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Raymond Hawthorne
ONZM
Born
Raymond Benjamin Thomas Hawthorne

(1936-05-03)3 May 1936
Hastings, New Zealand
Died5 April 2025(2025-04-05) (aged 88)
Auckland, New Zealand
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationTheatre director
Years active1950s–2025
SpouseElizabeth Hawthorne
RelativesEmmeline Hawthorne (daughter)
Sophia Hawthorne (daughter)

Raymond Benjamin Thomas Hawthorne ONZM (3 May 1936 – 5 April 2025) was a New Zealand theatre director, regarded as one of the country's most senior performing arts practitioners. Based in Auckland, he was founder of theatre company Theatre Corporate, director of the Mercury Theatre for seven years and influential in as a teacher and director over the many decades of his career.

Background

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Hawthorne grew up in Hawke's 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 Hawke's Bay community opera and theatrical companies.[1]

Career

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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 in London. 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 in Auckland under the directorship of Anthony Richardson.[2]

Mercury Theatre, Auckland, 2011

Hawthorne founded Theatre Corporate in 1974, a professional theatre company based in Auckland. The company helped bring to prominence artists as Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst. Hawthorne remained director of the company until 1981.[3][2] Theatre Corporate wound up in 1986.[3] Theatre Corporate had a theatre in education arm called Story Theatre that toured Auckland and North Island primary and secondary schools.[4]

In 1985, Hawthorne 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, The Actor's Space, in 1992. The same year, 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]

Hawthorne directed many plays 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).[6]

In 1982, Hawthorne became director of the National Opera of New Zealand. He directed Brecht/ Weill's 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.[7]

In 1997, Hawthorne became the head of the 'Directing and Writing for Theatre and Screen' major at Unitec Institute of Technology. He was appointed head of the School of Performing and Screen Arts in 2003.[2]

Hawthorne acted in and directed Auckland Theatre Company 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 Roger Hall's Who Wants to be 100?.[2][8]

In 2011, Hawthorne directed the inaugural production at Auckland's Q Theatre, Raise the Titanics.[9] 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 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][10][2][11]

Honours and awards

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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]

Death and legacy

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Hawthorne died at a retirement village in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough on 5 April 2025, aged 88.[13][14] Married to Elizabeth Hawthorne, he was the father of actresses Emmeline Hawthorne and Sophia Hawthorne.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Christian, Dionne. "Stage master". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Raymond Hawthorne". Playmarket. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Derby, Mark (22 October 2014). "Theatre companies and producers - Theatre companies since the 1970s". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  4. ^ "The Rise of Professional Theatre in Auckland". Auckland History Initiative. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ^ "About ATC". Auckland Theatre Company. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Theatre Corporate : Theatre programmes and fliers for drama productions. 1970-1980s". National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1975. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Raymond Hawthorne". Auckland Theatre Company. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Upbeat". Radio New Zealand. 29 August 2011.
  10. ^ "NZ On Screen". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Raymond Hawthorne". IMDb. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Renowned actor and theatre director Raymond Hawthorne dies aged 88". RNZ. 6 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Raymond Hawthorne obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Dad: Tell Them How Much You Love Them". The New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2016.
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