In this intimate conversation with Director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford, we will hear about what she looks for when selecting plays, how she works with her creative teams and actors on big themes that resonate with audiences and how she approaches working with content of social and political power, and why this is important to the work she does.
Enjoy an Eat Your Art Out High Tea (included in your ticket price) while hearing Lyndee-Jane speak on leadership, legacy, creation, impact and theatre that changes the world.
You may wish to follow the talk & high tea by catching the 4:30 pm matinee session of Monument across the courtyard at Circa Theatre, bookings for Monument are managed separately by Circa.
Reviewed as “Succession meets Barbie” by Showcase Victoria, Monument explores the role that makeup and fashion play in how we perceive and receive women in power. Edith Aldridge is the youngest woman to be elected leader of her country. In a lush presidential suite, she has just ninety minutes to get ready for the most monumental day of her life. But things are not going to plan. Due to heavy fog, her team is stuck in another city. Enter Rosie, a twenty-two year old makeup artist from the David Jones counter, sent last minute to help Edith get camera ready.
From very different worlds, these two women, though face to face, do not see eye to eye in this provocative, slick and funny play that is “sparkling fresh and urgently of the now”.
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford has been a professional actor and director for more than thirty-five years. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, where she earned a Bachelor of Performing Arts, Lyndee-Jane has performed in and directed over eighty professional theatre productions across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Most recently, she directed Hope by Jenny Pattrick at Circa Theatre, and her acclaimed production of Prima Facie toured to audiences nationwide. Her stage adaptation of Emily Writes’ Rants in the Dark had two sell-out seasons at Circa Theatre before touring the New Zealand festival circuit. In 2016, she co-created Miss Brontë with writer and actor Mel Dodge, touring the work throughout Australia.
Lyndee-Jane’s award-winning directing credits include Midsummer (a play with songs), Hand to God, La Casa Azul – Inspired by the Writings of Frida Kahlo, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and notable New Zealand works such as Ache, That Bloody Woman, LovePuke, The Atom Room, and Rants in the Dark.
A former member of the Circa Theatre Council, where she served for eight years, Lyndee-Jane is currently Operations Coordinator at Auckland Theatre Company. In addition to her theatre work, she has starred in eight television series and worked extensively in children’s television as a director and acting/dialogue coach.
The High Tea menu – with your choice of tea or coffee. (Includes one of each item per person)
Cheery Cherry Curator
A silky milk chocolate crémeux layered with vibrant cherry glaze and topped with a dark chocolate disc creates a perfectly balanced blend of tart and sweet
Mint to Be
Cool mint and sweet strawberry mousse gently resting on a white chocolate base, combining vibrant flavours that are meant to be together
Madeleine Moment
A citrus-infused madeleine paired with silky sambuca namelaka, vibrant green apple gel, and an elegant chocolate garnish delivers golden flavours with a playful twist
Sweet William’s Dish
Mānuka honey ganache nestled in a crisp vanilla tart shell, topped with a chocolate ‘The Dish’ by William De Morgan. A refined take on New Zealand’s liquid gold
The Golden Ratio
A perfectly proportioned cheese scone layered with sundried tomatoes, olives, and fresh basil brings Mediterranean flavours in perfect balance
The Pecking Order
Tender horopito-spiced chicken layered with creamy Tatua mayo and peppery watercress on fresh focaccia fingers, with native pepper leaf adding a bold, warming kick
Still Life with Eggplant
Tangy eggplant and native kawakawa caponata with buffalo bocconcini and fragrant basil pesto on artisanal brioche. A bold sandwich blending native botanicals and classic flavours.
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The High Tea Dietary Menu – with your choice of tea or coffee. (includes one of each item per person)
Slice of Rouge GF/VG
A vibrant raspberry compote sweetened with maple syrup and layered over hearty quinoa flakes, a naturally sweet and satisfying indulgence
Orange You Sweet GF/DF
Moist and fragrant almond cake enriched with tender poached orange, delivering a bright, zesty burst of citrus in every bite
In a Nutshell GF/VG
Silky house-made pistachio purée blended with maple syrup and creamy coconut a luxurious, plant-based treat
The Airy Impression GF
A classic macaron featuring an almond flour shell with a delicate crunch and chewy centre for a light, indulgent treat.
ChocoL’art GF/VG
Rich compound chocolate and velvety coconut cream come together in this smooth, guilt-free chocolate moment
Still Life with Eggplant V
Tangy eggplant and native kawakawa caponata with buffalo bocconcini and fragrant basil pesto on artisanal brioche. A bold sandwich blending native botanicals and classic flavours
Dill in Detail V
Crisp cucumber, roasted red pepper, and dill cream cheese layered between delicate finger sandwiches, a light refreshing bite bursting with fresh garden flavours.