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Raymond Hawthorne
ONZM
Raymond Hawthorne ONZM
Born	Raymond Benjamin Thomas Hawthorne; 3 May 1936 (age 88); Hastings, New Zealand
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Theatre director
Years active	1950s–present
Spouse	Elizabeth Hawthorne
Relatives	Emmeline Hawthorne (daughter); Sophia Hawthorne (daughter)

Raymond Benjamin Thomas Hawthorne ONZM (born 3 May 1936) is a New Zealand theatre director, and is regarded as one of the country's most senior performing arts practitioners.

Background

Hawthorne grew up in Hawkes Bay. He used to ride a horse to his schooling at Pakipaki School (now Te Kura Pakipaki) and Hastings High School. At age five he won a primary school singing competition judged by Emma Natzke, the mother of Russian New Zealand opera singer Oscar Natzka. He also performed with Hawkes Bay community opera and theatrical companies.^[1]

Career

In 1955 Hawthorne became a member of the New Zealand Players, the nation's first major professional theatre company. It was directed by Richard Campion, father of filmmaker Jane Campion. Granted a government bursary in 1957, Hawthorne studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Following graduation he pursued a career as a performer but his interest moved towards directing and teaching. Returning to New Zealand in 1971, he joined the Mercury Theatre under the directorship of Anthony Richardson.^[2]

Hawthirne directed many play with Theatre Corporate including, The Fantastiks by Tom Jones, music by Harvey L Schmidt (1977), The Two Tigers by Brian McNeill (1977), Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (1978), A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (1979), Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1984).^[3] In 1982 Hawthorne became Director of the National Opera of New Zealand. He directed Brecht/ Weills’ Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw but the company financially failed and finished soon after.^[4]

In 1985 he was appointed Director of the Mercury Theatre, a position he retained for seven years. During his tenure he directed numerous operas, musicals and plays. Hawthorne established an acting studio in 1992, The Actor's Space. In 1992 he also directed the first Auckland Theatre Company production, Lovelock's Dream Run by David Geary out of the ashes of the Mercury Theatre.^[5]

In 1997 he became the Head of Major in ‘Directing and Writing for Theatre and Screen’ at Unitec Institute of Technology. He was appointed Head of the School of Performing and Screen Arts in 2003.^[2]

He has acted and directed for Auckland Theatre Company numerous productions including Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Travels With My Aunt, The Judas Kiss, Waiting for Godot, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Crucible and Sir Roger Hall's Who Wants to be 100?^[2]^[6]

In 2011 he directed the inaugural production at Auckland's Q Theatre, Raise the Titanics.^[7] His other directing credits include Angels in America, Three Tall Women, The Herbal Bed, Julius Caesar, Cabaret, Into the Woods, Travesties, High Society, Oliver! and Guys and Dolls. He has acted in film and television projects including Children of the Dog Star, Mortimer's Patch, Bread and Roses, Shortland Street and As Dreams Are Made On.^[1]^[8]^[2]^[9]

Theatre Corporate

Hawthorne founded Theatre Corporate in 1974, a professional theatre company based in Auckland. The company helped bring to prominence such notable artists as Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst. Hawthorne remained director of the company until 1981.^[10]^[2] Theatre Corporate wound up in 1986.^[10] Theatre Corporate had a theatre in education arm called Story Theatre which toured Auckland and North Island primary and secondary schools.^[11]

Honours and awards

In the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, Hawthorne was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the theatre.^[12]

Personal life

Married to Elizabeth Hawthorne, he is the father of Emmeline Hawthorne and the late Sophia Hawthorne.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b Christian, Dionne. "Stage master". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Raymond Hawthorne". Playmarket. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
^ "Theatre Corporate :[Theatre programmes and fliers for drama productions. 1970-1980s]". National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1975. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
^ Taylor, Lindis. "New Zealand opera companies". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
^ "About ATC". Auckland Theatre Company. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ "Raymond Hawthorne". Auckland Theatre Company. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ "Upbeat". Radio New Zealand. 29 August 2011.
^ "NZ On Screen". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ "Raymond Hawthorne". IMDb. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ ^a ^b Derby, Mark (22 October 2014). "Theatre companies and producers - Theatre companies since the 1970s". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
^ "The Rise of Professional Theatre in Auckland". Auckland History Initiative. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2000 (including special list for East Timor)". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2000. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^ "Dad: Tell Them How Much You Love Them". New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2016.

External links

Raymond Hawthorne at Oxford Reference [1]
Raymond Hawthorne at Playmarket [2]
Raymond Hawthorne at Auckland Theatre Company [3]
McNeill, Michael. "'Not a Bunch of Carmelite Monks", Art New Zealand 9, February–April 1978 [4]
Raymond Hawthorne at IMDb
Q Theatre [5]
Auckland Theatre Company [6]