Shows
April is one of New Zealand’s most licensed playwrights and her fast-paced comedy “STiFF” has performed to sold-out audiences all over New Zealand, Norfolk Island and now Australia. “STiFF” has its British premiere at Questors Theatre, London in 2009.
April was born in Coventry, England. Her professional theatre career began as a company actor with the Four Seasons Theatre in Wanganui in the mid-late 80´s. She attributes her ´basic training´ to NZ theatre legend director David Smiles, with whom she performed in many classic comedies and farces.
April honed her comedy writing skills as a member of the acclaimed and award winning “Hens Teeth” female comedy troupe for 10 years. Her comedy is sharply influenced by the British TV shows she grew up with such as “Fawlty Towers”, “Dad’s Army”, “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum” to name a few.
In 1996 April co-wrote and performed in Fluxion at Bats Theatre. She produced and appeared in her first full-length play, Killing Me Softly at Taki Rua Theatre later that year. This hard hitting exploration of assisted suicide is a play for three women.
April’s full length comedy entitled STiFF is an irreverent and outrageous treatment of two subjects which are normally handled very cautiously: Funeral Parlours and Prostitution. STiFF was one of four plays selected for the 2002 Adam Playreading Series, and was performed at Downstage Theatre, directed by Murray Lynch. In 2003, STiFF won 3rd place in the PANZ play writing competition.
April’s musical play Blue Eyes won the 2003 Stellar Award for Best Musical Production and was performed at Circa Theatre, Wellington. Her musical stage show Unforgettable has been performed at Old St Paul’s in Wellington, the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North and at jazz festivals around the country.