Jean Betts
Jean Betts is a New Zealand playwright who was born in London, before her family emigrated to New Zealand where they settled in Sumner, Christchurch. Jean later obtained a degree at University of Canterbury in English Literature and New Zealand and Pacific History.[1] She graduated from the New Zealand Drama School (now Toi Whakaari) in 1970, the inaugural year when Nola Miller was principal. Jean was a foundation member of Playmarket (New Zealand, 1975), Circa Theatre (Wellington, 1976) and Taki Rua/The Depot Theatre (Wellington, 1983).[2] In 1979 Jean was a founding member of the expatriate (New Zealand) group 'The Heartache and Sorrow Company' which presented work in Amsterdam, Germany, London, and at the Edinburgh Festival, and Jean co-wrote and directed many works for them. In 1993 Jean co-founded the Women's Professional Playwrights Association (WOPPA) which premiered her play Ophelia Thinks Harder at the WOPPA Festival.[1] Ophelia Thinks Harder has subsequently been translated in German and Italian and produced over 160 times. In 2015 Jean received the Playmarket award of $20,000 for her contribution to New Zealand Theatre.[3]
Plays
- 2005 - The Collective[4]
- 2000 - The Misandrist
- 1998 - Revenge of the Amazons[5]
- 1995 - Camelot School (Allen Hall, Dunedin)
- 1995 - Strange Brews (Bats Theatre, Wellington)
- 1993 - Ophelia Thinks Harder [6]
- 1990 - Digger and Nudger Try Harder (with Parry & McGone, Bats Theatre & Taki Rua Theatre, Wellington)
- 1989 -Digger and Nudger (with Parry & McGlone, Hen's Teeth/ Circa Theatre, Wellington)
- 1981- On Demand (a collaboration, Feminist Theatre, London)
- 1980 - Leaving Home (written with Barbara Ewing, performed Edinburgh Festival 1980)
- 1977 - Da Da (Downstage Theatre, Wellington)
- 1976 - Fairy Tales (Theatre 87)
- 1974 - Bloomsberries (Downstage Theatre, Wellington)
- 1973 - The Nobodies from Nowhere (co-written with Ludlam, Frost, Minifie & Warren)
- 1971 - Unluggy Uce (Theatre 87)
References
- 1 2 "Spotlight Jean Betts" (011297039703). Playmarket. Playmarket News.
- ↑ Circa 1996 - 2016. Wellington, New Zealand: Whitireia Publishing. 2016. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-9941302-3-5.
- ↑ "Jean Betts awarded 2015 Playmarket Award". Creative New Zealand. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ↑ Betts, Jean (2005). The Collective. Wellington, New Zealand: The Play Press. ISBN 1-877319-10-4.
- ↑ Betts, Jean (1998). Revenge of the Amazons. Wellington, New Zealand: The Women's Play Press. ISBN 0958339368.
- ↑ "Jean Betts". Playmarket. Retrieved 21 April 2016.