Amalia Osborne
Shortland Street legend Alison Quigan has dedicated her career to creating stories that portray the real lives of Kiwis on stage.
Her latest directorial project – Sir Roger Hall’s End of Summer Time – proves that even the simple tale of a Taranaki farmer feeling like a fish out of water in Auckland can resonate with anyone.
Alison says the moment she read the play, she was transported back to when she landed the role of receptionist Yvonne Jeffries.
While it was an opportunity she couldn’t turn down, it also meant leaving behind her life in Palmerston North and the theatre community that had helped raise her kids, for the hustle and bustle of Auckland.
“Everyone I worked with said I was going to hate it,” recalls the 72-year-old.
“I got here and by the end of our first weekend, I loved it. My son really didn’t want to come, but once we started exploring the beaches, mountains and the markets, he loved it too.”
Though she said farewell to Ferndale some years ago, she couldn’t bring herself to leave Auckland and still shares her Sandringham home with her kids.
Alison jokes that her daughter Sarah, now 40 and mum to 11-month-old Ivy, moved out only after getting married. Meanwhile, Freddie, 32, and his partner live with her while he studies horticulture.
“I laugh when my friends say they’re empty nesters,” chuckles Alison. “I tell them, ‘They’ll be back!’”
While some parents may grumble at the idea, Alison says she genuinely loves having her children around.
“I’ve always liked their company,” she enthuses.
“I watch better TV when they’re here, and we go to the theatre and concerts. During Covid, Fred and I were here on our own and did a lot of cooking. “In 2019, Sarah and I went on holiday in Europe. I’d never been before, so she asked if I wanted to join her. We started in Berlin, then went to Milan, Florence and Venice. It was just the two of us – I loved it.”
Among her many roles, Alison is especially proud of her decade at Māngere Arts Centre, where she served as Performing Arts Manager and created opportunities for the next generation of Māori and Pasifika artists to shine on stage. When she started in 2013, most of the plays they put on were serious and quite depressing.
There was nothing that catered to kids and never any comedy. As both a community centre and a theatre, that seemed wrong to her.
Alison decided they needed an annual show for children. From the very first audition, she knew they were on to something.
She recalls, “There was this young lady who auditioned – she was only When she sang, she had a voice you wouldn’t believe – it filled the room. We had nothing to offer her in terms of a role, so we created one.”
For 10 years, every April school holidays, they produced an original show centred around the community’s talents. It was a hit with parents and kids alike, and tickets sold out as soon as they went on sale.
“To me, that’s what theatre should be,” explains Alison.
“Something families can enjoy together and can talk about afterwards.”
Alison recently took her granddaughter to her first-ever play and was delighted to share the joy of theatre with little Ivy.
“She is only 11 months old, but she was dancing and clapping along,” she tells.
While she relishes her time with family and caring for Ivy, Alison isn’t slowing down her creative career anytime soon. Besides directing End of Summer Time, she is also writing multiple plays and admits she still has one milestone that she’d like to achieve.
“I’d love to make a movie,” she says.
“I’ve done lots of camera performances and had a tiny part in Minecraft, but I’ve never really made a film. “The stories keep rattling around in my brain. I just need the concentration to do it. As a writer, I’m a very good baker.”
End of Summer Time is on at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre from June 17 to July 5. For tickets, visit atc.co.nz
