STAGES

STAGES by Yael Gezentsvey

When a restless Kiwi actress and mother, Yael, is drawn into a book of the renowned Maria Dronke, she finds herself travelling through space and time, weaving past and present together through a series of fantastical one-on-one acting classes with Maria that explore their ancestry and craft, forcing Yael to face her fears in order to find hope, purpose and inspiration to carry her through.

Maria Dronke was a...

When a restless Kiwi actress and mother, Yael, is drawn into a book of the renowned Maria Dronke, she finds herself travelling through space and time, weaving past and present together through a series of fantastical one-on-one acting classes with Maria that explore their ancestry and craft, forcing Yael to face her fears in order to find hope, purpose and inspiration to carry her through.

Maria Dronke was a star of the European stage who fled Nazi Germany for the safety of New Zealand and went on to train the first generation of NZ theatre icons.

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STAGES

Character Information

3 women
  • Maria Dronke
    German Jewish actress of the European Stages, teacher and mother,
    who fled Nazi Germany for safety to New Zealand. Passionate and
    headstrong, resonant voice, magnetic presence. She speaks English
    with an RP accent, with a hint of her German accent. Maria presents
    as 40 years old, from the late 1930's - early 1940's but she jumps
    space and time through the play. Maria trained the first generation of
    New Zealand professional actors, and changed the face of New Zealand theatre.

    45 - 65
    German,
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Yael Gezentsvey
    Present Day, Kiwi Jewish thespian and mother of two. Curious,
    sensitive, creative. She is almost 40, lives in Wellington and has
    a New Zealand accent.
    37 - 47
    New Zealander,
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Lolein
    Governess to Maria Dronke, both when Maria was a child, and then to
    Maria’s children. Loyal and hardworking. She speaks only German -
    (Actress needs to be able to speak German). Lölein presents as 58
    years old from the late 1930's - early 1940's but she jumps space and
    time through the play.
    50 -75
    German
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Commission, Creative New Zealand, The German Embassy NZ, The Hannah Playhouse Wellington NZ, 2024
  • Workshop, Kavanah Productions, 2024
  • Residency, The Hannah Playhouse Wellington, New Zealand, 2023, 2024
  • Workshop, Alliance for Jewish Theatre New Play Lab, 2023
  • Workshop, Playmarket New Zealand Te Hono : Connector initiative , 2023