Equity president Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Equity national performers' committee member Becky Kuek and Equity board alternate Fasitua Amosa (pictured), gave a seminar to graduating actors on "Starting Off in Theatre, Screen, TV Commercials and Voice Work", at the 2015 Equity Graduate Day.

Graduate Day is Equity's annual event for graduating students and new entrants to the industry.

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Filmed by Frank Borrell

Equity New Zealand is conducting a short survey of theatre performers in New Zealand. We’d like an overview of conditions and pay for performers in New Zealand theatre, and an idea of how it’s all going!

Your anonymity is guaranteed, with survey responses only reported in aggregated form.

START THE SURVEY HERE

Tēnā koutou katoa e ngā manu wheko ata,

Ka rere aku mihi ki a koutou katoa i runga anō i te āhuatanga o tēnei wa Kirihimete - te āhua nei ko te wā pukumahi ake o te tau mō tātou katoa! Me mihi ka tika ki te pōari me ngā komiti i whakapau wera ai i ngā mārama kua hipa kia tipu ai tō tātou nei uniana. Ka mutu pea te mīharo o ā koutou mahi e ngā manawa tītī. Ki a koutou kua whai wāhi ki ngā hōtaka o te uniana - kei runga noa atu koutou.

Mēnā ka whakatā koutou, kia ahuru te noho. Ki te mahi tonu ētahi o koutou, kia kaha e hoa mā!

Ko tōku tino tūmanako, ka heke mai he 2016 rawe rawa atu mā tātou katoa.

Ka mihi tonu taku ngākau ki a koutou.

Nāku noa
Nā
Jennifer

Dear Performers,

Christmas greetings to you all at what seems to be the busiest time of the year!. My deepest thanks and appreciation must go to the board and committees for your outstanding work over the year supporting us to grow in union. You  all give your time freely and generously and it is very much appreciated by the membership. Thank you to all of you that have participated in Green Rooms, professional development programmes, sat on panels, attended Graduation Day or the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award night, those who engaged in union - you’re all terrific.

I hope you all have a relaxing break, and if you’re working through - kia kaha e hoa mā!

May 2016 be everything you wish for and more.

Warmest wishes

Jennifer

(Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Equity president)

Congratulations to all the Equity members who took home awards in the 2015 Auckland Theatre Awards, particularly Equity member George Henare (CNZM, OBE) who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other Equity award winners are as follows:

The judge's award for excellence: The Playground Collective (featuring Equity member Victoria Abbott)

The people's choice Hackman cup for most original production: All Your Wants and Needs Fulfilled Forever by The Playground Collective, (featuring Equity member Victoria Abbott).

Achieving excellence across all aspects of the production: The Book of Everything, a 100% Equity cast (Silo Theatre).

Mangere Arts Centre Award for Best Ensemble: The company of The Book of Everything, a 100% Equity cast.

The TAPAC Award for Best Entrance: Kate McGill and Frith Horan in The Best Possible Album Party that Anybody has Ever Been To (a 100% Equity cast).

The Equity New Zealand Award for Best show by Emerging Artists: Equity member Alice Canton in Orangutan.

The Johnson & Laird Management Award for Best Accent: Equity member Luci Hare in Lysistrata.

The Actors Program Award for Best Nudity: Equity member Edwin Beats in Not Psycho.

The Tour-Makers Award for Travelling Hero: A Boy Wonder, created by Equity member Ryan Richards.