Monica Moore’s theatrical career has spanned 22 years involving acting, directing, writing and mentoring.
From her enduring interactive dinner theatre to her endearing children’s musicals, her shows have been performed all over New Zealand and the world.
Between simultaneously directing shows at both ends of New Zealand, we caught up with Monica Moore to hear about the highlights of running her business, Monica Moore Productions, and establishing herself as a theatrical guru.
From her enduring interactive dinner theatre to her endearing children’s musicals, her shows have been performed all over New Zealand and the world.
Between simultaneously directing shows at both ends of New Zealand, we caught up with Monica Moore to hear about the highlights of running her business, Monica Moore Productions, and establishing herself as a theatrical guru.
Firstly, how did you get started?
In 1995 I was the president of the Noah's Ark Playgroup which was held in an old Convent. Each of the groups that used the place was required to contribute to a fundraiser for it. They asked me to be in charge of a creche and candy floss machine. With a boisterous 7 year old, a 3 year old who rarely slept and a new born the prospect sounded like my worst nightmare so it came to me that the building would be great for a murder mystery night.
I wrote the show for it in collaboration, the shows were very successful, other organisations asked for the script and then I got going on writing more and selling more.
We had one of the few websites in 1997 and I mostly sold these interactive dinner theatre shows to the USA.
In 2001 I collaborated with my very good friend Debbie Wright and we wrote a kids musical and I directed it at the St James Theatre in Gore. This came about out of frustration at trying to find a decent kids show that extended and showcased their immense talent and freedom to create. It was very successful and things progressed from there.
Monica Moore Productions didn't get started until 2001, previously it was called other names but a marketing advisor told me to use it as 'Monica Moore" had a memorable ring to it. Many of my friends have commented that I'm certainly not forgettable.
I wrote the show for it in collaboration, the shows were very successful, other organisations asked for the script and then I got going on writing more and selling more.
We had one of the few websites in 1997 and I mostly sold these interactive dinner theatre shows to the USA.
In 2001 I collaborated with my very good friend Debbie Wright and we wrote a kids musical and I directed it at the St James Theatre in Gore. This came about out of frustration at trying to find a decent kids show that extended and showcased their immense talent and freedom to create. It was very successful and things progressed from there.
Monica Moore Productions didn't get started until 2001, previously it was called other names but a marketing advisor told me to use it as 'Monica Moore" had a memorable ring to it. Many of my friends have commented that I'm certainly not forgettable.
Have you always been passionate about theatre?
I've been writing and directing shows since I was about six. My brothers and sisters were seconded into their acting roles and I was a very dominating director. I was in heaven at Christmas, not so much because of the lovely presents but because our extended family were always around and made a captive audience. I should explain that they really were my 'captive' audience; there was no choice in the matter. I made puppets one year out of papier-mâché and other years I raided my parents wardrobes for costumes.
I plagued my teachers with my 'scripts' and looking back I bet they did their best to hide when they saw me coming enthusiastically waving my jotter pad filled with the latest and greatest feature film script written in black biro in their faces.
My Form One Teacher Sister Stephen gave me the top mark of 20/20 for my English essay and told me I had a unique talent. She then became my all time favourite teacher and guru. Poor woman.
I plagued my teachers with my 'scripts' and looking back I bet they did their best to hide when they saw me coming enthusiastically waving my jotter pad filled with the latest and greatest feature film script written in black biro in their faces.
My Form One Teacher Sister Stephen gave me the top mark of 20/20 for my English essay and told me I had a unique talent. She then became my all time favourite teacher and guru. Poor woman.
Has your business developed in the way you expected?
Every time I sell a script it feels like a big surprise, even after 22 years! I absolutely love it. The dinner theatres became very popular and I formed a company. We provided the 3 course cooked meal as well as the shows that I had written. We performed all over the place and have great stories.
One that comes to mind is the power cut at the Dipton Golf Course just before the meal was supposed to go out. We were doing the 'Merino Downs Murder" show which was set at the end of WWII so we told the audience there was a bomb raid and everyone got under the tables then we sang war songs until the power came back on. The audience were drawn into the shows that they forgot the realm of reality and I loved that.
One night I was playing a mistress and a woman came up to me and abused me as if actually was a mistress. I can't say it was great fun but it did reflect the effectiveness of the authenticity of the show.
One that comes to mind is the power cut at the Dipton Golf Course just before the meal was supposed to go out. We were doing the 'Merino Downs Murder" show which was set at the end of WWII so we told the audience there was a bomb raid and everyone got under the tables then we sang war songs until the power came back on. The audience were drawn into the shows that they forgot the realm of reality and I loved that.
One night I was playing a mistress and a woman came up to me and abused me as if actually was a mistress. I can't say it was great fun but it did reflect the effectiveness of the authenticity of the show.
How did you navigate the decision to focus on your business full-time?
Life made that decision for me. I developed some health issues with my heart in 2016 and full tine teaching was no longer an option. I changed my thinking, took the leap of faith and have never looked back. I've had some contract resource writing jobs, work as a course presenter as well as a paid director for shows. I'm a writer for BroadwayWorld.com and write theatre feature stories, previews and reviews.
I've been involved in directing four shows over the last 12 months as well as selling my own shows and absolutely loved it all.
I've been involved in directing four shows over the last 12 months as well as selling my own shows and absolutely loved it all.
Is there anything that you wish you'd known earlier?
While I enjoyed teaching and middle management; particularly the very special people I was privileged to teach over the last 8 years of my 32-year teaching career, I do wish I'd taken the leap of faith earlier. I love what I do. Being in a theatre, well, it's my place; second only to my precious family.
I now understand that saying 'do what you love and you'll never work another day'. It's so true. This morning I was doing tax and re-formatting scripts - two jobs that I try to avoid, but even they were a pleasure.
I now understand that saying 'do what you love and you'll never work another day'. It's so true. This morning I was doing tax and re-formatting scripts - two jobs that I try to avoid, but even they were a pleasure.
What success are you most proud of?
That's a tricky one. A couple of my Dinner Theatre shows are still running after 20 plus years... One is in the middle of the United States and one in a restaurant in New York. At the time I sold them for a one-off cost of $250, never thinking that they'd do more than a couple of shows.
Noah, the first show I ever wrote, was re-written so that a community theatre group in London could put it on. They asked me if I had a full-length version of it, I said yes and then spent the next 48 hours writing it. My friend Debbie arranged some extra music and the script got sent off in time.
I was in an airport in Sydney a few years axgo and got chatting to a couple from England. They'd come over to see their granddaughter in her school production in Melbourne. I asked the name of the school. They show they'd gone to see was written by me.
Recently, I was in Samoa and met a couple from Gore. I asked them if they'd seen Mamma Mia down there. They had and the woman said "Monica Moore directed it. She's from Auckland" It's probably the only time in my life that I'll get to say, "I am Monica Moore." It was very funny.
Noah, the first show I ever wrote, was re-written so that a community theatre group in London could put it on. They asked me if I had a full-length version of it, I said yes and then spent the next 48 hours writing it. My friend Debbie arranged some extra music and the script got sent off in time.
I was in an airport in Sydney a few years axgo and got chatting to a couple from England. They'd come over to see their granddaughter in her school production in Melbourne. I asked the name of the school. They show they'd gone to see was written by me.
Recently, I was in Samoa and met a couple from Gore. I asked them if they'd seen Mamma Mia down there. They had and the woman said "Monica Moore directed it. She's from Auckland" It's probably the only time in my life that I'll get to say, "I am Monica Moore." It was very funny.
What are you currently working on?
I'm sure I've got a good dollop of ADD as ideas are always pinging around. I'm very slowly writing a show based on NZ theme and real experiences.
I'm hoping to collaborate on the music and have it ready for fringe festivals somewhere in 2019. I've written a children's book that goes with one of my shows and it's about the environment as well as friendships and self-belief. It's a chapter book with headphones to sing along to the songs. I think it will be useful to engage kids who are not big on reading but love adventures and to sing.
I'm hoping to collaborate on the music and have it ready for fringe festivals somewhere in 2019. I've written a children's book that goes with one of my shows and it's about the environment as well as friendships and self-belief. It's a chapter book with headphones to sing along to the songs. I think it will be useful to engage kids who are not big on reading but love adventures and to sing.
Where do you see NZ theatre heading?
We need to find our own identity. What is 'NZ Theatre'? We've got a ridiculous proportionate pool of talent in this country. We need to keep writing and keep performing our own works. I can definitely appreciate the opportunity to perform the big Broadway and West End shows but we need to put more energy into creating our own. Rocky Horror is our big stand out and that was a while ago. We need to do more.
Any advice for others hoping to make it in this industry?
The 'key' is to never take yourself too seriously, but believe in what you're doing. Theatre is dramatic so expect to work with 'dramatic' people from time to time. Have a good laugh, work really hard and keep going. The only way forward is forward.
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