Join us for a special, fun event to mark 20 years of a Wellington family tradition – the Circa Theatre Christmas Pantomime!
Gavin Rutherford is a seasoned theatre and film actor, producer, and director, having performed in over 50 Circa shows and turned in a long-standing run as the “Dame” in the popular tradition of their Christmas
Pantomimes! He co-wrote and directs this year’s installment: Sleeping Beauty: The Pantomime.
A pantomime Dame is a traditional role in British pantomime. It is part of the theatrical tradition of travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. Dame characters are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting butch in women’s clothing. The role is portrayed like the game keeper of the show, and the cross-dressing of the commedia evolved into a key part of the fun.
Join us for a fun talk and bring your burning questions as Gavin shares his anecdotes, behind-the-scenes insight and pictures from his long association with the shows. Following the event you are invited to cross the courtyard to the Circa Theatre lobby for a glass of wine (included in your ticket).
You may also opt to follow directly on from the talk with a 6:30 pm show of this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. Tickets are booked separately here.
Gavin Rutherford has been lucky enough to work in theatre, film and performance all over the country but is proudly based in Wellington, New Zealand. Gavin trained at the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts in Auckland. He has performed in over 50 Circa shows and is the “Dame” in the successful Circa pantomimes. He has been involved in various multidisciplinary works, which incorporated motion capture, augmented reality, and voice work. These were commercials for film and television, POW media’s animated tv series Nori – Rollercoaster Boy, work for National Radio and Learning Media, and Duncan Sarkies’ crazy podcast The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie’s Botinarium. He has directed for Circa, KidzStuff, and produced and directed his partner Gina Vanessi’s plays, Quiver, and Minksie and Ron Explore the Gap.In 2014, Gavin was awarded Grant Tilly Actor of the Year at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards (sponsored by ECaster and Proactors) for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge.