Alison Quigan

Alison Marie Quigan QSM is a New Zealand actor, director and playwright. Quigan was the artistic director of Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North for 18 years from 1986 to 2004 where she directed over 60 plays.^[1] From 2004 until 2011 Quigan appeared on the New Zealand television series Shortland Street.^[2] In an interview with Michele Hewitson from The New Zealand Herald, Quigan is described as 'a little-known power house of influence'.^[3] In the 2001 Birthday Honours, Quigan received a Queen's Service Medal for "public services to theatre".^[4] "Alison trained at Auckland’s Theatre Corporate Actors School in 1978. She has worked as an actor in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch and has acted in or directed more than 130 plays. Alison has written 12 plays, independently and with writing partners Ross Gumbley and Lucy Schmidt. Alison has two grown children and her daughter, actor Sarah Graham, made her Centrepoint Theatre debut in the 2009 production of Alison’s play Ladies for Hire."^[5]She has been Performing Arts Manager at Mangere Arts Centre - Nga Tohu O Aotearoa since 2013.^[6]

Plays

• 1994 - Five Go Barmy in Palmy (with Ross Gumbley) ^[7]
• 1995 - Biggles on Top (with Ross Gumbley) ^[8]
• 1997 - Boys at the Beach (with Ross Gumbley) ^[9]
• 1998 - Shop Till You Drop (with Ross Gumbley) ^[10]
• 1999 - The Newbury Hall Dances (with Ross Gumbley) later "Flagons and Foxtrots" ^[11]
• 2000 - The Big OE (with Ross Gumbley) ^[12]
• 2001 - Sisters (with Lucy Schmidt) ^[13]
• 2002 - Netballers (with Lucy Schmidt) ^[14]
• 2003 - The School Ball ^[15]
• 2004 - Mum's Choir ^[16]
• 2004 - Girls Weekend Escape ^[17]
• 2009 - Ladies for Hire ^[18]

References

1. "Alson Quigan". NZ on Screen. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
2. "Alison Quigan". Creative Giants. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
3. Hewitson, Michele. "Michele Hewitson interview: Alison Quigan". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
4. "The Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
5. "Alison Quigan". Creative Giants. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
6. "Alison Quigan". Actors Equity. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
7. Ross, John (24 November 1994). "Blyton's five good for kids". The Dominion.
8. "Ladies for Hire". Theatreview. 23 April 2016.
9. Hawes, Peter (30 November 1997). "Unbiased view of matey celebration". Sunday Star Times.
10. Ross, John (19 November 1998). "You can't beat a bit of retail therapy". The Dominion.
11. Hawes, Peter (14 November 1999). "Hall dances to a nostalgic beat". Sunday Star Times.
12. Amery, Mark (9 December 2000). "Mnawatuisms". New Zealand Listener.
13. Ross, John (16 July 2001). "A strong cast given scope". The Dominion.
14. Smythe, John (19 July 2002). "Homegrown play finds comedy in netballers". National Business Review.
15. Hawes, Peter. "All the fun of the school ball". Manawatu Standard.
16. "Ladies for hire". Theatreview. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
17. "Manawatu delights in homegrown fare". National Business Review. 9 December 2004.
18. Mays, Richard. "The Ghost of Christmas Present". Manawatu Standard.