“Visible/Invisible: The Director’s Dilemma”

Image by Ken Baker

At best a director's contribution to theatre-making should be submerged in the work; inseparable from the good design, costuming, lighting, sound and performance.

But running a theatre company requires a very visible presence. Colin McColl, Artistic Director of  Auckland Theatre Company takes us behind the scenes for a funny and fascinating look at the dilemmas of theatre-making for an incipient agoraphobic!

One of New Zealand's leading theatre directors, Colin co-founded Taki Rua Theatre in 1983 and was Artistic Director of Downstage Theatre in Wellington, 1984-1992. He has led Auckland Theatre Company as Artistic Director since July 2003.

Colin has directed for the Norwegian National Theatre and the Dutch National Theatre, as well as most leading New Zealand and Australian theatre companies.

His many productions for Auckland Theatre Company include The Pohutukawa Tree, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Female of the Species, Where we once belonged, End of the Rainbow, The Crucible, Hatch or the Plight of the Penguins, Doubt, Disgrace, The Duchess of Malfi, Equus, Waiting for Godot, Goldie, Serial Killers, The Seagull and Uncle Vanya.

Opera directing credits include Quartet (New Zealand International Arts Festival 2004), La Boheme (Wellington City Opera), The Italian Girl in Algiers, The Marriage of Figaro and The Prodigal Child for the NBR New Zealand Opera.

In November 2007, Colin was honoured for his artistic achievements and excellence at the eighth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June 2010.