Acclaimed one-women play comes to the region
Auckland actress Cassandra Woodhouse will bring her company’s first production, Hanna, to Arrowtown and Lake Hawea from 12 March. The gripping story by Sam Potter follows a young mum who discovers that her daughter isn’t actually hers after a mix-up at the hospital. It presents an emotional look at what nature and nurture really mean.
The show has already been performed in Auckland and parts of the North Island with an overwhelmingly positive response. Cassandra is based in Auckland and is a mother herself, who can resonate with Hanna’s (her character’s) quest to be a mother and find wellness. Cassandra undertook her own pursuit of wellness after struggling with issues such as anxiety and depression – her perspective changed with the birth of her own daughter. She is really grateful to Arts on Tour for helping to bring this touching performance to stages around Aotearoa.
“It’s a story about a young mum who gets given the wrong baby at birth and doesn’t find out until the child is three. She then has to go on a journey of meeting the other family and meeting her biological child – on a much deeper level I think it’s a really beautiful story about motherhood, how we love who we love, nature versus nurture, and economic privilege – this mum was quite under resourced and that shaped her experience, whereas the other family had more money.
“There are a lot of themes throughout which are really impactful. One of the beautiful themes, I think, is how women come together in the end and how these two women of two different children have to figure this thing out. That’s a really lovely message – how mothers and how women really do rise up in the face of challenge and do what’s best for the children – it’s always a journey,” says Cassandra.
Another key message that is portrayed throughout the show is that family isn’t always just blood, but rather made up of the people that we meet along the way. Jennifer Ward-Lealand directed the production and has worked within New Zealand’s theatre, film and television industry for more than 40 on over 60 productions. Her and Cassandra grew close while working together.
“It’s been really beautiful working with her because the story is ultimately about two women that came together in the end that would have unlikely met otherwise – a young mum needing some mentorship and guidance from someone who is more experienced and has more resources. It’s a similar story of Jennifer and I – the parallel line there of just wanting to do something and navigating that on my own but having her guidance has just been amazing. Also, all the chats we had about everything – motherhood, women, work, and the world, which all filters in. One of the reviews we had in Auckland was really special because it picked up on the synergy of the both of us,” says Cassandra.
Hanna will be performed on Sunday, 12 March, at Lake Hawea Community Centre, Tuesday 14, at Central Stories in Alexandra and Wednesday 15, at Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall. You can find out more about the production and pick up tickets at aotnz.co.nz/touring-next
