sister Anzac plays:
Meteor Theatre, Hamilton
Thu 18th – Sat 20th August 2016, 7:30pm
Tickets: $25 (Booking fees may apply)
Tickets from www.iticket.co.nz

Q Theatre Loft, Auckland
Tue 23rd – Sun 28th August 2016, Tue - Thu 7.00pm, Fri – Sat 8:00pm
Schools matinee: Thu 25 11:00am
Sat matinee: 2:30pm
Sun early show: 4:00pm
Tickets: $25-40 (Booking fees may apply)
Tickets from www.qtheatre.co.nz

Maritime Museum, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
Wed 31st August – Sat 10th September 2016, 7:00pm
Promenade Performance
Limited to 20 people per show
Tickets: $55 (Booking fees may apply)
Tickets from http://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/

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