Sara Wiseman Directs ‘Danny and the Deep Blue Sea’

In 2004, Sara Wiseman won the esteemed Metro Magazine ‘Best Actress Award’ for her portrayal of Roberta in Silo Theatre’s season of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Over a decade later Wiseman turns her hand to directing for the first time with this same award-winning play running at Auckland’s Basement Theatre from 22 August to 2 September.

Set in the Bronx NY, this iconic American play, written by Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck, Doubt) collides us with two of society's beautiful, yet dysfunctional city misfits; Danny and Roberta. After a chance encounter in a forgotten bar, Danny and Roberta’s defences dissolve and a spontaneous night of heart thumping confession, love and chaos unfolds. With no easy way out, both are forced to dive deep to find a forgiveness that offers the rare chance of a more hopeful future. This is an explosive, deeply affecting play exploring the issues of personal alienation and the redemptive power of love.

“Although written in the 80s and set in the Bronx NY, this story is timeless and just a prevalent today with its universal themes around love, guilt, fear and forgiveness.” – Sara Wiseman

Sara Wiseman (A Place to Call Home, Mercy Peak, The Almighty Johnsons) is a key player in the New Zealand and Australian screen and theatre community. Wiseman began her career as an actor in the 1990’s with appearances on Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules, and along the way has been nominated multiple times for her roles in various film, television and theatre productions. Most notably, tv series Mercy Peak and feature film The Insatiable Moon in 2011 Wiseman won Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film at the Aotearoa Film and Television awards for her role in Matariki, and in 2012 she also won Best Actress for playing Kate Sheppard in What Really Happened: The Women's Vote at the NZ Television Awards. A co-founder and board member of The Actor’s Program, Sara actively invests and cultivates the future of theatre and film in New Zealand with her expertise and passion.

Most recently, Wiseman has been widely acclaimed for her role on the award-winning Australian television drama, A Place to Call Home and has just completed filming season 3 of hit webseries Auckward Love. Wiseman also stars in kiwi feature film Human Traces which premieres at the NZIFF in August this year.

Working behind the scenes for this production, Wiseman will be directing theatre for the first time in her professional career, drawing from her own deep passion for this script. This captivating tale will be brought to life by top shelf kiwi actors Jodie Hillock (After Miss Julie, Tribes, Ash Vs Evil Dead) and Frank Borrell (Filthy Rich, The Brokenwood Mysteries).

“This provocative play is the reason I pursued my dream of becoming an actor, it affected me that much when I read it. Great theatre has the potency to do that; to shake up and change lives, in a way that no other form of entertainment can. And the Basement Theatre space offers such an up close intimate feel, perfect for this compelling two hander.” – Sara Wiseman

Praise for Danny and the Deep Blue Sea:

“What begins as a sparring match over a plate of pretzels leads to an intense meeting of souls…and demons.” – The Listener NZ

"…a funny, frightening, hypnotically fascinating evening of theatre…" – Drama-Logue.

"…the play is the equivalent of sitting at ringside watching a prize fight that concludes in a loving embrace." – NY Times

The Basement Theatre
22nd August – 2nd September (Tuesday – Saturday) at 8pm
Runtime: 85 minutes
Book at ticketmaster.co.nz

ENDS

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